Adyen vs Braintree: The ultimate 2026 comparison guide for global payments

Key takeaways

• Adyen and Braintree both allow Australian businesses to accept online multi-currency customer payments 

• Adyen is built for enterprise and offers wide payment offerings, while Braintree brings a robust integration experience and strong PayPal support

• Airwallex offers a powerful platform to accept customer payments combined with an all-in-one financial platform to grow your business globally

Adyen and Braintree are both popular payment platforms for Australian businesses looking to accept customer payments, but for different reasons. Adyen is built for enterprise-level global reach with full-stack acquiring and unified data. Braintree, a PayPal-owned platform, brings flexibility, strong PayPal support (Venmo not supported in Australia), and interchange-plus pricing for high-volume merchants.

This comparison breaks down their strengths, fees, global reach, and integration experience. We’ll also show how Airwallex compares as a modern, global-first offering that offers wide currency acceptance, diverse payment options, and an all-in-one financial platform to support all aspects of your business’ financial needs. 

How does Adyen work?

Adyen is an enterprise-grade payments platform headquartered in the Netherlands. It serves businesses in over 40 countries and offers in-house acquiring, fraud prevention, and real-time data through a single platform.

Key features:

• Unified commerce across online, in-person, and in-app payments

• In-house acquiring in 40+ markets

• Support for 200+ local payment methods

• Real-time reporting and risk management

• Embedded finance tools like issuing and capital

Adyen is best known for offering businesses visibility and control over their payments infrastructure – an option for global retailers, marketplaces, and platforms that want one provider across all touchpoints.

How does Braintree work?

Braintree is a full-stack payment platform owned by PayPal. It operates in 45+ countries and supports over 130 currencies, with native PayPal integrations that can make it attractive to merchants focused on US and marketplace sales.

Key features:

• Supports PayPal, credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay 

• Interchange++ pricing for eligible merchants

• Built-in recurring billing and fraud tools

• Support for marketplace payouts via PayPal

• Developer-friendly SDKs and drop-in UI

Braintree gives businesses access to a flexible payments toolkit, particularly if they’re already in the PayPal ecosystem or targeting customers in the US. It’s commonly used by eCommerce brands and subscription services looking for a balance between flexibility and simplicity.

Adyen vs Braintree: A head-to-head comparison

Adyen vs Braintree: Fees compared

Both Adyen and Braintree charge fees per transaction. Adyen’s pricing is made up of two main fees: a processing fee and a payment method fee. Braintree charges a fixed fee and then also charges a rate for different transaction types.

Adyen fees explained

Adyen's pricing is based on volume, industry, and location. It generally uses interchange++ pricing. There are no setup or monthly fees, but merchants should budget for variable costs that can be harder to predict upfront.

• Processing fee: In Australia, Adyen charges an A$0.11 processing fee per transaction.

• Payment method fee: This fee changes depending on the payment method the customer uses.

• Interchange ++: For any customer paying with cards such as Visa or Mastercard, you will be charged interchange fees. These are variable and set by the card network, then passed directly to you. 

• Currency conversion: Adyen uses market FX rates with a small markup, depending on the currency pair.

• Chargebacks: This is around €25 per dispute, though this varies by region.

Braintree fees explained

Braintree starts with flat-rate pricing, which works well for smaller businesses, but can scale to interchange-plus for high-volume merchants.

• Card and third-party digital wallet transactions: 1.75% + A$0.30 Braintree fixed fee (inclusive of GST)

• Transactions outside of your home currency: 3.9% + A0.30 (inclusive of GST)

• Refunds: Processing fees are returned (except for the fixed transaction fee) which is useful for businesses with high return rates.

• Chargebacks: A$25 per dispute

• Currency conversion: 3.5%–4% FX margin, processed via PayPal

• Volume discounts: Available to businesses processing over $100,000/month.

Braintree’s pricing is transparent and appealing for merchants in the PayPal ecosystem, especially those who want access to both card and PayPal payments without extra layers.

Quick fee comparison: Adyen vs Braintree

Beyond the basics: Key differences between Adyen and Braintree

• Onboarding and setup: Adyen involves a more formal process tailored to enterprise deployment, often including underwriting and onboarding support. Braintree is faster to launch, especially if you're already in the PayPal ecosystem.

• Integration flexibility: Adyen supports API-first setups with enterprise SDKs and plug-ins. Braintree leans on drop-in UIs and simple SDKs – ideal if you want speed over full customisation.

• Payment methods: Adyen supports 200+ payment options, including regional methods such as iDEAL, Alipay, and SEPA. Braintree covers major cards and wallets but lacks local methods in many regions.

• In-person payments: Adyen offers unified commerce – seamless support for POS terminals, mobile readers, and countertop devices in 40+ markets. Braintree depends on PayPal’s in-person terminals and lacks cohesive omni-channel functionality.

• Acquiring structure: With built-in acquiring in dozens of markets, Adyen removes intermediaries and gives full visibility into settlements. Braintree processes payments via PayPal’s network, which can add complexity.

• Fraud and risk tools: Adyen’s RevenueProtect offers ML-driven detection, device fingerprinting, and velocity checks. Braintree relies on basic fraud controls embedded in PayPal’s systems.

• Refunds and chargebacks: Braintree refunds processing fees on returned payments, which helps businesses with common returns. Adyen does not.

• Currency and FX handling: Adyen handles 150+ currencies and uses interchange++ with added FX margin. Braintree supports 130+ currencies, but FX costs are less transparent and may vary.

• Embedded finance and issuing: Adyen includes value-add services like branded card issuance and revenue advances. Braintree doesn’t offer embedded finance.

• Reporting and analytics: Adyen delivers enterprise-level analytics and unified reporting across online, mobile, and physical channels. Braintree offers straightforward dashboards most suited to small or medium merchants.

• Customer support & access: Adyen provides enterprise-level onboarding and dedicated account teams. Braintree supports via email and documentation, with limited live help.

Why Airwallex is the payments platform of choice for Australian eCommerce businesses

Adyen and Braintree each serve specific use cases – but if your business operates across borders and wants control, speed, and transparent pricing, Airwallex is built for you.

Airwallex offers a modern global financial platform built to simplify international growth. Compared to Adyen and Braintree, Airwallex offers more flexibility and transparency for multi-currency management, faster setup, and real cost savings on FX.

Key Airwallex advantages include:

• Like-for-like settlement in 20+ currencies: Accept payments and settle funds in the same currency – no forced conversions or hidden markups.

• Fast global account setup: Open foreign and domestic currency accounts in minutes and start accepting local payments in over 70 countries.

• Local bank details in 21 countries: Receive funds like a local business without needing a local entity.

• Live FX pricing and interbank rates: Trade in 90+ currencies at real-time rates with full visibility.

• Up to 80% lower FX fees: Reduce international transaction costs compared to banks, Adyen, or Braintree.

• Fast, reliable global payouts: Send to 200+ countries with 95% of transfers settling the same day – or instantly in 52% of cases.

• All-in-one financial stack: Accept payments, manage FX, issue virtual cards, and track expenses, all from one platform.

Airwallex is ideal for Australian businesses looking to scale across borders without paying extra for enterprise features or complex integrations.

Adyen vs Braintree: frequently asked questions

Who is Adyen's biggest competitor?

Stripe and Airwallex are considered Adyen’s closest global competitors. Both platforms offer developer-first payments infrastructure and enterprise-scale acquiring. Airwallex is a strong competitor to Adyen for growing international businesses.

Is Adyen a good payment processor?

Yes. Adyen is widely regarded as one of the most robust payment processors for enterprise merchants. It supports online and offline payments, 200+ local payment methods, and provides in-house acquiring in over 40 countries.

Who does Braintree compete with?

Braintree competes most directly with Stripe, Square, Airwallex, and other payment and financial platforms aimed at SMBs and eCommerce brands.

Is Adyen better than Stripe?

It depends on your needs. Adyen is ideal for enterprise-grade omnichannel operations. Stripe offers more flexible APIs and tools for startups and SaaS platforms. Both are powerful in different ways.

Does Braintree support international payments?

Yes. Braintree supports 130+ currencies and is available in over 45 countries, but its international tools are limited compared to Adyen or Airwallex.

Does Adyen offer POS systems?

Yes. Adyen provides its own POS hardware and unified reporting across online and offline sales.

Is Airwallex cheaper than Adyen or Braintree?

Airwallex offers competitive pricing, transparent FX with interbank rates, and no monthly fees – making it more cost-effective for many global businesses, especially those with multi-currency needs.

Can I use PayPal with Adyen?

No. Adyen does not support PayPal payments. If PayPal is a key channel for your business, Braintree may be the better choice.

Does Braintree refund processing fees?

Yes. Braintree returns the processing fees for refunded transactions, which is helpful for businesses with frequent returns.

Sources:

• https://stripe.com/pricing

• https://www.paypal.com/au/enterprise/paypal-braintree-fees

• https://www.paypal.com/au/braintree

The information in this article is based on our own online research. Airwallex was not able to manually test each tool or provider. The information is provided for educational purposes only and a reader should consider the specific requirements of their business when evaluating providers. This research is reviewed annually. If you would like to request an update, feel free to contact us at [[email protected]]. This information doesn’t take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. If you are a customer of Airwallex Pty Ltd (AFSL No. 487221) read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for the Direct Services available here.