PayPal Logo
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5.7

Overall Score

Author: Kaitlyn Short

LAST UPDATED: October 28th, 2021

Founded in 1998, PayPal provides about 244 million active account holders with an open digital payments platform. PayPal strives to create an overall better money movement and management system with the combination of innovative technology and strategic partnerships. Both consumers and merchants are known to use PayPal services. 

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The Good

  • No Hidden Fees
  • Personal and Business Services
  • Buyer/Seller Protection and Security 
  • Refund Policy

No Hidden Fees

PayPal doesn't seem to have any hidden fees. All the costs are provided on its website, outlining the difference for pay-as-you-go and the monthly plan. Hidden fees are actually one of the most common reasons for negative merchant services reviews; so PayPal's lack of hidden fees is definetely a plus for people looking for a transparent payment processor. 

Personal and Business Services

A major benefit of PayPal as your payment solutions company is personal options are available in addition to business options for merchants. For personal use, you can use PayPal's services for free with any shopping platform that accepts PayPal, which the majority of companies do. This makes your credit card and debit card transactions significantly more secure because the money is processed through your PayPal account rather than your bank account. PayPal also has additional fraud detection to keep your information secure. Personal use of PayPal can also include sending money to friends and family easily without having to bother with withdrawing cash or writing a check. It makes money transfers simpler and completely free.

PayPal also has extensive options for business owners. The company allows merchants to get paid on their website, their business app, in their business, or on-the-go. Additionally, PayPal works for email and over-the-phone transactions. Businesses that use PayPal can accept credit cards and debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, PayPal Credit, and other forms of payment. The company also serves as a financial institution because it provides small business loans for merchants. 

With several options for personal use as well as business use, PayPal is a simple and affordable payment processing company.

Protection and Security

The company advertises on its website that it provides both buyer and seller protection and security services. These services for buyers and sellers include the following:

  • Personal data privacy
  • 24/7 monitoring
  • Secure technology
  • Fraud prevention/ merchant fraud prevention
  • Dispute resolution
  • Global buyer protection/ global transactions

Refund Policy

On its website, PayPal claims to provide a full refund, including the cost of original shipping, if consumers' orders fail to arrive or if their orders do not match the description of their original purchase.

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The Bad

  • Customer Complaints

Customer Complaints

PayPal has recieved quite a few negative payment processing services reviews. The highest number of complaints (over 2,300) stemmed from problems with the products and services. The second highest group of complaints (over 1,500) were about advertising and sales issues.  

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The Bottom Line

Bottom line, PayPal is one of most common online payment processor names in today's market, and most widely accepted payment method via stores, Internet and now, individual merchants. PayPal offers something other payment processing solutions don't, and that is the online payment. Customers can type in an email address to send payment via the net. With per swipe charge or monthly plan, no additional hidden fees, and same-day money transfer, PayPal seems to be a top payment processing company.

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Star Rating

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4.0

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82 Reviews

Review Breakdown

5 grade

49%

4 grade

24%

3 grade

11%

2 grade

2%

1 grade

13%

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Joseph Mirsky West Milford, NJ

There are tons of bad reviews for PayPal all over the Internet. One site had 15,000 one star reviews! I had 2 sales with PayPal on my Shopify site where I'm selling all my remaining inventory from my closed jewelry store at a little over cost/wholesale. The first one for $200 I was able to transfer to my personal bank account. But the second one for $750 wouldn't go no matter what. Message said couldn't tell who I was. PayPal support is almost impossible to contact, remaining in artificial stupidity mode until you figure out how to send a message. There's no live chat and phone says everything too busy right now. Finally got a human to reply after 36 hours and she said she had corrected it but it still failed. finally tried transferring to my business account which I was the initial account I used set up PayPal, even though I had set up the personal account with PayPal. It sailed right through. I had to keep the business account open long after I closed my store because I am expecting a small tax refund from NJ (been 5 months now) and my bank said I couldn't deposit it in my personal account (even though they took one for $8.00 after I twisted Big Brother's arm). I cancelled PayPal with Shopify and set up Amazon Pay instead.

4 years ago Edited September 14, 2021

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Daryl Broadview Heights, OH

Find another way to pay. Their dispute process is a sham. I ordered a product from a website that required payment via PayPal. I ordered the product on Sunday, paid via PayPal, but never received an order # or verification from the website. On Monday, the PayPal transaction was updated (by the website) with shipping information showing the product had shipped Saturday (yes, the day before I ordered it), and that it had arrived at my house via USPS on Sunday (no mail delivery day) 4 hours after I had ordered it. I never received the product. I disputed the transaction via PayPal's dispute process and sent them this information. Despite anomalies such as the website somehow knowing what I was going to order and where to send it a day before I actually found their site and ordered the product....PayPal's crack dispute team denied the dispute simply noting that there was tracking information showing it was delivered. Bottom line, avoid PayPal at all cost since their dispute process and claims of protecting consumers of fraud are absolutely worthless.

4 years ago

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Pinky Plugs Mount Laurel, NJ

PayPal is the WORST merchant services in the WORLD! They deserve 0 stars. They are not for the small business. Stay aways please. They Side with the buyer and disregard the sellers policies. I have been with them over 10 years. I'm at my wits ENDS! They don't even let the buyer provide proof of damaged good they claimed they received. I am sick and tired of paypal and I hope a major merchant takes they out of Business. They fail to realize that the SELLER is their customer as well. They want you to respond to disputes then turn around and side with the buyer. WORST company ever. DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH PAYPAL!

4 years ago

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Michael Martino Brooklyn, NY

I put 500 dollars in my paypal from my bank..simple transer..done it a dozen time,,this time..the money never gets there..6 long calls to paypal over 5 days running back and forth to the bank..bank is showing me thier conformation and even got on the phone to paypal "security" with me..was told I never transferred anything..I was told by a paypal rep.."paypal guarantees nothing"..Told by a rep that some times for "security" sales payments are held back,,thats after an hour explaining that I did a transfer from my bank,,this is not a sale..and then when the money showed up..they charged me a fee for the transfer..there is no fee if you move money into your paypal from your connected bank..they claimed that I made the deposit from a 7/11 store..NEVER AGAIN

7 years ago

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Greg Knott Alexandria, VA

Their mobile payment system sucks. I paid $70 for it I think. The battery is crap and it's supposed to hook up with Bluetooth and I'd say it only happens one at a four times. And what really is me off I went on their website and tried to contact somebody. Figured maybe I just got a lemon and they'll replace it, but there is no way to send them an email or contact them. It's an endless whole of questions in their help center. I'm going to switch to square.

7 years ago

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Joyce Hanson Bend, OR

We used Pay Pal for a couple of months and then they shut our web site down without notice due to us selling HEMP CBD WITH NO THC. We were also told that anyone who ever even ordered anything with cbd online their pay pal account was also shut down. I don't have anything good to say about Pay Pal! What a rip off!!!!!!!

6 years ago

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John Burns Hendersonville, TN

I used to have Paypal until they wanted all access to my bank accounts; since then I buy a lot thru Ebay, but it is processed with Paypal. Paypal is now blocking my payments to vendors unless I sign up with them again. Not that they have a 96% disapproval rating with the BBB.

7 years ago

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Agustin Dayton, OH

Paypal is a Scam company. They froze my account of 7 years with 10K for 6 months without prior notice... ...AND without explanation. I called support many times, nothing was explained, no access to my funds.

6 years ago

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Jessica Chen Elmira, NY

Many people has told me that Paypal is like a scam and shouldn't be trusted. The last time I used it in the past, transaction was slow but the money went through. I wouldn't reccomend because of all the negative reviews and experienced customers have faced. I deleted my account due numerous weird emails coming from Paypal.

4 years ago

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Anthony Wiliams Hilton Head Island, SC

Poor customer service , rates are too high ,doesn’t process payments in a timely manner!!!!

7 years ago

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Leonard Dayton, OH

Scam company, holding funds for 180 days without notice and without reason.

6 years ago