Your merchant services providers should be a trusted business partner that meets your needs. That’s why doing your research on potential vendors is imperative. To that end, if you’re shopping around for a payment gateway, you’ve likely come across Braintree and you may be wondering if it’s a good fit for your business.
In this article, we’ll explore the offerings Braintree payment gateway—including features, pricing, and reviews—to equip you with the information you need to make your decision.
TL;DR
- The Braintree payment gateway is an eCommerce-only payment processor and cannot be used for brick-and-mortar locations.
- Braintree offers transparent pricing with rates similar to its competitors. Braintree Direct is owned by PayPal and offers several fraud-mitigating security features.
- Reviews on the Braintree payment gateway are mixed when it comes to the user interface and overall user experience.
Features of the Braintree Payment Gateway
Perhaps the most important thing to know about Braintree is that it is a payment processor that accepts payments only via the web or mobile app. Braintree is owned by PayPal, so businesses will also need a PayPal merchant account and a business bank account to use this payment gateway.
Braintree is available in 45 countries and can accept more than 130 currencies. Some features listed on its website include third-party integrations, recurring billing support, data migration assistance, and fraud mitigation tools (more on that later).
Braintree Pricing, Accepted Currencies and Payment Types
Braintree has noteworthy transparent pricing, unlike many other payment processors on the market. With Braintree, merchants pay:
- 2.59% plus $.49 per transaction for debit cards (without PIN), credit cards and mobile wallets
- 3.49% plus $.49 per transaction for Venmo transactions (available in the U.S. only)
- .75% per transaction for ACH direct debit transactions, capped at $5
- PayPal transactions have variable fees depending on the currency and type of transaction
Additionally, for any non-USD currency or cards issued outside of the U.S., there is a 1% fee. For chargebacks, there is a flat $15 fee. Another item in the pricing details is transaction fees will not be returned for refunded transactions. The pricing model for Braintree payment processing is fairly straightforward compared to many other payment processors. However, there is some fine print to consider; Braintree lists its pricing model on its website for a full breakdown of additional fees.
But how does this stack up to competitors? For pricing, Braintree is one of the more affordable payment processors out there and, overall, is comparable to other options.
Compared to Stripe, which has a 2.9% plus $.30 per transaction fee for credit cards and online wallets and a .8% or $5 cap for ACH transfers, the pricing models are similarly structured and comparable depending on the transaction details (amount, payment method, etc.)
Stax does things a little differently with a subscription-based service model with a flat monthly fee, and we don’t charge an interchange markup fee. Our monthly subscription starts at $99, and merchants just pay the standard credit card transaction (interchange) fee.
All in all, the actual amount you’ll pay will depend on several factors, but Braintree is worth considering from a cost perspective. That said, it would be helpful to evaluate the transaction volume, card types used to see how it works out in practice.
Accept credit card payments, digital wallets, ACH, Venmo and PayPal
Braintree accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, JCB, Diners Club and Union Pay credit cards. Mobile wallet payment options, including Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay, are also accepted. Venmo payments are available only in the U.S., and PayPal and PayPal Credit are accepted globally. Finally, Braintree also accepts ACH payments. With any accepted payment type, Braintree can also set up recurring transactions.
Security and Fraud Protection
Any payment processing service provider worth considering will ensure PCI compliance. But beyond being PCI compliant, Braintree also offers a few other features worth noting. The first, Account Updater helps merchants keep payment information up to date by automatically updating card details. To reduce the risk of chargebacks and fraud, Braintree offers 3D Secure, which requires additional cardholder verification that is “easy to integrate and tough to crack,” according to their website.
Since eCommerce transactions typically have a higher rate of fraudulent transactions, protecting your business against these is imperative. Braintree offers Fraud Protection with custom or out-of-the-box filters that provide actionable recommendations to help merchants filter transactions. It also offers Fraud Protection Advanced as an add-on, which helps businesses conduct an in-depth risk analysis and investigate potential fraud. This service allows businesses to create custom filters to identify fraud, review transactions, and more. Since fraud is ever-evolving, these features may help merchants stay ahead of these trends.
User Interface and Merchant Reviews
User experience can make or break a transaction. Reviews on the overall Braintree payment gateway user interface are mixed. Many reviews say the interface is complex and difficult to use—even some positive reviews say it is difficult to find information on the platform. Overall, the jury is out, with many other positive reviews stating that it is easy to use.
However, merchants can decide if this is right for them by exploring the Braintree sandbox; in this environment, users can test the functionality before applying for a merchant account.
Compared to other popular payment gateways, Braintree rates are substantially lower overall. For example, when compared to Stripe, which has 4.4/ 5 stars on G2 (with 82 views at the time of writing), Braintree Direct comes in much lower at 3.4/ 5 stars (with 87 reviews). Several reviews speak to the complex user interface, and many also list sub-par customer support as a common theme.
“The worst nonexistent customer service in the history of credit card processors. Just try getting a live customer service person on the phone. Every call goes to paypal and they have no Braintree merchant processing customer service reps,” writes one merchant.
On the positive side, merchant reviews are generally positive about easy integration and clear pricing—something that is often a struggle for merchants. Further, several reviews also comment on refunds and voided transactions being simple to complete. With eCommerce dominating how people shop, a payment processing partner that specializes in online payment may be a plus.
As one reviewer explains, “I love the ability to easily refund/void transactions as well as search for specific details to locate a customer’s transaction.”
Alternatives to Braintree Payment Gateway
As we stated earlier, there are many options to choose from. And if your business has operations other than a virtual shopping cart and online checkout, you’ll need an alternative. Highly-rated and similarly priced options such as Stripe, Amazon Pay, or Authorize.net are a few to look into.
Of course, Stax is able to match the capabilities of Braintree—and more. Stax accepts all major payment types and also delivers best-in-class payment terminals for brick-and-mortar operations based in the United States. Simply put, Stax helps businesses of all types with their payment processing needs—whether online or in-person.
Final Words
If you’re choosing a payment processor considering, merchant reviews, pricing, and the overall capabilities can be overwhelming. Braintree may be worth considering if you’re an online-only business looking for a reasonably-priced payment solution or if you need payment solutions outside the U.S.. However, there are many alternatives to consider that can meet your online needs and more at a reasonable price.
Ready to learn how Stax can help your business save on payment processing fees? Reach out today to find out how we can help you improve your business operations.
FAQs
What is Braintree payment gateway?
Braintree is a payment gateway that enables merchants to process online payments securely and easily. It provides tools for accepting credit and debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, and other payment methods, and offers advanced features such as fraud protection and recurring billing. Braintree is owned by PayPal and is widely used by businesses of all sizes for eCommerce transactions.
How do you integrate Braintree payment gateway?
Here are the general steps to integrate Braintree payment gateway in PHP:
- Sign up for a Braintree account and get your API keys.
- Download and install the Braintree PHP SDK.
- Create a PHP file to handle the payment form submission.
- Add the Braintree JavaScript library to the payment form.
- Set up the server-side code to create a transaction using the Braintree API.
- Handle the response from the Braintree API to determine if the transaction was successful.
- Save the transaction details to your database or send a confirmation email to the customer.
Is Braintree the same as PayPal?
Braintree is a subsidiary of PayPal, which means that they are related companies. Braintree provides payment processing services to businesses, while PayPal provides payment services to consumers and businesses. Braintree operates independently and has its own set of products and services, although there is some overlap with PayPal’s offerings. For example, both Braintree and PayPal offer payment gateway services and support for multiple payment methods.
