Alternatives — Payments & Billing APIs
•
Switch map
Alternatives to PayPal
Common alternatives buyers consider, plus the simplest rule for when switching is worth it.
Sources linked — see verification below.
Freshness & verification
Alternatives to PayPal
Braintree
Decision brief →
Same ecosystem / PayPal-owned
Compared when teams want PayPal/Venmo acceptance with more developer-friendly APIs and customization.
Stripe
Decision brief →
Step-sideways / developer-first
Evaluated when API ecosystem depth and subscription/platform capabilities matter more than PayPal brand conversion.
Square
Decision brief →
Step-down / omnichannel simplicity
Considered when POS and simple setup are priorities and the business can accept a more opinionated stack.
Checkout.com
Decision brief →
Step-up / enterprise payments
Shortlisted at higher volumes when interchange-plus economics and payment optimization justify enterprise integration effort.
Head-to-head comparisons
PayPal vs Stripe →
Both offer similar base rates (2.9% + 30¢) but differ dramatically in brand trust, developer experience, and account management
PayPal vs Braintree →
Both owned by PayPal offering similar rates, but differ in customization depth and merchant experience control
PayPal vs Square →
Teams compare Square and PayPal when choosing between an all-in-one POS commerce platform and the consumer payment brand with the broadest…
PayPal vs Adyen →
Teams compare Adyen and PayPal when choosing between enterprise-grade global acquiring with Interchange++ pricing and the most recognized…
Next steps
Sources & verification
Pricing and behavioral information comes from public documentation and structured research. When information is incomplete or volatile, we prefer to say so rather than guess.