Authorize.net vs Braintree
Last verified Nov 12, 2026
At a glance
- Authorize.net scores 2.3/5 and Braintree scores 2.5/5 in Benchmark Grid's independent payment processing platforms benchmark, both assessed on the same 10 criteria.
- The widest gaps are global payment method coverage (Authorize.net 2.1, Braintree 4.1) and currency & cross-border support (Authorize.net 2.4, Braintree 3.4); they are within 0.3 on 5 of 10 criteria.
- Both are built for small and mid-market publishers.
- On total cost of ownership Authorize.net scores 3.2 and Braintree 3.0 (higher means better value, not a lower price).
- Scores last verified 12 Nov 2026. Vendors cannot pay for a score or a position.
Where they differ
Authorize.net is stronger on regulatory Compliance & Licensing (4.5 vs 4.0).
Braintree is stronger on global Payment Method Coverage (4.1 vs 2.1), currency & Cross-Border Support (3.4 vs 2.4) and integration & Developer Experience (4.2 vs 3.5).
Which one fits
Choose Authorize.net if…
- You publish at small and mid-market scale.
- You weight regulatory Compliance & Licensing, authorisation & Uptime Reliability and fraud & Risk Management heavily — Authorize.net leads on those in this benchmark.
Choose Braintree if…
- You publish at small and mid-market scale.
- You weight global Payment Method Coverage, currency & Cross-Border Support and integration & Developer Experience heavily — Braintree leads on those in this benchmark.
Also weighing these
The nearest-scored tools to Authorize.net and Braintree in this benchmark, listed A to Z.
- 2.5GoCardlessBank-debit payments with lower transaction costRead review
- 2.5MollieEuropean payments with straightforward pricingRead review
- 2.5NuveiGlobal payments with local acquiring reachRead review
- 2.3WorldpayGlobal acquirer for high-volume merchantsRead review
All 9 scored tools are in Best Payment Processing Platforms for Publishers.
Head to head
| Criterion | Authorize.net | Braintree |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction Pricing & Fees16% of capability | 3.2 | 3.2 |
| Global Payment Method Coverage14% of capability | 2.1 | 4.1 |
| Authorisation & Uptime Reliability12% of capability | 4.2 | 3.8 |
| Fraud & Risk Management12% of capability | 3.8 | 3.5 |
| Currency & Cross-Border Support10% of capability | 2.4 | 3.4 |
| Integration & Developer Experience10% of capability | 3.5 | 4.2 |
| Payout & Settlement Speed10% of capability | 2.8 | 3.0 |
| Regulatory Compliance & Licensing8% of capability | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Reporting & Reconciliation5% of capability | 3.0 | 2.8 |
| Support & Chargeback Handling3% of capability | 2.9 | 2.6 |
| Capability45% of composite | 3.2 | 3.6 |
| Publisher fit40% of composite | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| Total cost of ownership15% of composite | 3.2 | 3.0 |
Cost of ownership
| Sub-score | Authorize.net | Braintree |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing transparency | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Entry cost | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| Implementation cost | 4.0 | 3.5 |
| Hidden-fee risk | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Ongoing cost | 2.0 | 1.0 |
Authorize.net pricing
Gateway fee plus per-transaction
Braintree pricing
2.59% + 49c typical
What users say
Authorize.net
7 positive · 46 neutral · 8 negative
Braintree
15 positive · 27 neutral · 15 negative
Mentions we could not tie to a real user, and those flagged as promotional, are excluded. Sentiment is opinion, and is independent of the verified publisher adoptions above.
Authorize.net scores 2.3 and Braintree scores 2.5 in Benchmark Grid's independent Best Payment Processing Platforms for Publishers benchmark (benchmarkgrid.com/vs/authorize-net/braintree, verified Nov 12, 2026)
Common questions
How do Authorize.net and Braintree differ?
Authorize.net is stronger on regulatory Compliance & Licensing (4.5 vs 4.0). Braintree is stronger on global Payment Method Coverage (4.1 vs 2.1), currency & Cross-Border Support (3.4 vs 2.4) and integration & Developer Experience (4.2 vs 3.5). Neither is better in the abstract — which one suits you depends on which of those dimensions carries the most weight in your operation.
Which is cheaper, Authorize.net or Braintree?
On total cost of ownership — pricing transparency, entry cost, implementation, hidden-fee risk and ongoing cost — Authorize.net scores 3.2/5 and Braintree scores 3.0/5. A higher score means better value, not a lower sticker price.
How are these scores calculated?
Each tool is assessed against its category's published criteria (10 in this benchmark), which make up Capability (45% of the composite), Publisher fit (40%) and Total cost of ownership (15%). Assessment is carried out by SODP's editorial team against a published methodology. Vendors cannot pay for inclusion, scores or positions.
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Both tools are scored in Best Payment Processing Platforms for Publishers. See alternatives to Authorize.net or alternatives to Braintree.
Weighing a third option? Add a tool to this comparison.
Where to next
Four questions, and a scored stack across every benchmark — not just Best Payment Processing Platforms for Publishers
Every scored tool in Best Payment Processing Platforms for Publishers, with the criteria behind each number
Every category, independently scored
Related comparisons
Other head-to-heads publishers look at in Best Payment Processing Platforms for Publishers.
