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Paid plans start at $5/mo. There's also a free plan.
PayPal has free business options, but free does not mean fee-free: the pricing page lists processing rates on standard payments, and Payflow Link charges $0.10 per transaction. Paid plans start at $5 per month for Payments Advanced, while Payflow Pro starts at $25 and several options cost $30. Add-ons can raise the bill, and some transaction and fraud fees are not published. Annual prices are not published either, so the monthly rate is only part of the cost.
01Every plan, line by line
| Plan | Billed annually | Billed monthly | Built for |
|---|---|---|---|
| PayPal Business Account (Standard / PayPal Checkout) | — | $0 | Businesses accepting online and in-person payments |
| Payflow Link | — | $0 | Businesses adding a hosted payment page |
| Payflow Pro | — | $25 | Businesses integrating payments into their checkout |
| Payments Advanced | — | $5 | Businesses needing an advanced payment checkout |
| Payments Pro | — | $30 | Businesses needing customizable payment processing |
| Payments Pro Payflow | — | $30 | Businesses using Payflow payment processing |
| Virtual Terminal | — | $30 | Businesses taking payments by phone |
Add-ons and overages
- Recurring Billing: $10 per month
- Recurring Payment Tool: $30 per month
- Network Tokenization: $0.15 per token issued
- 3D Secure Advanced: $0.03 per lookup
- Smart Retries: 0.6% per successful recovered transaction
- Chargeback Protection Tool: 0.40%–0.60% per transaction
- Fraud Protection Services for Payflow: fees not published
02What the plan grid doesn't tell you
Transaction processing
The free Business Account lists 3.49% + $0.49 for PayPal Checkout/Venmo, 2.99% + $0.49 for standard card payments, and 2.29% + $0.09 in person.
Unpublished processing fees
Payments Advanced and Payments Pro Payflow do not publish per-transaction amounts. Payflow Fraud Protection Services fees are also not published.
Recurring billing add-ons
Recurring Billing costs $10/month; Recurring Payment Tool costs $30/month. Payments Pro lists both as add-ons.
Dispute and recovery tools
Chargeback Protection Tool costs 0.40%–0.60% per transaction; Smart Retries costs 0.6% per successful recovered transaction.
03Which plan should you buy?
| If you are… | Get | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Businesses taking standard payments | PayPal Business Account (Standard / PayPal Checkout) | There is no monthly maintenance fee, but transaction fees apply to checkout, card, and in-person payments. |
| Businesses needing hosted checkout | Payflow Link | There is no monthly fee; the listed charge is $0.10 per transaction. Recurring Billing costs extra. |
| Businesses wanting customizable processing | Payments Pro | It costs $30/month, with standard transaction fees and optional recurring billing and payment-tool add-ons. |
04Is PayPal worth the money?
PayPal is worth considering if you want a business payment option with a no-monthly-fee account or a choice of paid processing plans. But the free starting point still carries transaction charges, and those rates vary by payment method. Some processing and fraud fees are not published, while recurring and dispute tools can add costs. We would compare the exact methods and add-ons you need against other providers before choosing; the listed prices alone do not establish which option is cheapest.
PayPal pricing FAQ
How much does PayPal charge as a fee?
It depends on the payment method. The listed Business Account rates are 3.49% + $0.49 for PayPal Checkout and Venmo, 2.99% + $0.49 for standard card payments, and 2.29% + $0.09 for in-person card or QR payments. Other plans may have separate transaction fees.
How do I avoid a 3% fee on PayPal?
The listed pricing does not show a universal way to remove processing fees. Business Account rates vary by method: 2.29% + $0.09 in person, 3.49% + $0.49 for PayPal Checkout/Venmo, and 2.99% + $0.49 for standard card payments. Check which rate applies to your transaction.
Is there a monthly fee to have PayPal?
For businesses, the listed Business Account and Payflow Link have no monthly fee. Other business plans cost $5, $25, or $30 per month. The published pricing does not specify whether a personal PayPal wallet has a monthly fee.
How much does PayPal charge for $1,000?
At the listed Business Account rates, a $1,000 standard card payment costs $30.39 at 2.99% + $0.49. PayPal Checkout/Venmo costs $35.39 at 3.49% + $0.49; in-person card or QR costs $22.99 at 2.29% + $0.09. Other transaction types may have different fees.