Shopify questionAnswer3 min read
Can I Accept PayPal on Shopify? Setup, Fees and Fixes
Yes, and on most stores it takes a few minutes. The way PayPal connects depends on your country, and that changes the fees and where you manage disputes.
Key takeaways
- Every Shopify store can offer PayPal. In the US and France it runs as PayPal Wallet through Shopify Payments; elsewhere it's PayPal Express Checkout.
- If Shopify Payments is your primary provider, Shopify charges no third-party transaction fee on PayPal orders.
- PayPal's own US rate for PayPal Checkout is 3.49% plus 49¢ a transaction, as checked on 7 November 2026.
- Most "PayPal not working" problems come from an unfinished account setup or a US store looking for Express Checkout, which isn't offered there.
- Who it is for
- Store owners adding PayPal
- Time needed
- 3 minutes to read
- What you need
- Your Shopify admin and a PayPal business account
Yes, you can accept PayPal on any Shopify store. In the US and France, PayPal is added automatically as PayPal Wallet when you set up Shopify Payments. In the UK, the Netherlands, Australia and most other countries, Shopify creates a PayPal Express Checkout account for your store, which you finish setting up and link to your PayPal business account.
I set up payments on Shopify stores every week, and PayPal is the one customers ask about most. Everything below was checked on Shopify's and PayPal's official pages on 7 November 2026.
How PayPal connects, by country
| Store based in | PayPal option | Managed in |
|---|---|---|
| United States | PayPal Wallet | Shopify Payments |
| France | PayPal Wallet | Shopify Payments |
| UK, Netherlands, Australia | PayPal Express Checkout | Your PayPal account |
Shopify's help center is clear that PayPal Express Checkout "isn't available to merchants in France or the United States". US stores instead get a PayPal Wallet account automatically with Shopify Payments, and they need the newest version of Shopify Checkout. Venmo comes with it in the US unless you ask Shopify Support to turn it off.
How to turn it on
- US stores. Set up Shopify Payments. PayPal Wallet is created with it and appears in your Shopify Payments wallet settings, not under additional payment methods.
- UK, EU and Australian stores. Go to
Settings > Payments, find PayPal Express Checkout and complete the setup with your PayPal business account. Shopify says to finish this promptly after creating the store. - Test it. Place a small real order, then refund it, so you see the full flow your customers see.
Only the store owner can edit the PayPal Express details, so staff accounts won't see the option to change it.
What PayPal costs on Shopify
There are two possible fees: PayPal's processing fee and Shopify's third-party transaction fee.
- PayPal's fee. PayPal's US fee page lists PayPal Checkout at 3.49% plus a 49¢ fixed fee, as checked on 7 November 2026. Rates differ by country, so check PayPal's fee page for yours.
- US PayPal Wallet. Fees show in the Payments section of your Shopify admin. If a customer pays in a currency other than your payout currency, Shopify applies a 3% currency conversion fee.
- Shopify's fee. If Shopify Payments is your primary provider, PayPal orders are exempt. If it isn't, Shopify adds 2% on Basic, 1% on Grow, 0.6% on Advanced or 0.2% on Plus.
Refunds and disputes
For US PayPal Wallet, refunds, payouts and disputes all live in your Shopify admin. Shopify's help page says that when an inquiry opens, the disputed funds are held and you have 20 days to resolve it with the customer. On a disputed transaction you can issue only a full refund, and dispute decisions can't be appealed. Orders are eligible for PayPal's Seller Protection. With PayPal Express Checkout, you handle disputes in your PayPal account.
When Shopify PayPal isn't working
- Setup never finished. The Express Checkout account is created automatically, but it won't work properly until you complete it with PayPal.
- US store looking for Express. It isn't offered in the US. Check that Shopify Payments is active, because PayPal Wallet depends on it.
- Old checkout. US PayPal Wallet needs the newest Shopify Checkout.
- Payment declined. If PayPal shows but payments fail, see my answer on why a customer's payment is declined.
Country notes
UK: you can't add a surcharge for paying by PayPal. The UK ban covers consumer cards and electronic payment services such as PayPal, which I explain in can I add a card surcharge. Netherlands: most Dutch shoppers pay with iDEAL, so offer it alongside PayPal. Australia: Express Checkout is the route, with PayPal's Australian fees.
What to do next
- Check your country's route. Wallet in the US and France, Express elsewhere.
- Make Shopify Payments primary if you can, so PayPal orders avoid Shopify's extra fee.
- Place a test order and refund it.
Free tools
Check your own store
Free, no sign-up. Each one runs a part of this guide for you.
Frequently asked questions
Does Shopify support PayPal?
Yes. US and French stores get PayPal Wallet through Shopify Payments, and stores in most other countries get a PayPal Express Checkout account when the store is created.
Does Shopify charge a fee on PayPal payments?
Not if Shopify Payments is your primary payment provider. Otherwise Shopify's third-party transaction fee applies: 2% on Basic, 1% on Grow, 0.6% on Advanced and 0.2% on Plus.
What are PayPal's fees on Shopify?
PayPal charges its own processing fee. Its US fee page lists PayPal Checkout at 3.49% plus 49¢, as checked on 7 November 2026. Other countries have different rates.
Why can't I find PayPal Express Checkout in my US store?
Shopify says Express Checkout isn't available to merchants in the US or France. US stores use PayPal Wallet through Shopify Payments instead.
Why is PayPal not working on my Shopify store?
The usual causes are an Express Checkout account that was never fully set up, Shopify Payments not being active on a US store, or an older checkout version. Only the store owner can edit the PayPal settings.
Can customers pay with PayPal without an account?
PayPal's checkout lets shoppers pay with cards, bank accounts, buyer credit or a PayPal balance. Whether guest card payment shows depends on PayPal's options in the customer's country.
Sources
- Using PayPal on Shopify, Shopify Help Center
- Exploring PayPal payment integrations and fees, Shopify Help Center
- PayPal Wallet for the United States, Shopify Help Center
- PayPal business fees, PayPal
Related services and work
I'm a Shopify developer and CRO specialist. I have built and improved Shopify stores since 2018, completed more than 1,000 projects, and hold a 4.96 average rating across 719 client reviews.
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