About This App
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Category
Finance
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Installs
100,000,000+
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Content Rating
Rated for 3+
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Developer Email
+18882211161
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Privacy Policy
https://www.paypal.com/webapps/mpp/ua/privacy-full
Screenshots
Editor Reviews
PayPal - Send, Shop, Manage is a finance and payment app designed to help you handle money digitally. It launched way back in the late 90s as a website and the mobile app came later, making it one of the oldest and most trusted names in online payments. You can download it for free on both Google Play and the App Store. It has been installed over a billion times on Google Play alone, which shows how many people rely on it. The app itself is free to download and install, and you don't need to pay any fee just to have the account. You do need to register by linking your bank account, debit card, or credit card. While sending money to friends or family from your PayPal balance or bank account is usually free, there are fees for certain transactions like instant transfers or international payments. The app does have in-app purchases in the sense of these transaction fees, and you might see some ads or promotions for PayPal's own services or partner offers, but it's not cluttered with third-party ads.
As a user, I use the PayPal app almost daily. It's my go-to for splitting dinner bills with friends—I just tap "Send & Request," enter their email or phone number, and the money goes right to their PayPal account. For shopping online, it's a lifesaver. At checkout on many websites, I just click the PayPal button and it logs me in instantly, so I don't have to type my card details every time. A simple tip is to enable fingerprint or face ID login in the app settings; it makes accessing your account much faster and more secure. I also use it to keep an eye on my spending. The main screen shows your balance and recent activity, so you can quickly see what's come in and gone out. Another handy feature is turning your balance into a QR code to pay in person at some stores.
Compared to other payment apps like Venmo or Cash App, I keep coming back to PayPal because it feels more universal. Venmo is huge for social payments among friends in the US, and Cash App has its features like stocks and Bitcoin. But for me, PayPal's biggest advantage is its widespread acceptance. So many online stores and businesses accept PayPal directly, which Venmo and Cash App are still catching up on. It also feels more established for dealing with buyer and seller protection, which gives me peace of mind when I'm buying something from a person online. While other apps might have a slicker social feed, PayPal focuses on being a solid, reliable tool for all kinds of money movement, from paying for an eBay item to sending money to a relative abroad.
Features
- 💸 Send and Receive Money Instantly: The core function is sending money to anyone with just their email or phone number. It's faster than bank transfers and more formal than handing over cash. Compared to a bank's own app, PayPal often works across different banks and countries more smoothly.
- 🛒 One-Tap Online Checkout: This is a standout feature. When shopping on thousands of websites, you can pay with your PayPal balance or linked cards without ever entering shipping or card details on the merchant's site. Apple Pay offers similar convenience but only on supported devices and browsers, while PayPal works almost everywhere online.
- 📱 Manage Finances in One Place: The app shows your PayPal balance, linked bank accounts, and cards. You can see all transactions, request money, and even get a debit card for your balance. Other apps like Mint are better for full budgeting, but for managing your PayPal ecosystem and daily payment methods, this app consolidates it simply.
- 🔒 Strong Buyer and Seller Protections: For purchases, PayPal often sides with the buyer in disputes if an item isn't received or is significantly not as described. This protection layer is more robust and user-friendly than the dispute process you'd typically get using just a credit card directly on many small online stores.
Pros
- ✅ Extremely Wide Acceptance: It's accepted by millions of online retailers globally, far more than any other peer-to-peer payment app. This universal utility is its killer feature.
- ✅ Trust and Security: Having been around for decades, it carries a reputation for security that newer apps are still building. The purchase protection policies are a major confidence booster.
- ✅ International Reach: Sending money across borders is relatively straightforward with PayPal compared to traditional bank wire transfers, which can be costly and slow.
- ✅ Convenient Checkout: The saved shipping and payment info that auto-fills at checkout saves a huge amount of time and hassle during online shopping.
Cons
- ⚠️ Fees Can Be Confusing: Fees for instant transfers or receiving payments for goods/services can be high and aren't always clear upfront, unlike some competitors with simpler fee structures.
- ⚠️ Customer Service Challenges: Getting help for account issues can sometimes be slow and frustrating, involving automated systems before reaching a human, which is a common pain point compared to some newer fintech apps.