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PaypalGet Paid & Manage Money

STOA rating

7.9 / 10

Openness

OPENNESS 8/10API 3/3 · Export 3/3 · Contract 0/2 · Integrations 2/2

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PayPal documents REST APIs for orders, payments, subscriptions, invoicing and disputes, and going live needs a PayPal Business account. developer.paypal.com, checked 8 Oct 2026 (opens in a new tab)

Your data

You can self-serve download a report of your transaction activity going back up to seven years, in PDF, Quicken, QuickBooks, CSV, or TAB format. paypal.com, checked 8 Oct 2026 (opens in a new tab)

Connections

PayPal has a listed integration on Zapier. zapier.com, checked 8 Oct 2026 (opens in a new tab)

PayPal runs its own Partner Directory of third-party integrations for its business accounts. paypal.com, checked 8 Oct 2026 (opens in a new tab)

Openness note

REST APIs with a Business account. Self-serve transaction export back 7 years. Listed on Zapier and its own Partner Directory.

What it does

World's most recognized online payment platform. Accept credit cards, debit cards, PayPal balances, and Venmo. Checkout buttons, invoicing, in-person payments via Zettle, and buyer/seller protection. No monthly fee. 3.49% + $0.49 per online transaction. Zettle: 2.29% + $0.09.

Strengths

Unmatched brand recognition — customers trust PayPal
No monthly fees — pay only per transaction
Supports Venmo and buy-now-pay-later for higher conversion
Easy integration with pre-built plugins everywhere

Weaknesses

3.49% + $0.49 per transaction is among the highest of major processors
International fees add an extra percentage on top of currency conversion charges
$20 chargeback fee — disputes often favor buyers
Account freezes common for new businesses or sales spikes

Key features

Accept payments via credit cards, PayPal balances, Venmo, and buy-now-pay-later
Send invoices with payment tracking and auto-reminders
In-person payments through Zettle card readers
Buyer protection builds customer trust
Easy integration with most e-commerce platforms

STOA verdict

PayPal is a great fit if you sell online and want a payment processor your customers already trust — most shoppers already have a PayPal account, which means fewer abandoned checkouts. The biggest upside is zero monthly fees, but the 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction is on the pricier side compared to competitors like Stripe or Square, so your costs add up fast if you have high sales volume.