Stripe vs Braintree: The ultimate 2025 comparison guide for payment platforms

For businesses expanding internationally, the Braintree vs Stripe decision is more than a technical consideration. It's a strategic move that can impact your margins, customer experience, and speed to market.

Both platforms are popular with fast-growing businesses, but there are major differences in how they handle fees, global payments, and integration flexibility. This comparison puts their strengths and weaknesses side by side, while also introducing Airwallex as the global-first alternative built for modern business.

What is Stripe?

Stripe is a global payment processing platform designed with developers in mind. Operating in over 30 countries and supporting more than 135 currencies, it provides infrastructure for businesses to accept online payments, automate billing, and manage financial workflows at scale.

Key features:

• API-first architecture for full customisation

• No-code checkout options

• Stripe Checkout and Elements for optimised UX

• Stripe Radar for AI-driven fraud detection

• Billing and invoicing for recurring revenue models

• Integration ecosystem spanning 300+ tools and platforms

Launched in 2010, Stripe has become a go-to for SaaS, marketplaces, and digital businesses that prioritise flexibility, scalability, and global reach.

What is Braintree?

Braintree is a full-stack payments platform owned by PayPal. It’s available in 45+ countries and supports 130+ currencies. Its biggest appeal lies in its native integration with PayPal and Venmo.

Key features:

• Accepts PayPal, Venmo (US), credit cards, digital wallets

• Marketplace payout tools

• Recurring billing and fraud tools

• ACH direct debit support

• Interchange-plus pricing for high-volume merchants

Braintree requires a traditional merchant account, which may offer more flexibility in pricing but comes with a longer onboarding timeline.

Stripe vs Braintree: A head-to-head comparison

Data current as of July 2025

Detailed fee comparison table

Data current as of July 2025

Stripe fees explained

Domestic card payments: 1.75% + A$0.30 per transaction International card transactions: 2.9% + A$0.30, plus 1% surcharge and 2% FX margin Currency conversion: 2% FX margin Chargebacks: A$25 per dispute Instant payouts: 1.5% fee to eligible AU bank accounts or debit cards

Stripe offers flat-rate pricing for most Australian businesses, making it easy to predict costs. Larger businesses may be eligible for custom pricing, including interchange-plus rates. There are no setup or monthly fees, though high-risk merchants may encounter additional charges.

Refunded transactions do not return Stripe’s original processing fees, which can impact businesses with high return rates. That said, Stripe offers excellent tools for invoicing, subscriptions, and billing via its Billing suite, along with built-in PCI compliance. Developers benefit from its API-first design and large integration ecosystem.

Braintree fees explained

Domestic card payments: 1.75% + A$0.30 (inclusive of GST) International card transactions: 3.9% + A$0.30 (cross-currency, inclusive of GST) Currency conversion: 3.5%–4% FX margin, processed via PayPal Chargebacks: A$25 per dispute Instant payouts: 1% fee to eligible AU bank accounts or cards via PayPal

Braintree refunds processing fees on returns, which can benefit businesses with high refund volumes. For merchants processing over A$100,000 per month, interchange-plus pricing may be available.

Unlike Stripe, Braintree doesn’t offer native invoicing tools, and requires third-party platforms or PayPal integration. PCI compliance is included, and cross-border or high-risk pricing is assessed case-by-case. While integration is smooth for PayPal users, Braintree is less developer-centric than Stripe.

Who is Stripe best for?

Stripe is best suited to businesses that prioritise technical flexibility and global scale. Its developer-first architecture, extensive API suite, and strong support for international markets make it an ideal fit for:

• Tech-led startups building custom payment flows

• SaaS businesses with recurring billing needs

• Marketplaces and platforms requiring scalable infrastructure

• Global businesses needing support for 135+ currencies

• Teams with in-house developers looking to customise checkout and reporting

Who is Braintree best for?

Braintree tends to be a better fit for businesses already invested in the PayPal ecosystem or looking for flexible pricing at scale. It’s most valuable for:

• US-based ecommerce brands leveraging PayPal and Venmo

• Merchants with high monthly volume-seeking interchange-plus pricing

• Companies wanting refunded processing fees on returns

• Businesses using PayPal Payouts or other services across their stack

• Those looking for a simpler plug-and-play solution without deep technical customisation

Beyond the basics: Key differences between Stripe and Braintree

Checkout experience: Stripe provides customisable checkout via Elements and Checkout. Braintree offers a plug-and-play checkout experience using PayPal’s trusted UI, which can help improve conversion for PayPal users. 

Merchant setup: Stripe operates as a payment aggregator, allowing for quick onboarding and account approval. Braintree requires a dedicated merchant account and underwriting process, which takes longer but allows more control over rates and account terms.

Payment methods: Stripe supports a wide range of global and local payment options including cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, bank debits, and wallets. Braintree supports card payments and PayPal, but does not support ACH or direct debit in Australia.

Refund handling: Stripe does not return processing fees when a refund is issued. Braintree refunds processing fees, which can be more cost-effective for businesses with higher return volumes.

Pricing transparency: Stripe’s flat-rate pricing model is simple and predictable. Braintree offers interchange-plus pricing for merchants processing over A$100,000 per month, which may reduce costs at scale but adds complexity.

Developer experience: Stripe is known for its powerful APIs, extensive documentation, and flexibility. Braintree’s SDKs are suited for quick PayPal integrations but are less developer-friendly for fully customised setups.

Currency support: Stripe supports 135+ currencies and local payment methods. Braintree supports 130+ currencies, but currency conversion is processed via PayPal with a 3.5%–4% FX margin.

Global reach: Stripe is available in 45+ countries. Braintree is also available in 45+ countries, but relies on PayPal infrastructure. Both lag behind Airwallex in terms of local account availability and currency control.

Fraud protection: Stripe uses Radar, a machine-learning-based fraud prevention system. Braintree includes basic fraud protection tools and access to PayPal’s buyer protection (which prioritises consumers, not merchants).

Security & compliance: Both are PCI DSS Level 1 compliant. Stripe also offers tools for tokenisation and compliance automation. Braintree inherits PayPal’s compliance framework.

Integration options: Stripe integrates with over 300 platforms and allows for deep customisation. Braintree is simpler to deploy within the PayPal ecosystem but less flexible beyond it.

Local payment support: Stripe actively expands support for region-specific payment methods. Braintree’s support for local methods in Australia is limited to cards and PayPal.

Advanced data and knowledge systems (ADKS): Stripe includes advanced reporting and analytics features within its dashboard. Braintree offers more basic reporting tools, often requiring external support for in-depth insights.

Why Airwallex is a powerful alternative (and how we compare)

Airwallex is built for businesses that need more than just payments. While Stripe and Braintree each offer strong individual features, Airwallex combines global accounts, FX, virtual cards, and multi-currency tools in a single platform – making it a smarter choice for businesses with cross-border needs.

Here’s how Airwallex stands out:

• Like-for-like settlement in 14+ currencies: Accept payments and hold funds in the same currency – no forced conversions or hidden FX markups.

• Open global accounts fast: Set up local currency accounts in minutes and start collecting in 60+ currencies.

• Get local bank details in 70+ countries: Receive payments like a local business in major international markets.

• Access live FX rates: Trade in 90+ currencies at interbank rates, with pricing visible in real time.

• Cut FX costs by up to 80%: Compared to traditional providers and platforms like Stripe.

• Faster global payouts: Send to 200+ countries, with 90% of transfers using local payment rails and over half arriving instantly.

• Unified financial platform: Manage global accounts, FX, cards, and expenses through one system – with full visibility and control.

Airwallex is ideal if:

• You want to receive, hold, and spend in multiple currencies without conversion loss

• You need fast and affordable cross-border payments

• You’re growing internationally and want local bank details in key markets

• You prefer a single platform to manage payments, FX, and financial operations

Final verdict: Choosing the right payment platform

With Stripe and Braintree offering solid capabilities in their own right, choosing the best payment platform comes down to your business model, technical resources, and global ambitions. Each platform has its strengths, but understanding their real-world advantages can help you make the best choice for your business moving forward.

Choose Stripe if you:

• Need flexible APIs and a fast setup

• Run a digital-first, developer-led business

Choose Braintree if you:

• Depend on PayPal or Venmo for sales

• Are eligible for interchange-plus pricing

Why many businesses choose Airwallex

If you're operating across borders, managing multiple currencies, or tired of juggling fragmented providers, Airwallex offers a smarter way forward. It brings together global collections, FX, payouts, and virtual cards in one platform, so you can simplify workflows and scale faster.

Unlike platforms that stack hidden fees on top of every transaction, Airwallex gives you access to interbank FX rates and transparent pricing from day one. Its API-first approach gives developers deep flexibility, while finance teams benefit from an intuitive interface and real-time reporting.

Add to that fast onboarding, local support in key markets, and enterprise-grade security, and it's easy to see why more businesses are switching. Whether you're expanding into new regions or optimising your existing payments stack, Airwallex is built to help you grow.

Stripe vs Braintree: frequently asked questions

Is Braintree or Stripe better?

It depends on your priorities. Stripe is great for developer-led teams. Braintree offers strong PayPal support. Airwallex is ideal for transparent, global growth.

Who is Stripe’s biggest competitor?

Braintree is a close competitor. Airwallex, Adyen, and Wise also offer strong alternatives depending on your needs.

Is PayPal owned by Braintree?

Yes. Braintree is a PayPal service that enables deeper integration with PayPal and Venmo.

What are the disadvantages of Stripe?

It doesn’t refund processing fees, adds international surcharges, and can become expensive as you scale globally.

Is Stripe or Braintree better for international payments?

Stripe supports over 135 currencies and offers dynamic currency conversion, but adds a 1% fee for international cards and another 1% for currency conversion. Braintree handles international cards and multicurrency support too, but FX markups can vary. Businesses with high cross-border volumes often find Airwallex’s interbank FX rates and local account support in 60+ countries more cost-effective.

Which platform is easier to integrate, Stripe or Braintree?

Stripe is known for its clean, developer-first APIs and vast documentation, making it a go-to for teams building complex, customised checkout flows. Braintree is also API-friendly but leans more toward businesses seeking out-of-the-box PayPal integration. Airwallex offers powerful APIs as well, but with a strong focus on global use cases, sandbox environments, and faster deployment.

Does Braintree support PayPal and Venmo payments?

Yes. Braintree is owned by PayPal and offers native support for both PayPal and Venmo (in the US), which can be helpful for businesses targeting those user bases. However, these features aren’t always relevant for businesses outside the US or for those looking to reduce dependency on PayPal.

Can I negotiate better fees with Stripe or Braintree?

Both platforms offer standard pricing out of the box but may offer volume-based discounts for high transaction businesses. Stripe is generally less flexible on negotiation. Braintree offers interchange-plus pricing for eligible merchants, which can be more transparent. With Airwallex, pricing is transparent from the start, and businesses avoid layered surcharges on FX and payouts.

Does Stripe support PayPal?

No. Stripe and PayPal are separate providers. Stripe does not support PayPal payments natively. If your business relies on PayPal acceptance, Braintree may be a better fit – or consider whether you‌ need PayPal, as many modern businesses now use card, bank, and wallet payments through Airwallex.

Sources:

https://stripe.com/pricing

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