How to create PayPal account
To create a PayPal account, open PayPal's sign-up page on its website or download the PayPal mobile app, choose a Personal or Business account, and follow the registration steps.
Picking the right account type comes first, and any PayPal overview starts with the difference between the two options.
- Personal account: Suited to shopping online, sending money to family and splitting bills.
- Business account: Suited to freelancers, merchants and companies that accept payments from customers.
The sign-up process follows the same sequence on the website and in the app.
- Start sign up: Go to the PayPal website or open the app and select Sign Up.
- Choose the type: Pick Personal or Business, then select Get Started.
- Add contact details: Enter an email address you use and your mobile phone number.
- Verify your phone: Type in the one-time code (OTP) that PayPal sends by SMS.
- Set a password: Create a strong password that mixes letters, numbers and symbols.
- Enter personal details: Give your legal name, date of birth and home address exactly as they appear on your government-issued ID.
- Accept the terms: Agree to the user agreement and privacy statement, then select Agree and Create Account.
After the account exists, a few more actions make it ready to use.
- Payment method: Link a debit card, credit card or bank account so you can send and receive money. This can be skipped at sign-up and added later from the dashboard.
- Email confirmation: Open the confirmation link PayPal emails to you, which verifies your email address and lifts the initial transaction limits.