Braintree vs Paddle Pricing (2026)
How do these two stack up on price? Here's what each one costs, what you get, and where the value sits.
| Braintree pricing | Paddle pricing | |
|---|---|---|
| Starts at | Custom | Custom |
| Number of plans | 2 | 2 |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Pricing model | usage-based | usage-based |
Price is one row. To weigh the features too, use our feature comparison template →
Standard
- Cards and third-party digital wallet transactions: For standard merchants — 2.89% + 0.29 USD
- Pass-through American Express transaction — 0.15 USD
- Presented in any non-USD currency — Additional 1%
- Customer card issued outside of the United States — Additional 1%
- Chargeback — 15.00 USD
- PayPal transactions — PayPal Merchant Fees
- Venmo transactions — 3.49% + 0.49 USD
- ACH direct debit: Per transaction fee when processed via standard ACH network processing schedule (max 5.00 USD) — 0.75%
- ACH direct debit: Per transaction fee when processed via same day ACH network processing window — 1.5% + 0.10 USD
- ACH direct debit: Returned by banking network — 5.00 USD
- ACH direct debit: Disputed by your customer as unauthorized — 5.00 USD
Charity
- Cards and third-party digital wallet transactions: For verified charitable 501(c)(3) organizations — 2.19% + 0.29 USD
- Pass-through American Express transaction — 0.15 USD
- Presented in any non-USD currency — Additional 1%
- Customer card issued outside of the United States — Additional 1%
- Chargeback — 15.00 USD
- PayPal transactions — PayPal Merchant Fees
- Venmo transactions — 3.49% + 0.49 USD
- ACH direct debit: Per transaction fee when processed via standard ACH network processing schedule (max 5.00 USD) — 0.75%
- ACH direct debit: Per transaction fee when processed via same day ACH network processing window — 1.5% + 0.10 USD
- ACH direct debit: Returned by banking network — 5.00 USD
- ACH direct debit: Disputed by your customer as unauthorized — 5.00 USD
Pay-as-you-go
- Cross-border sales tax compliance
- Protection against fraud and chargebacks
- No migration fees, monthly fees, or hidden extras
Custom pricing
- Custom pricing to fit your business model and products
- Get access to optional premium services and success management
- Custom migration services and implementation support
Braintree vs Paddle FAQ
- Which one is cheaper?
- One or both use custom pricing, so it depends on your specific needs.
- Can I use either one for free?
- Neither has a free plan.
- How do they charge?
- Both use a usage-based model, so the comparison is straightforward — it comes down to features and limits at each price point.
- Which one is a better deal?
- Depends on what you need. Braintree: Braintree targets mid-market to enterprise merchants who've outgrown Stripe's standard rates and want negotiated pricing without moving to a full acquiring bank relationship. They're not the cheapest, but the custom rate structure means high-volume businesses can potentially undercut what they'd pay on Stripe's published rates. Paddle: Sitting in the merchant-of-record space next to Stripe and Lemon Squeezy, Paddle isn't the cheapest per-transaction but bundles in tax/compliance handling, so it's positioned as the 'pay more, worry less' option. They're chasing SaaS teams who'd rather outsource global sales tax headaches than DIY it with a cheaper processor.
Still deciding? See the best Braintree alternatives or the best Paddle alternatives, ranked with verified pricing.
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