PayPal review

PayPal earns its place through checkout reach rather than price. Adding PayPal Checkout puts PayPal, Venmo and Pay Later buttons on your store, and guest checkout lets buyers pay by card without an account. Fees depend on how the buyer pays: standard credit and debit card payments cost 2.99% plus a fixed fee, PayPal Checkout and Venmo cost 3.49% plus a fixed fee, and Pay Later costs 4.99% plus a fixed fee. The US dollar fixed fee is 49 cents. Merchants who integrate Advanced Credit and Debit Card Payments pay 2.89% plus the fixed fee, and charities get lower rates. International transactions add a percentage on top of the domestic rate. Funds can be moved instantly to an eligible bank or debit card for 1.50% of the amount, or by standard transfer. PayPal is easy to add through almost any store builder, but at 3.49% for wallet payments it is one of the costlier ways to take money online.

Who it is for

Online stores that want the PayPal and Venmo buttons shoppers already trust, with little setup.

Price

No monthly fee; standard card payments 2.99% + 49¢; PayPal Checkout 3.49% + 49¢; Advanced card payments 2.89% + 49¢.

Standard Credit and Debit Card Payments 2.99% + fixed fee
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 6, 2026.

Key features

• PayPal Checkout with PayPal, Venmo and Pay Later buttons
• Guest checkout for card payments without a PayPal account
• Advanced Credit and Debit Card Payments at 2.89% + fixed fee
• Invoicing, payment links and QR code payments
• Instant transfer to an eligible bank or debit card

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Shoppers recognize PayPal and Venmo buttons
• Strength: Setup on most store builders takes minutes
• Strength: Pay Later options at no risk to the merchant
• Weakness: PayPal and Venmo wallet payments cost 3.49% + 49¢
• Weakness: Pay Later payments cost 4.99% + fixed fee
• Weakness: International sales add an extra percentage fee

Key facts

• Card payments: 2.99% + $0.49
• PayPal Checkout: 3.49% + $0.49
• Advanced card payments: 2.89% + $0.49
• Pay Later: 4.99% + $0.49
• Instant transfer: 1.50% of amount transferred

Where it ranks

PayPal is No. 4 in our Best Payment Gateways verdict.