How much does PayPal Zettle cost?

PayPal Zettle, which is a point-of-sale (POS) system that enables businesses to accept card payments, costs $29 for the first card reader, and $79 for additional card readers after that. PayPal Zettle uses hardware like receipt printers, barcode scanners, and terminals to receive payments. There are no monthly fees for using Zettle, but standard PayPal transaction fees do apply.

Is PayPal software as a service?

No, PayPal is not technically a software-as-a-service (SaaS) company, but it plays a crucial role in powering digital payments, especially for software companies. It provides features such as secure online payments, multi-currency support, and integrations with eCommerce platforms. PayPal enables businesses to process transactions globally, making it a widely used solution for digital payments across industries.

Can PayPal be trusted?

Yes, PayPal is a trustworthy and legitimate company for businesses. PayPal reviews on Software Advice highlight its fast payments, user-friendly platform, and multiple security factors. However, users should always be cautious of sending and receiving money on the platform and verify that any merchants are legitimate.

How do I avoid PayPal fees?

To avoid PayPal fees, individuals can send and receive money via the 'Friends and Family' option and pay with a bank account. However, for businesses, this would violate PayPal's terms of service. For businesses looking to reduce their fees, they should receive payments in the same currency as clients and apply for lower fees if they earn more than $3,000 per month.

What are the pros and cons of PayPal?

Positive PayPal reviewers on Software Advice mention its easy mobile payments, detailed transaction monitoring, fast ACH payments, and robust security and buyer protection. Cons from users include high business and international transaction fees, which can quickly add up. Some PayPal reviews also mention issues with handling disputes.

Updated April 29, 2025 at 1:55 AM

PayPal 2026: Benefits, Features & Pricing

Written by Sabrina Khoulalène

Content Analyst

Edited by Mehar Luthra

Team Lead, Content

Wondering if PayPal is right for your organization?

Our Payment Processing Software selection experts can help you in 15 minutes or less.

On this page

Our Summary
Screenshots
Pricing and Plans
Features
Integrations
Key Sentiments
User Reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
Popular Comparisons

Our Summary

PayPal

4.6

(26225)

Pros:

Strong security features
Global reach

Cons:

High transaction fees
Confusing interface

Pricing

Pricing available upon request

What is PayPal:

Paypal is an online payment system that allows businesses to send and receive money. PayPal helps businesses make purchases, transfer money, and pay bills with tools like instant transfers, multi-currency support, and cross-border payments. PayPal acts as an intermediary between banks and customers.

Why we like PayPal:

PayPal is featured on Software Advice’s FrontRunners list of top payment processing software, with users appreciating its real-time alerts on sales activity and transactions, online payments, and visual dashboards. PayPal ranks highly, with an overall rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars across 25,000+ reviews and 4.6 stars for ease of use and features.

Who should use PayPal:

PayPal is frequently used by small businesses, who make up 59% of PayPal reviewers on Software Advice. Users can accept online payments, utilize business debit cards or business loans, and analyze detailed reports on sales activity, refunds, fees, and customer data.

PayPal Screenshots

PayPal Overview

PayPal is a digital payment platform that enables businesses and individuals to pay and accept payments through an online portal. The solution is suitable for businesses of all sizes. It provides a one-touch login process, eliminating the need to re-enter information. For individuals, users can shop as well as process transactions overseas by linking their card details through PayPal’s portal.

For business owners, users can accept international payments from banks or digital wallets through the portal. Users can bill clients, receive direct payments from suppliers or manuf...

PayPal Pricing and Plans

Starting price: $0.09

Free Trial

Free Version

Point of Sale

$0.09

No plan information available

Card Processing

$0.29

Plan includes:

Visa
Mastercard
Apple Pay
Maestro
American Express
Discover

PayPal and Venmo

$0.49

Plan includes:

PayPal
Venmo

Pay Later

$0.49

No plan information available

Confused about pricing? We've got you covered.

Get a personalized pricing breakdown tailored to your specific needs—no guesswork, no generic estimates.

Our Analysis of PayPal's Pricing Plans

PayPal offers several pricing models to support a variety of payment methods, each with its own fee structure. Creating a business account is free—companies just need to provide a billing address and link a business bank account during setup. You can also choose which payment options to offer, and fees only apply when a transaction is processed.

To help you determine which model best fits your needs, we’ve outlined the core features, benefi...

ts, and potential drawbacks of PayPal’s main payment options: standard card processing (plus Expanded Checkout for digital wallets), PayPal and Venmo, PayPal Later, and PayPal POS. **Card processing (+ Expanded Checkout)** PayPal’s standard card processing charges 2.99% + $0.49 per transaction. Businesses using Expanded Checkout benefit from slightly lower rates—2.89% + $0.29 per transaction—while gaining the flexibility to offer additional payment methods like Apple Pay and Google Pay. Optional add-ons include Chargeback Protection (0.40%) and Advanced Fraud Protection ($0.07). **Pros:** - **Multiple payment options available:** Expanded Checkout lets businesses accept a mix of card payments and digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay, all under the same fee structure. - **No monthly fees:** Businesses only pay when they complete a sale, without any recurring monthly charges. - **Built-in protections:** Optional tools like Chargeback Protection and Advanced Fraud Protection help reduce risk. **Cons:** - **Add-on costs:** Extra fees for protection services can increase the total cost per transaction and accumulate over time. - **Flat transaction fees:** Even for smaller purchases, the $0.29 or $0.49 fixed fee per transaction can add up. **PayPal and Venmo payments** At $0.49 plus 3.49% per transaction, this setup serves businesses looking to reach digitally savvy, mobile-first customers who prefer using familiar platforms like PayPal or Venmo over traditional card payments. **Pros:** - **Expanded audience reach:** Helps businesses tap into PayPal and Venmo’s built-in user bases, particularly younger or mobile-first shoppers. - **PayPal Checkout access:** Combines card, PayPal, and Venmo payments in one streamlined flow, with built-in fraud tools and a familiar branded interface that can increase trust and conversion at checkout—but excludes support for other digital wallets, such as Apple Pay. - **Built-in protections:** Includes Seller Protection, fraud prevention, and compliance tools through PayPal Checkout. **Cons:** - **Higher transaction fees: Comes with a steeper rate—$0.49 plus 3.49% per transaction—compared to other PayPal options. - **Brand visibility tradeoff: Payments show as “PayPal” on customer bank statements, not your business name, which may affect brand recognition. **PayPal Pay Later** PayPal Pay Later charges 4.99% + $0.49 per transaction and is geared toward businesses selling high-ticket items or looking to increase average order value. It gives customers flexible payment options—either in four interest-free installments or extended monthly plans—while businesses receive the full payment upfront. **Pros** - **Built-in financing option:** Customers can choose between four interest-free payments or longer monthly installments of up to 24 months. - **Upfront business payouts:** Businesses receive the full transaction amount at the -time of purchase, while PayPal handles collection from the customer. - **No late fees:** Customers benefit from zero late fees or sign-up charges, helping reduce cart abandonment for higher-value items. **Cons:** - **Higher transaction fees:** The 4.99% + $0.49 fee per transaction is steeper than - PayPal’s other processing options. - **Aggressive interest charges for customers:** Monthly plans may include interest rates up to 35.99% APR, which may deter some buyers. - **Limited use case:** Best suited for businesses with higher average order values—and may not be ideal for those selling lower-cost goods. **PayPal POS** PayPal’s point-of-sale system charges a flat $0.09 per transaction and is designed for in-person sales at physical locations. Businesses can use the free POS app on a smartphone or purchase hardware like card readers and receipt printers starting at $29. Ideal for storefronts, contractors, or mobile vendors, this setup supports tap-to-pay, real-time inventory tracking, and instant fund transfers to your PayPal business account. **Pros:** - **Low transaction cost:** The $0.09 flat fee per sale makes PayPal POS an affordable in-person processing options. - **Flexible setup options:** Businesses can start with just a smartphone or add hardware like card readers and receipt printers as needed. - **Real-time payouts and insights:** Instant fund deposits, built-in inventory tools, and sales reports help streamline daily operations. **Cons:** - **Hardware costs:** While the app is free, physical stores may need to invest in POS equipment, which can add up. - **Limited to in-person sales:** This setup is tailored for face-to-face transactions and doesn’t cover online checkout needs. - **Basic feature set:** May lack advanced POS features found in more robust retail systems. **Conclusion** PayPal offers a flexible suite of payment solutions to meet the needs of online retailers and in-person sellers. Whether you’re looking to accept traditional card payments, tap into mobile-first audiences through PayPal and Venmo, offer buy now, pay later financing, or process in-store transactions with a POS system, each payment method brings its own advantages and limitations. Standard card processing and Expanded Checkout offer competitive rates and broad compatibility with digital wallets. PayPal and Venmo options help expand your customer base but come with slightly higher fees. Pay Later supports high-ticket sales and can boost order value, though it’s best suited for certain business types. Meanwhile, PayPal POS is a cost-effective tool for physical retailers and mobile vendors, offering affordable in-person transactions and real-time reporting features. Choosing the right PayPal payment setup will depend on your sales channels, customer preferences, and overall business goals. Carefully evaluating each option’s structure and associated fees can help you identify the approach that delivers the most value.

PayPal Features

Drawn from insights across 26225 verified reviews, we've outlined PayPal's best and worst rated features and how they stack up against the average rating.

PayPal's score

Category average

PayPal's Best Rated Features

Payment Tracking

5.0

4.85 category average

Real-time Alerts

4.88

4.08 category average

Internal Fraud Monitoring

4.83

4.61 category average

PayPal's Worst Rated Features

Ad hoc Reporting

3.56

3.11 category average

Search/Filter

3.58

3.85 category average

Expense Tracking

3.92

3.74 category average

Popular features found in Payment Processing
ACH Payment Processing
Billing & Invoicing
Debit/Credit Card Processing
In-Person Payments
Mobile Payments
Multi-Currency
Multiple Payment Options
Payment Fraud Prevention
Payment Gateway Integration
PCI Compliance
Recurring/Subscription Billing
Reporting/Analytics
More features of PayPal
Access Controls/Permissions
Accounting
Activity Dashboard
Ad hoc Reporting
AI/Machine Learning
Alerts/Notifications
Anomaly Detection
API
Authentication
Barcode/Ticket Scanning
Billing Portal
Cash Management
Check Fraud Detection
Compliance Management
Contact Database
Credit Card Processing
CRM
Customizable Dashboard
Customizable Invoices
Data Import/Export
Data Management
Data Security
Data Visualization
Deferred Billing
Digital Wallet Payments
eCommerce Management
EDI
Electronic Payments
Electronic Signature
Expense Tracking
Financial Analysis
Financial Management
Financial Reporting
For Banking
For eCommerce
For Food Trucks
For Retail
For Small Businesses
Fraud Detection
Internal Fraud Monitoring
Inventory Management
Invoice Creation
Invoice History
Invoice Management
Invoice Processing
Marketing Reports
Mobile Access
Monitoring
Multi-Location
Multi-Period Recurring Billing
Online Invoicing
Online Payments
Order Management
Payment Links
Payment Options
Payment Processing
Payment Tracking
Performance Management
Point of Sale (POS)
Product Catalog
Projections
Promotions Management
Real-time Alerts
Real-Time Data
Real-Time Monitoring
Receipt Management
Recurring Invoicing
Refund Management
Reminders
Returns Management
Risk Analysis
Risk Management
Role-Based Permissions
Sales Reports
Sales Tax Management
Scheduled/Automated Reports
Search/Filter
Self Service Portal
Shipping Labels
Shipping Management
Social Media Integration
Status Tracking
Transaction History
Transaction Monitoring

PayPal Integrations

Based on 26225 verified reviews, we've identified products most frequently integrated with PayPal.

Shopify

Integration rated 4.6 from 187 reviews

Regine Rodriguez

CEO

Used for more than 2 years

Reviewed September 2022

"So easy to implement on the shopify payments area."

WooCommerce

Integration rated 4.7 from 135 reviews

Kathy Place

Owner

Used for more than 2 years

Reviewed November 2022

"Easiest way to collect money. Sets up easily with woocommerce"

Wix

Integration rated 4.6 from 81 reviews

Mike Perrier

Owner

Used for more than 2 years

Reviewed November 2021

"We sell tickets to our event on Wix and PayPal makes it very easy!"

QuickBooks Online

Integration rated 4.7 from 55 reviews

WordPress

Integration rated 4.7 from 38 reviews

BigCommerce

Integration rated 4.6 from 30 reviews

Venmo

Integration rated 4.7 from 20 reviews

Payoneer

Integration rated 4.2 from 19 reviews

Cash App

Integration rated 4.8 from 15 reviews

See all 157 integrations

PayPal Key Sentiments

We analyzed 26225 verified reviews for PayPal to find out what actual users really think.

Most Positive Sentiments

Payment processing

70% Positive

24% Neutral

7% Negative

Users appreciate PayPal for its secure platform, which ensures safe transactions and peace of mind when making payments. They value the option to pay balances off with no interest and the convenience of interest-free payment plans. Additionally, freelancers find PayPal an excellent method for receiving payments from clients, enhancing their financial management.

Customer service

57% Positive

16% Neutral

27% Negative

Users generally appreciate PayPal's customer support availability and find the service reliable and helpful. They value the responsive and empathetic support staff, which enhances their overall experience. However, some users still report frustrating service experiences, including slow response times and difficulties in resolving issues.

Purchase and sales management

54% Positive

32% Neutral

14% Negative

Users find PayPal convenient for sending and receiving money, which supports their business growth and international transfers. They appreciate the ability to print shipping labels directly from PayPal, saving time and effort. Additionally, PayPal's wide acceptance among various vendors and online stores helps users manage their purchases and sales efficiently.

Least Positive Sentiments

Transaction fees

20% Positive

39% Neutral

41% Negative

Users express dissatisfaction with PayPal's high transaction fees, especially for small and international transactions. While some appreciate the instant transfer options, many find the fee structure complex and costly. The high fees can significantly impact small businesses and frequent users, leading to concerns about overall operating expenses.

Money transfers

48% Positive

31% Neutral

20% Negative

Users find PayPal convenient for sending and receiving money, with robust security features and quick international transfers. They value the speed of transactions and the ability to manage multiple currencies. However, some users experience account freezes, limitations, and slow transfer times, which can be frustrating and inconvenient.

PayPal User Reviews

Overall Rating

4.6

Ratings Breakdown

74%

20%

Secondary Ratings

Ease of Use

4.6

Value for money

4.5

Customer support

4.2

Functionality

4.6

Verified

Reviewer

Hospital & Health Care

11-50 employees

Used weekly for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed February 2026

Paypal has been on the decline

Previously 5

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Previously 3

Functionality

Previously 4

Pros:

It remains easy to pay for products while providing an extra layer of protection to my credit card and overall purchases.

Cons:

It has become increasingly difficult to get the people behind the scenes who make the final decision, in this case the Resolution Center, to side with you when something goes wrong.

Tuan H.

Verified reviewer

Mechanical or Industrial Engineering

51-200 employees

Used daily for less than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed March 2026

PayPal user

So far, I am very happy with the product, and I intend to continue to using PayPal as long as I am alive.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

Using Pay pal is the best way to protect one money. No fee, no surcharge for using Paypal. Whether purchasing online or send money to someone, Paypal can ensure your money reaches intended recipient. Instant notification from PayPal to let me know where my dollars went or receive by whom. On top of that, every month, I get monthly statements from PayPal for book keeping purposes, which is the best way to manage, auditing my money, and to avoid overspending over charging or over drafting by vendors. PayPal customer support is top of the lines, and they are very helpful, knowledgeable people to help resolve any issues I may have. Fraudsters and scammers are everywhere where, one can easily become victim for a lifetime before he even realizes it. That is why I am using Paypal.

Cons:

PayPal is a well rounded developed, so far , I don’t have any issues. But if I do, most time I found out after the hard way before I didn’t read throughly and used PayPal correctly as I should.

Valentina B.

Verified reviewer

Translation and Localization

Self-Employed

Used monthly for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed February 2026

More currencies in one account

Previously 5

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

I like to have the possibility to receive money in different currencies, as well as to be able to pay in different currencies without having different bank accounts or credit cards. It's easy to use and it's accepted on the most part of the e-shops.

Cons:

The conversion rates and the transfer rates are a little bit expensive in comparison to other platforms like Wise or Revolut.

Absana P.

Verified reviewer

Information Technology and Services

501-1000 employees

Used weekly for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed December 2025

Reliable and Convenient for Majority of Tasks

Overall, my experience with PayPal has been positive, it's a dependable platform for online payments, invoicing and sending/receiving money. Compared to other first choice payments like Zelle, Square or Venmo I find it to have more options especially with international transactions, however, it does have added fees. Despite this, it's adds an added level of security that not a lot of other plat forms can provide.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

I love the added safety of PayPal, as someone that makes quite a bit of online purchases on all sorts of sites, I always use PayPal, since the seller will never see my card or bank details. I've had a lot of peers that have gotten random charges on their cards, and this has never happened to me. Furthermore, PayPal also offered buyer protection and their customer support is great at responding if there was any issues with your purchases. It's also very fast & convenient, you can just pay with an email and password and no need to repeatedly enter card information. Furthermore, i love it's ability to automate payments, whenever I was sublease an apartment I could just automate it for the start of the month without having to manual remember and pay.

Cons:

There are very few drawback to PayPal, however, the fees can add up, especially for international transactions. They have a 5% fee and sometimes a currency conversion fee, so I found other platforms like my bank, the Bank of America, to do this conversions for more less.

Reasons for switching to PayPal

Direct online payments while still being able to transfer money to and from users.

Susana F.

Verified reviewer

Health, Wellness and Fitness

2-10 employees

Used monthly for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed February 2026

A Convenient and Trustworthy Payment Solution

My overall experience with PayPal has been very positive. It’s extremely convenient and easy to use, especially for managing payments

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

What I like most about PayPal is how easy and secure it makes online transactions. The platform is user-friendly, widely accepted, and provides an added layer of protection for purchases, which gives me peace of mind when shopping or sending payments.

Cons:

What I liked least about PayPal is that sometimes the fees can feel high, especially for small transactions or currency conversions.

Lauren F.

Verified reviewer

Legal Services

11-50 employees

Used weekly for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed March 2026

Safe and easy payments

Easy to use, reliable, quick payments saving time when making purchases. Links can easily be sent via WhatsApp or messenger to request payments. Safe to use, knowing payments are protected.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

I love that you can use PayPal to easily make payments on your phone without having to provide bank details each time and knowing your payments are secure. It's also easy to make quick transfers to friends and family. I also like that you can very easily send payment request links to people via WhatsApp, messenger, ect. Very user friendly.

Cons:

When yku use PayPal for business payments, ie receiving payments from customers, they take a large percentage of the payment compared to other payments services.

Nicole G.

Verified reviewer

Insurance

Self-Employed

Used weekly for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed January 2026

PayPal: Send and Receive Money Instantaneously

I enjoy using PayPal because it has a nice interface and it is very simple to use. I have not had any major issues with the setup.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

PayPal has a simple interface that is easy to use and I can seamlessly send and receive money to my friends and family from one app.

Cons:

Sometimes the funds come from my bank account instead of my PayPal balance which is tricky. The setting needs to be changed before sending money and it is not very intuitive.

Victoria H.

Verified reviewer

Insurance

51-200 employees

Used weekly for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed February 2026

Excellent payment system to use

My overall experience is good. I have been with them so long and have overall had more successes than challenges with them.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

Easy to use online and not many issues with the system. Never had theft or someone access my account unauthorized. I feel it is a safe system to use and can add the Mastercard to your wallet. I also like they have the Pay in four options and you can change your PayPal credit into a Mastercard.

Cons:

I have had a couple of instances when I used PayPal Credit and it debited my checking account instead. I use PayPal Credit as my choice for online purchases so it annoys me when I elect it and they debit my checking account instead.

SURYA MOULI A.

Verified reviewer

Printing

Self-Employed

Used daily for less than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed January 2026

Handy payment method

Very handy way to pay when you dont have the card details with you and extra layer of protection for the purchases

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

Some times surcharge apploes to card purchases. If paypal is acceptable in the vendors payment process. There wont be any extra charges. Such as flight ticket purchase with singapore airlines website. Extra layer of protection for online purchases.

Cons:

Some phones and browsers aren't compatable with paypal login. I might be wrong as it only happens on my phone. Not all vendors have paypal yet snd thats another drawback

Carlie R.

Verified reviewer

Arts and Crafts

Self-Employed

Used daily for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed February 2026

GOOD FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, HOWEVER...

Mediocre. Have had ongoing issues with them for a very long time. Most issues were resolved, however, i wouldnt generally recommend.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

The ease of transerring funds and the small fees. That helps fellow small business owners financially & conveniently.

Cons:

Their rules regarding what is considered against their terms. Some of the reasons are outlandish and unnecessary for MOST banned members.

Showing 1 - 10 of 26225 Reviews

See All Reviews

PayPal FAQs

How much does PayPal Zettle cost?
PayPal Zettle, which is a point-of-sale (POS) system that enables businesses to accept card payments, costs $29 for the first card reader, and $79 for additional card readers after that. PayPal Zettle uses hardware like receipt printers, barcode scanners, and terminals to receive payments. There are no monthly fees for using Zettle, but standard PayPal transaction fees do apply.
Is PayPal software as a service?
No, PayPal is not technically a software-as-a-service (SaaS) company, but it plays a crucial role in powering digital payments, especially for software companies. It provides features such as secure online payments, multi-currency support, and integrations with eCommerce platforms. PayPal enables businesses to process transactions globally, making it a widely used solution for digital payments across industries.
Can PayPal be trusted?
Yes, PayPal is a trustworthy and legitimate company for businesses. PayPal reviews on Software Advice highlight its fast payments, user-friendly platform, and multiple security factors. However, users should always be cautious of sending and receiving money on the platform and verify that any merchants are legitimate.
How do I avoid PayPal fees?
To avoid PayPal fees, individuals can send and receive money via the 'Friends and Family' option and pay with a bank account. However, for businesses, this would violate PayPal's terms of service. For businesses looking to reduce their fees, they should receive payments in the same currency as clients and apply for lower fees if they earn more than $3,000 per month.
What are the pros and cons of PayPal?
Positive PayPal reviewers on Software Advice mention its easy mobile payments, detailed transaction monitoring, fast ACH payments, and robust security and buyer protection. Cons from users include high business and international transaction fees, which can quickly add up. Some PayPal reviews also mention issues with handling disputes.