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There's a free plan; paid tiers are quoted.
Braintree has no free production plan. Its Standard plan starts at $0 per month, with transaction fees instead of a monthly subscription. US cards and third-party wallets cost 2.89% + $0.29 per transaction; Venmo costs 3.49% + $0.49; standard ACH direct debit costs 0.75%, capped at $5. Custom pricing is available for established businesses, while verified 501(c)(3) organizations can apply for Charity rates. Add-ons and payment mix affect the final bill.
01Every plan, line by line
| Plan | Billed annually | Billed monthly | Built for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | — | $0 | Businesses wanting standard processing rates |
| Custom | — | Quote | Established businesses with higher processing volume |
| Charity | — | Quote | Verified 501(c)(3) organizations |
Add-ons and overages
- Same-day ACH: 1.5% + $0.10
- Non-USD currency cards: additional 1%
- Cards issued outside the US: additional 1%
- Pass-through American Express: $0.15
- Chargebacks: $15
- ACH returns or unauthorized disputes: $5
- Chargeback Protection starts at 0.4%
- Overage costs not published
02What the plan grid doesn't tell you
International and non-USD cards
The pricing page lists an additional 1% for non-USD currency cards and an additional 1% for cards issued outside the US.
ACH options and disputes
Same-day ACH costs 1.5% + $0.10. ACH returns or unauthorized disputes cost $5.
Chargebacks and protection
Chargebacks cost $15. Chargeback Protection starts at 0.4%.
American Express fee
The pass-through American Express fee is $0.15. Charity pricing also lists this fee.
03Which plan should you buy?
| If you are… | Get | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Business starting payment processing | Standard | No monthly fee and published transaction rates for US cards, third-party wallets, Venmo and standard ACH. |
| Established business with volume | Custom | Offers custom flat rates, interchange-plus pricing and volume discounts based on business model and processing volume. |
| Verified 501(c)(3) organization | Charity | Discounted processing rates are available upon application and approval; ask the vendor for the exact card rates. |
04Is Braintree worth the money?
Braintree's Standard plan is worth considering when you want hosted payment processing without a monthly subscription and its supported methods match your checkout. It is not free to process payments: the per-transaction charges add up with volume, and international cards, ACH options and chargebacks can raise the bill. Established businesses should request a Custom quote and compare its terms against their real payment mix. Charity rates require application and approval.
Braintree pricing FAQ
What is the starting price for Braintree?
Standard has no monthly fee, so its listed monthly starting price is $0. Transaction fees still apply: US cards and third-party wallets cost 2.89% + $0.29, Venmo costs 3.49% + $0.49, and standard ACH direct debit costs 0.75%, capped at $5.
Does Braintree offer a free plan?
Braintree does not list a free production plan. Standard has no monthly fee, but payment processing is charged per transaction. The vendor also offers a sandbox for testing; ask Braintree whether any account-specific charges apply to your intended use.
How much does Braintree charge for Venmo?
The Standard pricing page lists Venmo transactions at 3.49% + $0.49. Venmo is supported in the US. Your total processing costs will depend on payment volume and any applicable fees for other payment methods or services.
What other fees should I budget for?
The pricing page lists an additional 1% for non-USD currency cards and cards issued outside the US, $15 per chargeback, and $5 for ACH returns or unauthorized disputes. Same-day ACH is 1.5% + $0.10, and Chargeback Protection starts at 0.4%.