PayPal / Braintree vs Razorpay: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between PayPal / Braintree and Razorpay? Both are popular payment gateway tools. Below we compare them on pricing, free tiers, features, and pros & cons so you can pick the right fit for your stack.
PayPal / Braintree is for: Businesses that want PayPal checkout alongside cards in one integration from PayPal.
Razorpay is for: Businesses selling to customers in India who need UPI, cards, netbanking, wallets and EMI in one gateway.
Quick verdict
There’s no single winner; pick on your constraint. Choose PayPal / Braintree if you want PayPal checkout next to cards. Choose Razorpay if your customers mostly pay in India.
PayPal / Braintree vs Razorpay — Side by Side
| PayPal / Braintree | Razorpay | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Payment Gateway | Payment Gateway |
| What it is | Payment gateway from PayPal | Payment gateway |
| Merchant of record | No | No |
| Online card fee | Not confirmed on the vendor page | 2% platform fee (India) + 18% GST |
| Monthly fee | Not confirmed on the vendor page | None |
| Built for | Businesses that want PayPal checkout | Businesses selling in India |
| Pricing | Usage-based | Usage-based |
| Starting price | Pay-as-you-go | Pay-as-you-go |
| Free tier | — | — |
| Best for | Payment Gateway — PayPal checkout, cards, PayPal-owned | Payment Gateway — India, UPI, payment gateway |
Pros & Cons
- PayPal checkout alongside cards in one integration
- Run by PayPal
- Enterprise plan with custom pricing
- You handle sales tax yourself (not a merchant of record)
- Custom rates require talking to sales
- Built for UPI and Indian payment methods
- No monthly fee
- Rich payment methods
- Good developer docs
- Gateway, not merchant of record
- India-focused
- You handle tax compliance
Key Features Compared
PayPal / Braintree
- Braintree is now sold as PayPal Braintree; braintreepayments.com/braintree-pricing redirects to PayPal’s fee page
- Cards and PayPal through one integration
- PayPal’s fee page blocks our fetch, so this entry carries no prices
Razorpay
- Standard: 2% platform fee across domestic methods, including UPI, RuPay, cards, netbanking and wallets
- Corporate cards 2.15%; international cards up to 3%; international bank transfers 1%
- GST of 18% applies to the platform fee
- No setup fee, annual maintenance charge or refund fee
Choose PayPal / Braintree if…
- You want PayPal checkout next to cards.
- You already use PayPal and want one vendor for cards too.
Choose Razorpay if…
- Your customers mostly pay in India.
- You need UPI, netbanking and EMI as well as cards.
- You want one flat platform fee across domestic methods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PayPal / Braintree better than Razorpay?⌄
There’s no single winner; pick on your constraint. Choose PayPal / Braintree if you want PayPal checkout next to cards. Choose Razorpay if your customers mostly pay in India.
What is the difference between PayPal / Braintree and Razorpay?⌄
What it is — PayPal / Braintree: Payment gateway from PayPal. Razorpay: Payment gateway. Online card fee — PayPal / Braintree: Not confirmed on the vendor page. Razorpay: 2% platform fee (India) + 18% GST. Monthly fee — PayPal / Braintree: Not confirmed on the vendor page. Razorpay: None. Built for — PayPal / Braintree: Businesses that want PayPal checkout. Razorpay: Businesses selling in India.
PayPal / Braintree vs Razorpay: which is cheaper?⌄
PayPal / Braintree pricing: Usage-based. Razorpay pricing: Usage-based. Confirm current pricing on each tool's official site, as plans change.
When should I skip both PayPal / Braintree and Razorpay?⌄
Skip PayPal / Braintree if you want published, self-serve card pricing. Stripe lists 2.9% + 30¢ for US cards. Skip Razorpay if you sell mostly outside India. Stripe and Paddle are built for global card payments.
Sources · tool facts checked November 2026
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