Accepting PayPal
How to accept PayPal payments in WooCommerce, including setup, the different PayPal options, and what customers see.
PayPal is one of the most recognized payment methods in the world. Many customers trust PayPal because they can pay without sharing their card details with your store. Offering PayPal alongside credit cards can meaningfully increase your conversions.
Quick summary
Install the "WooCommerce PayPal Payments" plugin (the official, recommended option from WooCommerce), connect it to your PayPal business account, and enable it. Customers can then pay via PayPal at checkout. PayPal also supports credit and debit card payments for customers without a PayPal account.
Which PayPal plugin to use
There are several PayPal plugins for WooCommerce. We recommend the official one:
| Plugin | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| WooCommerce PayPal Payments | Official plugin, supports PayPal, PayPal Credit, Pay Later, Venmo, and card payments. This is the one to use. |
| PayPal Standard (legacy) | Older, basic option. Redirects customers to PayPal's website. No longer recommended. |
Setting up WooCommerce PayPal Payments
Install the plugin. Go to Plugins → Add New, search for "WooCommerce PayPal Payments" (by WooCommerce), install, and activate it.
Go to WooCommerce → Settings → Payments. Find "PayPal" in the list and click Set up.
Click "Connect to PayPal." You'll be redirected to log in to your PayPal Business account (or create one if you don't have one).
Grant the required permissions so WooCommerce can process payments on your behalf.
Return to your site. The plugin will confirm the connection.
Enable Sandbox mode for testing. Test a payment using PayPal's sandbox credentials.
Disable Sandbox mode and go live when you're ready.
What customers see
Customers can pay with PayPal in two ways:
- PayPal account — they log in to their PayPal account and confirm payment. No card details entered on your site.
- Debit or credit card via PayPal — even customers without a PayPal account can pay by card through PayPal's card fields.
The modern PayPal plugin displays a PayPal button prominently at checkout. Many stores also show the PayPal button on product pages and in the mini cart for faster checkout.
PayPal fees
PayPal charges per-transaction fees. The exact rate depends on your country and sales volume. Check PayPal's official website for current rates.
PayPal deposits money into your PayPal account first. You then transfer it to your bank account manually or set up automatic transfers.
PayPal Business account required
You need a PayPal Business account (not Personal) to accept payments through WooCommerce. If you only have a Personal account, you can upgrade it for free in the PayPal settings.
Pay Later options
The modern PayPal plugin supports Pay Later options (like "Pay in 4" installments) in countries where it's available. PayPal handles the financing — you receive the full amount immediately. This can increase average order value.
You can enable or disable Pay Later messaging in the plugin settings.
Common questions
Related guides
- Payment methods explained
- Accepting credit cards (Stripe & more)
- Understanding the checkout experience
- Troubleshooting payment problems
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