Braintree vs Stripe Pricing (2026)
How do these two stack up on price? Here's what each one costs, what you get, and where the value sits.
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
Standard
Custom
- IC+ pricing
- Volume discounts
- Multi-product discounts
- Country-specific rates
Braintree vs Stripe 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. Stripe: Stripe sits at the premium end of payment processing — Square and PayPal can undercut on rate for certain use cases, but Stripe is targeting developers and scaling startups who prioritize API quality and ecosystem over squeezing every basis point. They're not trying to win on price; they're winning on infrastructure.
Still deciding? See the best Braintree alternatives or the best Stripe alternatives, ranked with verified pricing.
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