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Glossary · Marketing, CRM & Growth

PayPal

Definition: PayPal is an online payment platform that lets businesses and individuals send, receive, and accept money digitally, whether online, in apps, or by invoice, using a linked bank account, card, or PayPal balance, with built-in buyer and seller protection.

Official source: PayPal

Overview

What PayPal is

PayPal is one of the most widely used online payment platforms. It acts as an intermediary between a buyer's funding source, such as a bank account, debit or credit card, or stored PayPal balance, and a seller, so neither side has to share raw card details in every transaction. Individuals use it to send money; businesses use it to accept payments.

How businesses use it

For merchants, PayPal offers checkout buttons, hosted checkout, invoicing, subscriptions and recurring billing, and developer tools via its Braintree brand. It supports major cards and popular wallets, handles multiple currencies, and provides seller protection on eligible transactions. Funds settle to a PayPal balance you can transfer to your bank, and transaction fees apply per sale.

How a full-service agency applies it

In ecommerce and WordPress development, we integrate PayPal as a checkout option, often alongside card processors, because offering a familiar, trusted wallet can lift conversion at the final step of a sales funnel. Implementation covers secure checkout, order and webhook handling so your store records payments automatically, and testing across the flow so no completed purchase is missed.

Where we use it

Related Zen in Tech services

How our team puts PayPal to work in real projects.

FAQ

PayPal — common questions

Is PayPal safe for businesses?

PayPal is a regulated, widely trusted payment platform with encryption, fraud monitoring, and seller protection on eligible transactions. As with any processor, businesses should follow account and dispute-handling best practices, since funds can be held or reversed in disputes.

How much does PayPal charge?

PayPal charges the merchant a per-transaction fee, typically a percentage of the sale plus a fixed amount, varying by country, product, and volume. There is usually no monthly fee for standard accounts, and currency conversion adds a fee.

PayPal vs Stripe?

PayPal is a recognized consumer wallet that can lift checkout trust and works out of the box; Stripe is more developer-focused with deeper customization for custom apps and platforms. Many stores offer both to cover more buyer preferences.

Need PayPal done right?

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