- PriceFree - merchant fees
- Founded1998
- HQSan Jose, US
- Employees10,000+
About PayPal
PayPal is still the most widely accepted digital wallet online, with buyer protection that makes strangers safe to pay. P2P transfers, Pay Later plans, and crypto sit alongside checkout in 200+ markets, 100+ currencies.
Key Features
- Online checkout wallet
- Purchase protection
- Pay in 4 installments
- International transfers
- Crypto buy/hold
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Accepted almost everywhere online
- Strong buyer protection
- Instant P2P with balance
Cons
- Merchant fees on receiving
- Account freezes frustrate sellers
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PayPal free?
What does buyer protection cover?
Can I pay in installments?
Best For
Online shoppers and freelancers wanting universally accepted payments.
Use Cases
- Paying online without exposing card details to merchants
- Sending money to friends and family domestically and abroad
- Receiving payments as a freelancer or small online business
- Buyer protection on marketplace and cross-border purchases
- Pay in 4 installment financing at millions of checkouts
Pricing Details
PayPal is free for personal purchases and for sending money from a linked bank in the US. Businesses pay roughly 2.99–3.49% plus fixed fees per transaction. International personal transfers and currency conversion carry fees around 3–4%, and instant bank withdrawals cost about 1.75%. No monthly fees for standard accounts.
Security & Trust
PayPal never shares your financial details with sellers, offers two-factor authentication and passkeys, and backs eligible purchases with Buyer Protection covering non-delivery and misdescription. Phishing emails impersonating PayPal are endemic — always open the app directly rather than clicking email links, and verify requests inside your account.
Alternatives To Consider
Wise crushes PayPal on international transfer fees and exchange rates. Venmo (PayPal-owned) and Zelle handle US friend payments faster, while Stripe serves online businesses with better developer tools. Apple Pay and Google Pay cover tap-to-pay checkout privacy without an extra account.
Editorial Verdict
PayPal is still the safest generalist wallet for online shopping — ubiquitous acceptance and real buyer protection nothing else quite matches. Its fees for international transfers and currency conversion are poor value next to Wise. Keep it for purchases and protection; move money across borders elsewhere.
Review notes
Last reviewed: July 26, 2026
Client Reviews
No verified client reviews yet. Worked with PayPal? Share your experience. Reviews are email-verified and moderated before publishing.