PayPal

Name: PayPal
Brand: PayPal
Rating: 4.5 (28423 reviews)

Unclaimed Editor reviewed

The original online payment system, still everywhere

Finance E-commerce Payment Processing Invoicing

Visit Website

4.5(28,423 across the web)

PaidVisit Website

Reviews onG2CapterraSourceForge

28423 reviews tracked

The Bottom Line

Entry price

Paid plans only

Biggest pro

Ubiquitous brand recognition and consumer trust worldwide

Biggest con

Transaction fees of 2.29-4.99% plus fixed fee add up for high-volume sellers

TL;DR - PayPal

Global digital payments platform for online checkout, in-person POS, and peer-to-peer transfers
Transaction fees range from 2.29% + $0.09 (in-person) to 3.49% + $0.49 (online PayPal payments)
No monthly subscription required, pay only per transaction with volume discounts available

Pricing: pay_per_use

Best for: Enterprises & pros

4.5/5 across review platforms

What is PayPal?

Editorial review

PayPal is a global digital payments platform that enables individuals and businesses to send, receive, and accept money online and in person. It supports credit and debit card processing, bank transfers, peer-to-peer payments, invoicing, and buy-now-pay-later options across 200+ markets. Businesses use PayPal Checkout to accept payments on websites and apps, while the point-of-sale system handles in-person transactions via card readers and tap-to-pay. With buyer and seller protection programs, fraud monitoring, and integrations with major e-commerce platforms, PayPal serves everyone from freelancers to enterprise merchants processing millions in transactions.

Available on: Web

LCLouis CorneloupUpdated May 26, 2026 · how we evaluateSourcepaypal.com ↗

Pros & Cons

Pros

Ubiquitous brand recognition and consumer trust worldwide
No monthly fee for standard payment processing
Comprehensive buyer and seller protection programs
Supports online, in-person, and peer-to-peer payments in one platform
Easy integration with major e-commerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce
Free tap-to-pay via mobile app eliminates hardware costs

Cons

Transaction fees of 2.29-4.99% plus fixed fee add up for high-volume sellers
Account holds and freezes can disrupt cash flow without warning
Customer support can be slow for dispute resolution
Currency conversion fees apply on international transactions
Chargeback process often favors buyers over sellers

Ratings Across the Web

4.5(28,423 reviews)

G22,252 reviews

4.4/5

Capterra26,104 reviews

4.7/5

SourceForge67 reviews

4.3/5

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Key Features

Online checkout with credit/debit card and PayPal balance supportPoint-of-sale with card readers, terminals, and tap-to-payPeer-to-peer money transfers domestically and internationallyBuy Now Pay Later with installment payment optionsInvoicing with automatic payment remindersVenmo integration for social commerceVirtual terminal for phone and mail ordersFraud protection and dispute resolution for buyers and sellersMulti-currency support across 200+ marketsDeveloper APIs and e-commerce platform integrations

Pricing

Paid

View pricing

Reviews

4.5/5

Across 28,423 verified user reviews on Capterra, G2, SourceForge

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Best PayPal Alternatives

Top alternatives based on features, pricing, and user needs.

View full list →

StripePaid

Payment infrastructure for the internet

4.5

SquareFreemium

Payment processing and POS systems

4.6

PayoneerPaid

Global payment solutions for businesses, freelancers, and marketplaces to pay, get paid, and grow globally.

4.0

PaddlePaid

Payments infrastructure for SaaS

4.5

AdyenPaid

Accept global payments with unified commerce

4.3

GumroadPaid

Sell digital products directly to fans, no upfront costs

4.2

WiseFreemium

International money transfers and accounts

See all Finance tools →

Still deciding?

Most buyers shortlist 2 or 3 tools before committing. Pull a side-by-side comparison or browse the full alternatives shortlist below.

All PayPal alternatives7+ tools ranked, pricing + verdict per pick PayPal vs StripeHead-to-head: features, pricing, who wins PayPal vs SquareHead-to-head: features, pricing, who wins PayPal vs PayoneerHead-to-head: features, pricing, who wins

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PayPal FAQ

What are PayPal's transaction fees for online payments?

PayPal Checkout charges 2.99% + $0.49 per transaction for credit and debit cards. PayPal wallet payments cost 3.49% + $0.49. Buy Now Pay Later transactions are 4.99% + $0.49. There is no monthly subscription fee.

Does PayPal charge a monthly fee?

No. PayPal uses a per-transaction pricing model with no monthly subscription. You only pay fees when you process a payment. Hardware like card readers ($29) and terminals ($199) are one-time purchases.

What is PayPal's in-person payment fee?

In-person card-present transactions cost 2.29% + $0.09. Tap-to-pay via the PayPal mobile app is free to set up. Manually keyed-in card transactions are 3.49% + $0.09.

Does PayPal offer buyer protection?

Yes. PayPal Purchase Protection covers eligible purchases if an item does not arrive or differs significantly from the seller description. Buyers can file disputes within 180 days of the transaction.

Can PayPal handle international payments?

Yes. PayPal operates in 200+ markets and supports multiple currencies. Currency conversion fees apply when sending or receiving money in a different currency.

Does PayPal integrate with e-commerce platforms?

Yes. PayPal integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento, and most major e-commerce platforms. Developer APIs are available for custom integrations.

Source: paypal.com

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