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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Review Source

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Leisha Logan, UT

After receiving some shoes from a company in China, that said they were from England, I submitted a claim. It was denied even though I tried to return the shoes with the address label that the company provided. I was scammed out of $80. PayPal sided with the shop. I wish PayPal would refuse to work with fraudulent stores.

4 years ago

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Chase H Provo, UT

It is easy to install a PayPal button on a site. PayPal makes payment very easy for customers who already have an account. Setup for the merchant can be kind of a hassle though. My account was difficult to activate. Then, it can be a pain having to transfer money from PayPal to an account once you have already been paid.

7 years ago

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Keld Sperry Lehi, UT

I really like that PayPal exists. I wish the ease of the website was better. Sometimes I get lost in really simple things that I need to do. I also don't like that they are always advertising to get their PayPal credit card.

4 years ago

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Tyler Williams Gilbert, AZ

I used PayPal in the past, but with all the other merchant services out there, it seems it gets lost in the shuffle. I also wish they had better customer service to answer my questions.

7 years ago

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Toni Purdy Bullhead City, AZ

Not happy with pay pal because when you have an issue they close your case without doing their homework. No one you can talk to no phone number.

4 years ago

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Alexa Cooper Provo, UT

I used it once to repay someone for gas and didn’t necessarily like that I had to set up the whole thing for one purchase. I deleted it soon after.

4 years ago

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Cynthia Ann Myers San Antonio, TX

Well, sometimes I have trouble getting access to my account and they dont allow prepaid cards

6 years ago

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Mike Bannan Wynnewood, PA

Their merchant rate charges are very high when compared to most companies.

7 years ago

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Chris Wootton Ogden, UT

They are a ok company, fees are too high

7 years ago