Send & receive money
Transfer money to and from other PayPal users using an email address or phone number. Bank-funded transfers are free; instant transfers carry a fee.
Online payments
Send money, shop online, and get paid.
PayPal is one of the largest online payment platforms in the world, allowing users to send and receive money, shop securely online without sharing card details, and access debit and credit products.
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Key services
- Send & receive money✓
- Online checkout✓
- PayPal Debit Card✓
- PayPal Credit✓
- Business payments✓
Online & mobile payments
About PayPal
A widely accepted online payment platform for personal and business use.
PayPal allows users to link bank accounts, debit cards, and credit cards to a free PayPal account and then use it to send money to individuals or pay at millions of online retailers. When paying at checkout, your payment details are not shared with the seller — PayPal acts as the intermediary.
PayPal also offers a PayPal Debit Mastercard for spending a PayPal balance in stores and online, PayPal Credit (a revolving credit line), and business tools for merchants and freelancers to accept payments. Venmo, which is also owned by PayPal, handles peer-to-peer transfers.
Common uses
What PayPal offers.
PayPal covers several common financial needs in one place.
Online checkout
Pay at millions of online stores without entering card details. PayPal is accepted at major retailers and many small businesses.
PayPal Debit Card
A Mastercard debit card linked to your PayPal balance that can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted.
Business tools
Accept payments via invoice, PayPal buttons, or QR code. PayPal Here and Zettle are card readers for in-person payments.
Who is it for
Who uses PayPal.
PayPal is widely used by online shoppers who want to pay without sharing their card number directly with a retailer, freelancers and small businesses who need to send or receive payments quickly, and people who need to send money to friends or family in the U.S. or internationally.
Getting started
How to get started with PayPal.
Go to paypal.com and sign up for a free personal account using your email address. Business accounts are also available.
Link a bank account, debit card, or credit card to fund payments. You can also maintain a PayPal balance in your account.
To pay at checkout online, select PayPal at the payment step and log in. Your linked payment method is charged without sharing your card with the merchant.
To send money to someone, use the Send and Request feature and enter their email address or phone number. Bank-funded transfers are free; using a card to send money carries a fee.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions about PayPal.
Is it free to send money through PayPal?
Sending money to friends and family in the U.S. is free when funded by your PayPal balance or linked bank account. Sending money funded by a debit or credit card carries a fee. Instant transfers to your bank account also carry a fee; standard transfers (1-3 business days) are free. International transfers typically include a fee. See paypal.com for the current fee schedule.
Is PayPal safe for online shopping?
PayPal does not share your financial account details with sellers, which reduces exposure compared to entering a card number directly. PayPal Purchase Protection may cover eligible purchases if an item does not arrive or significantly differs from the description. Review the terms for what qualifies.
What is the difference between PayPal and Venmo?
PayPal and Venmo are both owned by PayPal Holdings. PayPal is designed primarily for online shopping and business payments and is accepted at millions of merchants worldwide. Venmo is designed for peer-to-peer transfers between friends and has a social feed component. Venmo is only available in the U.S.
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Information source: PayPal's official U.S. website and help center pages. Last verified June 2026.
US Living Tips is an independent directory and is not affiliated with or endorsed by PayPal.