WooCommerce: PayPal Powered by Braintree Setup

PayPal Powered by Braintree is a versatile payment gateway for WooCommerce, offering a seamless way to accept both credit/debit cards and PayPal payments without redirecting customers off your site. This free plugin, distinct from PayPal Standard, enhances checkout security and flexibility. This step-by-step guide walks you through setting up PayPal Powered by Braintree in WooCommerce, ensuring your store is ready to process payments efficiently.

Step 1: Install and Activate the Plugin

1. Check for the Plugin:
   • Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins in your WordPress dashboard.
   • Look for PayPal Powered by Braintree. If you used the WooCommerce setup wizard, it might already be installed.
   • If not, click Add New, search for “PayPal Powered by Braintree” (by WooThemes/WooCommerce), install, and activate it.
2. Verify Activation:
   • Ensure the plugin is active before proceeding.

Step 2: Access Braintree Settings

1. Navigate to Checkout Settings:
   • From your WordPress dashboard, go to WooCommerce > Settings.
   • Click the Checkout tab.
2. Select PayPal Powered by Braintree:
   • Find the PayPal Powered by Braintree submenu (listed among payment gateways) and click it to access the settings.

Step 3: Connect to Braintree

1. Initiate Connection:
   • Click the Connect with Braintree button to link your Braintree account.
   • You’ll be redirected to Braintree’s site, where you can:
     • Log in to an existing Braintree account.
     • Sign up for a new account (Braintree’s process guides you through this).
   • Follow Braintree’s prompts to complete the connection.
2. Sandbox Mode (Optional):
   • Use the Connect in Sandbox Mode link (below the button) for testing payments without processing real transactions.
   • Sandbox mode is ideal for staging sites, not live stores, to avoid missing real payments.

Step 4: Configure Payment Options

1. Enable the Gateway:
   • Check the Enable PayPal Powered by Braintree box to activate the gateway for checkout.
2. Set Titles and Descriptions:
   • PayPal Payments:
     • Title: Enter what customers see for PayPal, e.g., “Use Your PayPal Account.”
     • Description: Add an optional note, e.g., “Pay securely with PayPal.”
   • Credit/Debit Card Payments:
     • Title: Enter what customers see for cards, e.g., “Use Your Credit or Debit Card.”
     • Description: Add an optional note, e.g., “Pay securely with Visa, Mastercard, and more.”
   • These appear at checkout. The title is always visible, and the description shows when the payment method is selected (with most WooCommerce themes).
3. Capture Settings:
   • Check Capture charge immediately to charge customers right away (recommended for most stores).
   • Uncheck to Authorize payments only, requiring manual capture later via WooCommerce > Orders. Use this for orders needing review (e.g., high-value items).
4. Debug Mode (Optional):
   • Check Enable debugging messages to log errors in the WooCommerce system status log, aiding troubleshooting.
   • Disable for normal operations to reduce server load.

Step 5: Save and Test

1. Save Changes:
   • Review all settings and click Save Changes to activate the gateway.
2. Test the Setup:
   • If using Sandbox Mode:
     • Place test orders using Braintree’s test card numbers or PayPal sandbox credentials (available in Braintree’s documentation).
     • Verify both PayPal and card payments work.
   • If live:
     • Place a small real order to confirm the title, description, and payment flow for both PayPal and cards.
     • Check that funds appear in your Braintree account and the order updates in WooCommerce > Orders.
   • Ensure customers stay on your site during checkout (no redirects).

Pro Tips

• Sandbox Testing: Thoroughly test in sandbox mode to simulate scenarios like successful payments or declines before going live.
• Security: Ensure your site uses an SSL certificate (HTTPS), required for secure payment processing with Braintree.
• Customer Experience: Clear titles and descriptions (e.g., “PayPal” vs. “Credit Card”) help customers choose their preferred method quickly.
• Subscriptions/Pre-Orders: For recurring payments or pre-orders, enable tokenization and vaulting in Braintree (requires Fraud Protection Advanced; contact Braintree support) [Ref:].
• Explore Documentation: For advanced setups, fraud tools, or Apple Pay integration, refer to WooCommerce’s PayPal Braintree documentation [Ref:].

Congratulations!

You’ve successfully set up PayPal Powered by Braintree in WooCommerce! Your store now offers a secure, flexible checkout with PayPal and card payments, keeping customers on-site for a smoother experience. As your business grows, explore Braintree’s advanced features like 3D Secure or multi-currency support to enhance your store further.

For more guidance, check WooCommerce’s payment gateway resources or Braintree’s documentation.