Braintree review

Braintree is PayPal's gateway for businesses that build their own checkout and want cards, wallets, PayPal and Venmo behind one integration. Card and third-party wallet payments cost 2.89% + 29¢ for standard merchants, a little below PayPal's own standard card rate, and there is no monthly fee. ACH direct debit costs 0.75% per transaction, capped at $5, which makes it a cheaper way to collect large orders by bank. Venmo payments are available in the US at 3.49% + 49¢, and PayPal transactions follow your PayPal account terms. Extra costs apply for cross-border sales: payments presented in a non-USD currency add 1%, and cards issued outside the United States add another 1%. Chargebacks cost $15. The main barrier for small sellers is setup, since Braintree is built for developers and custom checkouts rather than plug-in store apps.

Who it is for

developer-built stores that want PayPal and cards in one API

Price

No monthly fee; cards and digital wallets 2.89% + 29¢ for standard merchants; ACH 0.75% capped at $5.

Cards and third-party digital wallet transactions For standard merchants 1 2.89% + 0.29 USD
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 13, 2026.

Key features

• Cards and third-party digital wallets 2.89% + 29¢ for standard merchants
• Venmo transactions 3.49% + 49¢, US only
• ACH direct debit 0.75% per transaction, capped at $5
• PayPal transactions billed under your PayPal account terms
• Pass-through American Express fee of 15¢

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Lower card rate than PayPal's standard 2.99% card payments
• Strength: ACH fee is capped at $5 per transaction
• Strength: Cards, PayPal and Venmo in one integration
• Weakness: Non-USD transactions add 1%
• Weakness: Cards issued outside the US add 1%
• Weakness: Chargebacks cost $15 each

Key facts

• Card and wallet rate: 2.89% + 29¢
• ACH direct debit: 0.75%, max $5
• Chargeback fee: $15
• International card surcharge: Additional 1%

Where it ranks

Braintree is No. 6 in our Best Payment Gateways for Small Business verdict.