When does PayPal charge a fee

PayPal charges a fee when you receive commercial payments, fund personal payments with a card, send or receive money across borders, convert currencies, trade crypto, or use certain withdrawal options.

Opening a PayPal account or downloading the PayPal app is free, and paying for a purchase with PayPal is generally free for the buyer. Fees apply in these situations:

• Commercial payments: Sellers pay a transaction fee when they receive money for goods and services or other commercial payments.
• International transactions: Sending money to another country, or receiving a payment from someone abroad, adds a cross-border fee.
• Currency conversion: When a transaction needs money converted from one currency to another, PayPal adds a percentage markup.
• Personal payments by card: Sending money to friends and family is free from a bank account or PayPal balance, but a percentage fee applies when a credit or debit card funds the payment.
• Crypto transactions: Buying, selling or converting cryptocurrency carries either a percentage or a flat fee, depending on the transaction.
• Withdrawals: Standard transfers to a local bank account are usually free, while instant transfers to an eligible card or requests for a paper check can cost extra.
• High-risk businesses: PayPal may charge businesses it treats as high-risk, for example because of complaints or chargebacks, up to 5% per card transaction.

Exact rates differ by country and by transaction type, so check PayPal pricing for your region on PayPal's consumer fees page before sending or accepting money.