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There's a free plan; paid tiers are quoted.
Braintree, now called PayPal Enterprise Payments, has no monthly fee on Standard, but it is not free to process payments. The pricing page lists 2.89% + $0.29 for US cards and third-party digital wallets. Non-USD cards and cards issued outside the US each add 1%; chargebacks cost $15. Venmo, ACH and optional chargeback protection have separate rates. Custom pricing is available for higher-volume businesses, but Braintree does not publish a quote or annual price.
01Every plan, line by line
| Plan | Billed annually | Billed monthly | Built for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | — | $0 | Businesses using standard processing rates |
| Custom | — | Quote | Established businesses with higher processing volume |
| Charity | — | Quote | Verified 501(c)(3) organizations |
Add-ons and overages
- Venmo: 3.49% + $0.49
- Standard ACH direct debit: 0.75%, capped at $5
- Same-day ACH: 1.5% + $0.10
- Pass-through American Express: $0.15
- ACH return or unauthorized dispute: $5
- Chargeback Protection starts at 0.4%
02What the plan grid doesn't tell you
International card surcharges
Non-USD cards add 1%; cards issued outside the US add another 1%, according to the pricing page.
Venmo and other payment methods
Venmo is 3.49% + $0.49. Standard ACH is 0.75%, capped at $5; same-day ACH is 1.5% + $0.10. Pass-through Amex costs $0.15.
Disputes and protection
Chargebacks cost $15; ACH returns or unauthorized disputes cost $5. Chargeback Protection starts at 0.4%.
Custom pricing is unpublished
Braintree offers custom rates, interchange-plus pricing and volume discounts, but does not publish specific rates.
03Which plan should you buy?
| If you are… | Get | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Businesses using standard rates | Standard | No monthly fee; US cards and third-party digital wallets cost 2.89% + $0.29 per transaction. |
| Established, higher-volume businesses | Custom | Custom flat rates, interchange-plus pricing and volume discounts are available; exact rates require a quote. |
| Verified 501(c)(3) organizations | Charity | Discounted processing rates are available after application and approval, but exact card rates are not published. |
04Is Braintree worth the money?
Braintree is worth considering if you want payment processing with no monthly fee on Standard and can budget for transaction-based charges. The pricing page is clear about its base US card rate, but international card surcharges and separate Venmo, ACH and dispute costs make the final bill depend on payment mix. Custom may suit larger processors, though rates are unpublished. Compare effective per-payment costs, not just the $0 monthly line, before switching.
Braintree pricing FAQ
What is Braintree PayPal?
PayPal Braintree is PayPal’s business payment-processing platform, now called PayPal Enterprise Payments. The product information describes checkout, payment methods, fraud tools, payment orchestration and payouts. Braintree also offers a developer sandbox for testing sample transactions, subscriptions, reporting tools and API features before applying.
What fees does PayPal charge for transactions?
For Braintree Standard, the pricing page lists 2.89% + $0.29 for US cards and third-party digital wallets. Non-USD cards and cards issued outside the US each add 1%. These are Braintree rates, not a universal rate for every PayPal product or payment method.
What is a Braintree charge?
A Braintree charge is the processing fee for a payment. Standard lists 2.89% + $0.29 for US cards and third-party digital wallets. Other rates apply to options such as Venmo and ACH, while chargebacks cost $15. The exact total depends on the payment method and applicable surcharges.
How do I avoid a 3% fee on PayPal?
Braintree’s published Standard rate is 2.89% + $0.29 for US cards and third-party digital wallets, not a flat 3% fee. The pricing page does not promise a way to avoid processing fees. Custom rates are available, but Braintree does not publish them; ask for a quote and compare your total costs.