PayPal's API lets you take payments, send payouts and run checkout — there's no monthly fee, you pay a percentage plus a fixed fee per transaction. It's the most widely recognised consumer wallet, which can lift conversion. Here's what it costs and how to get credentials.
| Transaction type | Percentage | + Fixed fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard online payment (US) | 2.99% | $0.49 | Most checkouts |
| Checkout / advanced cards | 3.49% | $0.49 | Card + wallet acceptance |
| Cross-border / currency | +1.5% approx | varies | International buyers |
| Micropayments (opt-in) | 4.99% | $0.09 | Small-ticket items |
→ Comparing processors? See the Stripe guide — fees are close, the difference is reach and payout flexibility.
There's no free tier and no monthly fee — PayPal's API is free to integrate, and you pay only a per-transaction fee when you actually collect money. A full sandbox environment lets you build and test for free before going live.
1. Create a business account at paypal.com and go to the Developer Dashboard (developer.paypal.com).
2. Under Apps & Credentials, create an app to get your Client ID and Secret.
3. Use the Sandbox credentials to test, then switch to Live.
4. Exchange your credentials for an access token, then call the Orders or Payouts API.
Test it with a simple request:
Stripe is the developer favourite with similar fees and cleaner APIs; Paddle and Lemon Squeezy act as merchant-of-record (they handle tax) for SaaS; Square suits in-person plus online.
No monthly fee — about 2.99% + $0.49 per standard US online transaction, with higher rates for advanced card acceptance, cross-border and micropayments. Always confirm rates for your country.
They're close — both hover around 2.9–3.5% + a fixed fee. The real differences are buyer reach (PayPal wallet), payout options and developer experience (Stripe).
Create a business account, open the Developer Dashboard, create an app under Apps & Credentials, and copy the Client ID and Secret (sandbox first, then live).
Yes — PayPal provides a full free sandbox to build and test before accepting real payments.
Not affiliated with PayPal. Prices are reference estimates — always verify on the official pricing page.