Can someone send you money on paypal

Sending money to friends and family no longer requires the use of an expensive wire transfer service like Western Union or MoneyGram. With PayPal, you can send money to anyone with an email address or a mobile phone number. The recipient doesn't even need a PayPal account to get started, and there are no fees for you if you pay with your PayPal account balance or bank account.

Sending Money With PayPal

  1. To get started, log in to your PayPal account and enter the recipient's email address or mobile phone number. Select the amount of money and type of currency you want to send. If you use your PayPal account balance or linked bank account to make the payment there's no fee to use the service. Using a debit or credit card incurs a 2.9 percent fee plus 30 cents per transaction. Sending money internationally also incurs a small fee.

Accepting the Payment

  1. The person you send the money to will receive a text message or email letting him know you sent a payment. To claim the money, he will have to create a PayPal account. The individual can withdraw the money by linking a bank account, signing up for a PayPal debit card or requesting a paper check. The money you send will be available in his PayPal balance immediately upon opening a new PayPal account.

    Ana’s interest in finance developed out of her own entrepreneurial journey. As a business owner, she has first-hand experience with the topics she covers for Bankrate. As a finance expert, Ana has ghostwritten for CFOs of fintech companies and authored resources that help small business owners, finance departments, and everyone in between.

    PayPal can offer a convenient way to send money to friends and family, and also to make payments for goods and services.

    In this article, we'll show you how to send money to someone with PayPal – with or without an account.

    For international payments, you could save a lot of money if you choose an alternative provider, such as Wise. More on that later.


    Can someone send you money on paypal


    📝 This article will touch on:
    • The catches to using PayPal internationally
    • What you should know if you’re sending money to a business through PayPal
    • How to send money through PayPal using your account
    • A table with the pros and cons of each different payment method
    • How to send money through PayPal without an account
    • How Wise can offer you a better option for sending money

    With that said, here’s all you need to know about making a payment with PayPal — with or without an active PayPal account.

    Using PayPal to pay internationally? There are a few catches.

    Through PayPal Friends and Family, PayPal allows users to send and receive payments more or less anywhere in the world whether if you want to pay back a friend or family member; and with PayPal Goods and Services you get paid as a freelance worker, or simply indulge in a little online shopping.

    However, different services with PayPal come with different costs. It’s well worth understanding the PayPal fee structure before you decide if PayPal is the right way to make your payment.

    If you’re sending money to a family member or friend, based overseas, there are several charges to pay.

    Some of the costs depend on how you choose to fund the payment.

    PayPal International transfer feesCostPaying by balance or linked bank account5% (minimum: $0.99, maximum: $4.99)¹Paying by credit or debit card5% (minimum: $0.99, maximum: $4.99)¹Currency conversion feeYou’ll be charged a fee of 3% to 4%, depending on the situation. The fees are usually removed from the transfer amount as it’s processed.²Payments for goods or servicesThese international fees can be even higher — more on that in a moment.

    For many customers, when you’re making an international money transfer, it’s most likely better value to use an alternative provider like Wise. There’s just a small transparent fee⁸, and the exchange rate used is the mid-market rate.

    That means there’s no currency conversion fee to worry about, and you’ll be able to see upfront exactly how much cash your recipient will get. What’s more, Wise charges the same fee, whether you’re sending money to a friend, or paying a supplier for a business transaction.

    Learn more about Wise

    Sending money to a business through PayPal? You’ll want to be informed

    As mentioned above, PayPal fees can be high if you’re paying for goods and services, and especially so if you’re making an international payment:

    2.99% + international transfer fee + a currency conversion spread⁷.

    That means that it’ll cost more to make a payment to a business than it would do to a friend — and it’ll be much more expensive to send money in a foreign currency than it would be to use US dollars.

    Using an alternative provider such as Wise Business may be cheaper compared to using providers like PayPal. You can also create and send your invoices by using our downloadable free invoice templates or invoice generator.

    In most cases, the costs are charged to the person creating the invoice.

    This can mean that businesses using PayPal choose to roll up these costs into the invoice amount to make sure they finish up with the right amount in the end.

    If this is the case, you might find that both you and the person you’re paying are better off if you choose an alternative way to pay your bill.

    Save money with Wise Business today

    How to send money through PayPal using your account

    You can make a payment easily using PayPal if you’ve received a money request or invoice. Or you can set up the payment yourself, as long as you have the email address or telephone number of the person you want to pay. Here’s how.

    Step 1: Start the payment

    If you’ve been emailed an invoice or money request, you’ll simply need to click on the ‘Pay now’ button to get started. Depending on the device you’re using, you might then be asked to log into your PayPal account before progressing.

    If you need to start the payment yourself, you’ll need to log into your PayPal account and then click the ‘Send and request’ button.⁵

    Step 2: Select whether you’re making a personal or business payment

    If you’re structuring the payment yourself, PayPal will ask you to confirm if you’re paying for goods and services, or making a payment to a friend or family member, either in the US or internationally.⁵ Remember, the fees and charges could be different for each service, so make sure you pick the right one for your needs.

    Step 3: Enter the details for the recipient

    You’re asked to input the email address or phone number of the person you wish to pay.⁵ Make sure you’ve got this information correct before you proceed.

    Step 4: Confirm the amount and currency

    You’ll then need to confirm the amount you want to pay, and the currency to use. This is done using the drop-down boxes — just click on the currency you want.⁵

    Step 5: Hit confirm, and choose a funding source

    Confirm that the payment has been entered correctly, and choose how you wish to pay. You can usually choose between a few different funding sources at this stage — using PayPal balance, a linked bank account, or a credit or debit card.⁵

    There are pros and cons to each payment option. So it’s a good idea to know what you’re getting into.

    PayPal's payment optionProsConsPayPal balanceFully funded domestic payments: fee-free⁶

    Funding domestic payment with balance and linked bank account: free⁶

    International payments carry fees⁶

    Payments in currencies other than USD carry fees

    Partially funding with credit/debit card also carries fees⁶

    Linked bank accountFully funded domestic payments: fee-free⁶

    Funding domestic payment with balance and linked bank account: free⁶

    International payments carry fees⁶

    Payments in currencies other than USD carry fees

    Partially funding with credit/debit card also carries fees⁶

    Debit/credit cardPossible to make a payment on PayPal without an account if you pay with credit/debit cardPaying with card brings much higher fees than paying with balance or linked bank account

    Domestic payments cost 2.9% of the amount + $0.30³

    International payments cost even more

    Step 6: Review the payment and you’re done

    Once you’ve added your funding source, you’re more or less done. Click the button to confirm the payment, and you’ll receive an emailed receipt showing the payment has been processed.

    How to send money through PayPal without an account

    To make a payment through PayPal without opening an account yourself, you’ll have to have the recipient send you an invoice or money request. This means you’ll receive an email with either a detailed invoice — usually if you’re paying a business — or a simple note explaining what the money is needed for.

    Embedded in the email will be a ‘Pay now’ button, which is all you need to make the payment without opening a PayPal account yourself.

    Step 1: Click on ‘Pay now’ in the email or invoice you’ve received

    Assuming you’ve received the email detailing the payment, simply click on the ‘Pay now’ button.⁴ If you can’t see the email, it’s worth checking your trash or spam folders, in case it has been sent there.

    Step 2: Enter your credit or debit card details

    You’ll now be given the option to open a PayPal account yourself and pay that way. However, if you don’t want to do that, you just select the credit or debit card option and enter the details for the card you wish to use.⁴

    It’s worth remembering, however, that payments through PayPal using a credit or debit card are much more expensive than payments made using a PayPal account with balance or a linked bank account.¹ You can look at the table in the previous section to get more of an idea of the cost differences.

    Step 3: Confirm the payment

    Here you’ll get a final chance to review the payment and make sure everything’s in order. If it’s all as you want it, just click confirm and the payment will be processed. You’ll receive an emailed receipt of your payment for your records.⁴

    Can someone send you money on paypal

    Try a Wise account - And save money on international transfers

    If you need to make a payment — whether to pay back a friend who bought you dinner, or to cover a supplier invoice for your small business — you have choices. PayPal can be convenient for some transaction types, but there are fees to take into consideration.

    And if you’re making an international payment, the costs can be pretty steep. Before you make your decision, it could save you money to check all the options available to you to make sure you’re not paying too much for your particular transaction.

    You could consider using Wise as an alternative, and if you need to make international payment regularly, opening anaccount for free could also be a good option for you. For a fee⁸, you can also get the Wise debit card, which you can use to pay for goods and services all over the world.

    See how much you can save with Wise:

    The true cost of sending USD to GBP

    Get a Wise account today


    Sources:

    ¹PayPal - Consumer Fees - Transfers
    ²PayPal - Consumer Fees - Currency Conversion
    ³PayPal - Consumer Fees - Card Payments
    ⁴PayPal - How do I pay a money request or invoice?
    ⁵PayPal - How do I send money?
    ⁶PayPal - What are the fees for PayPal accounts?
    ⁷PayPal - Merchant Fees
    ⁸Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing: Only Pay for What You Use for the most up-to-date pricing and fee information.

    All sources checked on 22 September 2022


    This publication is provided for general information purposes only and is not intended to cover every aspect of the topics with which it deals. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content in this publication. The information in this publication does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from TransferWise Limited or its affiliates. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether express or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.

    How do I receive money someone sent me on PayPal?

    When someone sends you money, you'll receive a notification via email and/or the PayPal app. The money is deposited into your PayPal account. You can keep the money in your PayPal account to apply it toward future transactions or transfer it to your bank account.

    Can someone else send me money on PayPal?

    You can receive money on PayPal from friends and family, or from someone buying a product or service you're offering, as long as the sender has your PayPal email address. After you receive money on PayPal, you can transfer all or some of it to your connected bank account in just a few steps.

    Can someone send me money through PayPal without an account?

    You can send money to almost anyone anywhere around the globe, anytime – even to someone without a PayPal account. However, to access the money, the recipient must have a PayPal account. When PayPal notifies the recipient that money has been sent, simple instructions on how to open a PayPal account are also included.