Head to head
Braintree vs Razorpay
As a payments API, Razorpay rates higher on the APIbenchmarks Index, 82.2 to 77.9, a 4.3-point gap. Here is how they compare on each criterion.
Criterion by criterion
| Criterion | Braintree | Razorpay |
|---|---|---|
| Documentation & DX | ||
| Reliability | ||
| Ecosystem & SDKs | ||
| Accessibility | ||
| APIbenchmarks Index | 77.9 | 82.2 |
Specifications
| Braintree | Razorpay | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | PayPal/Venmo-native card gateway | India-first developer payments suite |
| Free tier | Free sandbox account; live rates not always published | Free test mode + no monthly fee; ~2% per transaction live |
| Pricing | Per transaction (2.59% + $0.49) | Per transaction (~2% + GST) |
| Official SDKs | 9 languages | 11 languages |
Is Braintree better than Razorpay?
On the APIbenchmarks Index, Razorpay rates higher (82.2 vs 77.9). It leads on the four weighted criteria, but price is reported separately, so the best choice still depends on your budget.
Verdict in one line
Razorpay leads by 4.3 points (82.2 vs 77.9) and wins 2 of 4 criteria; Braintree wins 1.
Winner by criterion
| Criterion | Winner | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Documentation & DX | 80 | 82 | |
| Reliability | 86 | 80 | |
| Ecosystem & SDKs | 80 | 80 | Tie |
| Accessibility | 62 | 88 |
Choose Braintree if… / choose Razorpay if…
- →reliability matters most to you (86 vs 80)
- →your use case matches its focus: paypal/venmo-native card gateway
- →documentation & dx matters most to you (82 vs 80)
- →accessibility matters most to you (88 vs 62)
- →you need broad SDK coverage (11 official SDKs vs 9)
- →your use case matches its focus: india-first developer payments suite
Pricing side by side
- Model
- Per transaction (2.59% + $0.49)
- Free tier
- Free sandbox account; live rates not always published
- Braintree Direct (standard card)2.89% + $0.29
- Venmo3.49% + $0.49
- ACH Direct Debit0.75% (capped at $5.00)
- International / foreign card surcharge+1% + 1%
- Chargeback fee$15.00
- Custom / high-volumeCustom (contact sales)
- Model
- Per transaction (~2% + GST)
- Free tier
- Free test mode + no monthly fee; ~2% per transaction live
- Standard (domestic)2% per transaction
- International CardsUp to 3% per transaction
- International Bank Transfers1% per transaction
- UPI QR Codes0.99% per transaction
- Subscriptions~0.9-1% add-on
- EnterpriseCustom
Vendor-published pricing, verified 2026-06-27 (Braintree) and 2026-06-27 (Razorpay).
SDK and language coverage
Both · 8
iOSAndroidNode.jsPythonRubyPHPJava.NET
Only Braintree · 1
JavaScript / Web (braintree-web)
Only Razorpay · 3
GoFlutterReact Native
Strengths and weaknesses
- +Native, one-integration access to PayPal and Venmo alongside normal card processing, a capability no non-PayPal gateway can match
- +Single vault and one API across cards, PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, Google Pay, ACH and local methods
- +Developer experience widely praised: clean SDKs, drop-in UI, strong sandbox, easy integration
- –Weak, slow customer support, phone support removed, form-only help is a top complaint across review sites
- –Shares PayPal's reputation for frozen funds, held disbursements and opaque risk/account decisions
- –January 2025 price increase moved Advanced Credit/Debit from 2.59% to 2.89% + $0.29
- +Flat, transparent 2% pricing charged only on successful transactions, with no setup fee or annual maintenance charge
- +Best-in-class documentation and integration kits, repeatedly cited by developers as the easiest Indian gateway to integrate
- +Broadest Indian payment-method coverage: UPI, cards, netbanking, wallets, EMI, pay-later in one API
- –Customer support is the most common complaint, slow ticket resolution and repeated loops, especially during peak periods
- –Risk-driven settlement holds can freeze funds for extended compliance reviews, a recurring Trustpilot grievance
- –Transaction fees viewed as slightly higher than competitors like Cashfree and PayU
Braintree vs Razorpay: questions
- Which has better documentation, Braintree or Razorpay?
- Razorpay scores higher on documentation and developer experience: 82 vs 80 out of 100.
- Which is more reliable, Braintree or Razorpay?
- Braintree scores higher on reliability: 86 vs 80 out of 100.
- Do Braintree and Razorpay have a free tier?
- Braintree: yes (Free sandbox account; live rates not always published). Razorpay: yes (Free test mode + no monthly fee; ~2% per transaction live).
- How are Braintree and Razorpay priced?
- Braintree: Per transaction (2.59% + $0.49). Razorpay: Per transaction (~2% + GST).
- Which has more official SDKs?
- Razorpay lists 11 official SDKs, Braintree lists 9.