Braintree vs Helcim: which one fits your business?
Side-by-side comparison of Braintree and Helcim — fees, features, ease, support, and which one fits your business. Scored on the same rubric.
Short answer: Helcim wins on our scorecard (7.7/10 vs 7.4/10).
| Scored on | Braintree | Helcim |
|---|---|---|
| Right fit for small biz | 7 | 8 |
| Ease of use | 6 | 6 |
| Fees & pricing | 8 | 9 |
| Customer support | 6 | 7 |
| Features | 9 | 8 |
| Transaction Fee (Standard) | 2.59% + $0.49 | — |
| Monthly Fee | $0 | — |
| PayPal Transaction Fee | Variable | — |
| Chargeback Fee | $15 | — |
| Monthly Subscription | — | $0 |
| Annual Fee | — | $0 |
| PCI Compliance Fee | — | $0 |
| In-person Margin (Average) | — | 0.40% + 8¢ |
| Online Margin (Average) | — | 0.50% + 25¢ |
Braintree in one paragraph
Braintree is the premier choice for scaling e-commerce brands that want to unify PayPal and credit card processing under one professional, white-label roof.
Skip it if: Skip it if you are a solo founder without a web developer or if you only sell products in person.
Helcim in one paragraph
Helcim is the most honest payment processor for growing businesses that have outgrown flat-rate 'convenience' pricing.
Skip it if: Skip it if you process less than $2,000 per month or need to start taking payments in the next 10 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Braintree or Helcim?
On our five-axis scorecard, Helcim scores higher (7.7/10 vs 7.4/10). Helcim is the most honest payment processor for growing businesses that have outgrown flat-rate 'convenience' pricing.
Who should skip Braintree?
Skip it if you are a solo founder without a web developer or if you only sell products in person.
Who should skip Helcim?
Skip it if you process less than $2,000 per month or need to start taking payments in the next 10 minutes.