Adyen for Platforms vs. PayPal Braintree: A Comprehensive Comparison

Choosing the Right Marketplace Payment Solution for Your Platform

When selecting a marketplace payment solution, the choice between Adyen for Platforms and PayPal Braintree represents a fundamental decision about your platform’s embedded finance strategy, technical capabilities, and global expansion plans. Adyen for Platforms provides end-to-end embedded payment infrastructure specifically designed for platforms, marketplaces, and SaaS businesses to onboard users, process split payments, and manage payouts, while PayPal Braintree offers developer-friendly marketplace payment processing with seamless PayPal integration and transparent pricing. This decision shapes not just your payment processing costs, but your entire platform’s financial infrastructure and ability to scale. Adyen for Platforms serves 177,000 platform businesses with platform revenue growing 63% year-over-year, while Braintree processed $250 billion in payments globally as a key component of PayPal’s enterprise payments platform.

Key Takeaways

Target Market: Adyen for Platforms focuses on marketplaces, SaaS platforms, and platform businesses with embedded finance needs, while PayPal Braintree targets e-commerce businesses and marketplaces seeking developer-friendly solutions with PayPal integration
Platform Revenue: Adyen’s platform segment revenue grew 63% year-over-year reaching €55.5 million with 177,000 platform business customers, while Braintree Marketplace launched in 2013 serving marketplaces like Hotel Tonight and Poshmark
Geographic Coverage: Adyen for Platforms supports 35 countries including major markets across Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific, while Braintree operates in 45+ countries with support for 130+ currencies
Embedded Finance: Adyen for Platforms offers card issuing, business accounts, and capital products as part of embedded finance suite, while Braintree focuses on payment processing with integrated PayPal and Venmo capabilities
Split Payments: Both platforms support split payments, with Adyen offering split at authorization or capture and Braintree providing marketplace split payment functionality with payout capabilities

Payment Solution Type Overview

Modern marketplace payment processors can be categorized into two distinct approaches based on their embedded finance capabilities and target markets.

Embedded Payment Platforms provide comprehensive infrastructure for platforms and marketplaces to embed payments directly into their product offering. These solutions handle user onboarding, verification, payment processing, split payments, and payouts through a single platform, enabling platforms to offer financial services to their users.

Developer-Centric Marketplace Gateways focus on providing flexible, easy-to-integrate payment processing solutions specifically designed for marketplace and platform businesses. These platforms emphasize speed to market, developer experience, and seamless integration with existing platform infrastructure and tools.

Adyen for Platforms Overview

Adyen for Platforms (formerly MarketPay) is an end-to-end embedded payment solution specifically designed for platforms, marketplaces, SaaS businesses, and any platform business model, launched in 2016 by Adyen to serve the growing platform economy.

What Is Adyen for Platforms?

Adyen for Platforms revolutionized platform payments by creating a comprehensive solution where users can sign up, sell, and get paid all through one integrated system. Beyond basic payment processing, Adyen for Platforms provides complete embedded finance infrastructure including user onboarding and verification, split payments, automated payouts, card issuing, and business banking. The platform’s strength lies in its ability to serve platforms and marketplaces with complex payment flows while providing embedded financial products to their end users. Adyen for Platforms serves 177,000 platform business customers with 30 platform customers processing over €1 billion annually.

How Does Adyen for Platforms Work?

Adyen for Platforms operates through a comprehensive platform that enables platforms and marketplaces to embed a complete payment infrastructure into their product offering. The system handles user onboarding with instant identity verification, processes payments on behalf of platform users with sophisticated split payment logic, manages risk and fraud at every level, and facilitates payouts on-demand or automated schedules. Platforms maintain complete control over funds flow while Adyen handles regulatory compliance, verification checks, and payment processing infrastructure.

Adyen for Platforms’ approach centers on making platforms the single point of contact for their users, embedding payments and financial services seamlessly into the platform experience without users needing to interact directly with Adyen.

Adyen for Platforms Features and Pricing

Adyen for Platforms’ Features

User onboarding and identity verification with instant checks
Split payments at authorization or capture with flexible commission structures
On-demand and automated payout capabilities
Support for 35 countries across Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific
250+ payment methods including cards, wallets, and local options
Embedded finance: Card issuing (virtual and physical Visa/Mastercard)
Business accounts for platform users with fund transfer capabilities
Funds management with account allocation and transfer functionality
Risk management with machine learning-based fraud detection
Real-time reporting and reconciliation tools
Multi-currency support with competitive FX rates
PCI DSS Level 1 compliance and data security

Adyen for Platforms’ Pricing

Interchange++ pricing model with transparent breakdown
Fixed processing fee of €0.11 + fee determined by payment method
No setup fees or long-term contracts
Minimum invoice requirements based on business model
Custom pricing available for high-volume platform businesses
No hidden charges for split payments or payouts

Adyen for Platforms’ Transaction Fees

Interchange fees: Pass-through from card networks (variable)
Scheme fees: Pass-through from Visa/Mastercard
Processing fee: €0.11 + payment method fee
Payout fees: Based on payout method and destination
Currency conversion fees: Competitive FX rates with small markup

Adyen’s Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths of Adyen

Unified Platform: Single technology stack for all payment channels and geographies
In-House Acquiring: Direct acquiring licenses reduce costs and improve settlement times
Global Coverage: 250+ payment methods and 187 currencies for true global reach
Enterprise Focus: Purpose-built for large-scale operations with complex requirements
Advanced Data: Comprehensive payment insights and analytics for business optimization
Transparent Pricing: Interchange++ model provides clear visibility into all costs
Market Leadership: Processed payments valued at over €800 billion annually

Weaknesses of Adyen

Complex Onboarding: Requires underwriting and contractual agreements, slower to implement
Enterprise Pricing: Custom pricing may be less favorable for smaller businesses
Technical Resources: Requires dedicated technical team for optimal integration
Reporting Complexity: Spreadsheet-style reporting feels dated despite being transparent
Minimum Requirements: Some minimum invoice requirements based on industry

Who Benefits the Most From Adyen?

Adyen Is Best For

Global Enterprises: Businesses operating in multiple countries requiring unified payment infrastructure
High-Volume Merchants: Companies processing significant transaction volumes who benefit from interchange++ pricing
Unified Commerce: Retailers needing seamless integration between online and in-store payments
Complex Operations: Businesses with sophisticated payment requirements across channels and regions
Growth-Oriented Platforms: Marketplaces and platforms requiring embedded payment solutions
Data-Driven Companies: Organizations wanting comprehensive payment data for business intelligence

Ideal Use Cases For Adyen

Large e-commerce platforms requiring global payment method coverage
Omnichannel retailers needing unified commerce across all touchpoints
International marketplaces managing complex payment flows and payouts
Subscription businesses requiring global recurring payment support
Travel and hospitality companies processing high volumes across multiple countries
Fast-growing tech platforms like Uber and Spotify requiring scalable infrastructure

PayPal Braintree Overview

PayPal Braintree is a full-stack payment platform that provides comprehensive payment processing solutions for online and mobile transactions, acquired by PayPal in 2013 and now branded as the company’s enterprise payments solution.

What Is PayPal Braintree?

PayPal Braintree provides elegant payment tools for developers with comprehensive payment processing capabilities through a well-documented, developer-friendly platform. As part of the PayPal ecosystem since PayPal’s $800 million acquisition in 2013, Braintree combines its own payment processing capabilities with seamless PayPal integration. The platform’s strength lies in its balance between powerful features and ease of implementation, making enterprise-grade payment processing accessible to businesses of all sizes. Braintree processed $250 billion in payments globally with strong growth in e-commerce.

How Does PayPal Braintree Work?

PayPal Braintree operates through a developer-centric platform that provides flexible integration options for accepting payments. Businesses can implement Braintree using drop-in UI components for quick setup or custom integrations for complete control. When customers make payments, Braintree’s system securely processes transactions through PayPal’s network, provides comprehensive fraud protection, and settles funds to merchant accounts. The platform emphasizes developer experience with extensive SDKs, clear documentation, and sandbox environments for testing.

Braintree’s approach focuses on removing technical barriers to payment acceptance while providing enterprise-grade features and seamless integration with PayPal’s broader payment ecosystem, including Venmo for US transactions.

PayPal Braintree Features and Pricing

PayPal Braintree’s Features

Comprehensive payment processing for cards, PayPal, and digital wallets
Support for 130+ currencies in 45+ countries
Drop-in UI and Hosted Fields for flexible integration
Native PayPal and Venmo integration (US only)
Advanced fraud protection through Fraud Protection Advanced
Vault for secure payment method storage
Recurring billing and subscription management
3D Secure authentication support
Comprehensive developer documentation and SDKs
PayPal Here integration for in-person payments

PayPal Braintree’s Pricing

Standard rate: 2.59% + $0.49 per transaction
No monthly fees for payment processing
No setup fees or long-term contracts
Interchange-plus pricing available for high-volume merchants
Custom pricing for businesses processing over $80,000 monthly

PayPal Braintree’s Transaction Fees

Credit/Debit cards: 2.59% + $0.49
PayPal: Based on PayPal Business account terms
Chargebacks: $15 per dispute
International transactions: Additional 1% fee
American Express direct: 15¢ plus network fee (with own Amex account)

PayPal Braintree’s Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths of PayPal Braintree

Developer Experience: Excellent documentation, SDKs, and integration tools
PayPal Integration: Seamless access to PayPal and Venmo payment methods
Transparent Pricing: Published rates make cost planning straightforward
Quick Implementation: Drop-in UI enables rapid integration
No Monthly Fees: No monthly charges or minimum processing requirements
Flexible Solutions: Balance between simplicity and customization
Strong Support: White-glove support for enterprise clients

Weaknesses of PayPal Braintree

Limited In-Person: Depends on PayPal Zettle for physical retail, lacking unified commerce
Fewer Payment Methods: Narrower selection than global competitors like Adyen
Geographic Limitations: Operates in 45+ countries versus broader alternatives
Chargeback Concerns: User reports of high chargeback rates and limited support
Flat-Rate Costs: Published rates become expensive for very high-volume businesses

Who Benefits the Most From PayPal Braintree?

PayPal Braintree Is Best For

E-Commerce Businesses: Online retailers wanting comprehensive payment solutions with PayPal integration
Mid-Market Companies: Growing businesses needing enterprise features without enterprise complexity
Developer-Focused Teams: Organizations prioritizing clean APIs and technical documentation
PayPal Users: Merchants wanting unified access to PayPal, Venmo, and card processing
Subscription Services: SaaS and subscription businesses requiring recurring billing
Fast-Growing Startups: Companies needing quick implementation with room to scale

Ideal Use Cases For PayPal Braintree

E-commerce platforms requiring comprehensive online payment acceptance
Subscription and SaaS businesses managing recurring payments
Mobile app developers needing native payment SDKs
Marketplace businesses facilitating transactions between buyers and sellers
Digital service providers wanting seamless PayPal integration
Businesses targeting US consumers who prefer PayPal or Venmo

Financial & Market Insights

Market Position: Adyen holds 5.49% market share in payment management globally, serving over 100,000 customers including major enterprises like Uber, Spotify, Microsoft, and eBay. Adyen processed payments valued at approximately €800-900 billion annually based on recent estimates.

PayPal Braintree holds 1.24% global market share in payment services, with Braintree processing approximately $250 billion in payments globally as a key component of PayPal’s enterprise offerings. As part of PayPal Holdings, Braintree benefits from the parent company’s 434 million active users and 45% overall market share in digital payments.

Growth Trajectories: Adyen’s North American revenue growth rate slowed to 23% in the first half of 2023 from 45% in the second half of 2022, facing increased competition. However, North America remains Adyen’s fastest-growing region with strategic focus on enterprise and platform segments.

Braintree maintained stable growth with approximately 30% increase in total payment volume (foreign exchange neutral) during the same period, successfully executing an aggressive land-grab strategy in the US market. PayPal’s unbranded processing (primarily Braintree) grew from 11% to 30% year-over-year before moderating growth.

Investment and Innovation: Adyen raised €4.6 billion in cash reserves with 61% operating margins while investing €290 million in capital expenditure for infrastructure growth in 2025. The company launched an €85 million innovation center in Amsterdam and expanded into 5 new African markets.

PayPal (Braintree’s parent) generated $31.89 billion in total revenue for the twelve months ending March 2025, with continued investment in Braintree’s fraud prevention tools and platform capabilities. The company maintains focus on balancing Braintree’s growth with profitability optimization.

Feature Comparison

Feature	Adyen	PayPal Braintree
Billing & Invoicing	✅	✅
Currency Support	✅	✅
Customizable Branding/White Label	✅	⚠️ (Limited, 3rd Party)
Deployment Options	✅	✅
Fraud Prevention Tools	✅	✅
In-Person Payments	✅	⚠️ (Via PayPal Zettle)
Integration Capabilities	✅	✅
Local Payment Methods	✅	⚠️ (Limited)
Management Tools	✅	✅
Payment Types Support	✅	✅
Reconciliation Tools	✅	✅
Reporting & Data Analysis	✅	✅
Security/Compliance	✅	✅
Smart Routing	✅	⚠️
Split Payments	✅	✅
Subscription Management	✅	✅
Tokenization	✅	✅
Vaulting	✅	✅

Final Summary & Recommendation

Key Reasons to Choose Adyen

Your business operates globally and requires unified payment infrastructure across multiple markets
You need in-house acquiring to optimize costs and improve authorization rates at scale
You want comprehensive support for 250+ payment methods and 187 currencies
You require unified commerce connecting online, mobile, and in-store channels
You value advanced payment data and analytics for business intelligence
You’re processing significant volumes where Interchange++ pricing provides cost advantages
You need enterprise-grade security, compliance, and risk management at global scale

Key Reasons to Choose PayPal Braintree

You need quick implementation with excellent developer documentation and tools
You want seamless integration with PayPal, Venmo, and the PayPal ecosystem
You value transparent, published pricing for easier financial planning
You’re primarily focused on e-commerce and online payment acceptance
You prefer no monthly fees and flexible payment processing terms
You need comprehensive recurring billing and subscription management
You want balance between enterprise features and implementation simplicity

The Bottom Line: The choice between Adyen and PayPal Braintree primarily depends on your business scale, technical resources, and geographic requirements. Adyen excels for large enterprises with global operations requiring unified commerce, extensive local payment methods, and in-house acquiring capabilities. PayPal Braintree is ideal for mid-market to enterprise businesses seeking developer-friendly integration, seamless PayPal ecosystem access, and straightforward pricing.

Adyen is the better choice for businesses prioritizing global scale, unified commerce across all channels, and comprehensive control over payment infrastructure. PayPal Braintree suits businesses wanting rapid implementation, excellent developer experience, and integrated access to PayPal’s payment methods without the complexity of a full-stack payment platform.

The two solutions serve different segments of the market, with Adyen focused on large-scale unified commerce and Braintree emphasizing developer experience and PayPal integration. Consider your transaction volumes, geographic expansion plans, technical resources, and need for omnichannel capabilities when making your decision.

Important Note: Both platforms continue evolving their capabilities. Adyen is expanding its platform business to serve smaller merchants indirectly, while Braintree continues enhancing its enterprise features. Businesses should evaluate their specific requirements against current platform capabilities and roadmaps.

This comparison is based on publicly available information as of October 2025. Pricing and features may vary based on specific business requirements and negotiations with each provider.