Braintree vs PayPal Business: Pricing Comparison 2026
Side-by-side pricing comparison of Braintree and PayPal Business. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.
Bottom line: Both Braintree and PayPal Business offer free plans. Braintree has 5 pricing tiers while PayPal Business has 3.
Last updated: May 26, 2026
Braintree - Braintree is cheaper and more powerful; PayPal Business is only better for merchants who need zero-code setup.
Braintree vs PayPal Business: Quick Pricing Facts
| Feature | Braintree | PayPal Business |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $10/mo | Custom pricing |
| Number of Plans | 5 | 3 |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing Model | usage-based | usage-based |
| Annual Discount | N/A | N/A |
Braintree and PayPal Business are both priced at $10/mo, making them equally accessible Payment & Billing tools. Together they offer 8 pricing plans with 29 features compared, so the best choice comes down to which features match your needs.
Both tools offer free plans, making them accessible for teams on a budget.
Review the detailed tier-by-tier comparison above to see exactly which features are included at each price point and find the best fit for your Payment & Billing needs.
| Pricing Plans |  Braintree Try free |  PayPal Business Try free |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free $0/monthCheapest Includes
| |
| Tier 2 | Starter $10/monthCheapest $120 / year Includes
| Business Custom pricing Includes
|
| Tier 3 | Pro $30/monthCheapest $360 / year Includes
| Enterprise Custom pricing Includes
|
| Tier 4 | BusinessPopular $100/monthCheapest $1200 / year Includes
| - |
| Tier 5 | Enterprise Custom pricing Includes
| - |
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Braintree
Braintree is cheaper and more powerful; PayPal Business is only better for merchants who need zero-code setup.
Based on pricing data only. Review the full comparison below for your specific needs.
Try Braintree freeFree plan availableWhich Should You Choose?
Choose Braintree if:
- •You need a developer-grade payment API with full UI customization
- •You want card processing with competitive rates and custom checkout flows
- •You need a payment gateway that is not PayPal's standard checkout
Choose PayPal Business if:
- •You want a simple PayPal checkout button trusted by hundreds of millions of users
- •You need faster setup without developer integration complexity
- •You want PayPal's buyer protection to reduce chargebacks
Braintree and PayPal Business are both owned by PayPal. Braintree is the developer-focused gateway with custom checkout; PayPal Business is the standard merchant account with PayPal buttons. Braintree charges 2.59% + $0.49 per transaction. PayPal Business charges 3.49% + $0.49 for standard transactions. Braintree is cheaper and more customizable. PayPal Business is simpler for merchants who do not need custom checkout.
Frequently Asked Questions: Braintree vs PayPal Business
How many pricing plans does Braintree have vs PayPal Business?
Does Braintree or PayPal Business offer a free plan?
Can I save money by paying annually for Braintree or PayPal Business?
What is the most popular Braintree plan?
Does Braintree or PayPal Business offer custom enterprise pricing?
How do Braintree and PayPal Business compare for Payment & Billing?
Sources
- Braintree Official Pricing- Vendor pricing page
- PayPal Business Official Pricing- Vendor pricing page
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