Setting up payment options on your WordPress site can be overwhelming. We understand the struggle of sifting through numerous plugins, questioning which one to choose, and worrying about the safety of the checkout process for your visitors.
PayPal is one of the simplest methods to start accepting online payments, and it’s a platform that many customers already trust. While we also utilize Stripe on our websites, PayPal is an excellent choice for one-time transactions, subscription services, and quick donations.
In this guide, we will provide a detailed, step-by-step process for adding a PayPal payment form to your WordPress site, allowing you to accept payments confidently without any uncertainty.
The Benefits of Accepting PayPal Payments in WordPress
PayPal is widely regarded as the most popular and reliable online payment gateway globally. Since PayPal manages the entire transaction process, you can rest assured knowing that you won’t have to deal with security concerns, find a separate credit card merchant processor, or worry about PCI compliance (the security standards for handling credit card information).
Additionally, PayPal simplifies the process of setting up recurring payments and allows you to issue refunds to customers who may be dissatisfied with their purchases.
Furthermore, you don’t need a complete eCommerce store to start accepting payments on your WordPress website.
If you are only selling one product or accepting payments for consulting services, adding a payment form is straightforward.
With that in mind, let’s explore how to easily integrate a PayPal payment form into your WordPress site.
- Guide to Adding a PayPal Payment Form in WordPress
- Bonus: Allow Customers to Pay Directly on Your Site Using PayPal Commerce
- Video Tutorial
- Common Questions About PayPal Payments
Steps to Add a PayPal Payment Form in WordPress
There are numerous WordPress PayPal plugins available that enable you to add a payment button or order form to your website.
However, for flexibility in building order forms and adding customizations without coding, we recommend WPForms as the top choice.
WPForms is the leading drag-and-drop form builder plugin for WordPress, utilized by over 6 million websites. It allows you to create a simple billing or order form without needing a full WooCommerce store or shopping cart plugin.
In fact, we have used this plugin multiple times to create our contact forms and annual surveys, and we have found it extremely user-friendly. For more information, check out our comprehensive WPForms review.
We recommend this option as it enables you to accept both PayPal and credit card payments within a single form, thanks to its integration with platforms like Stripe, Square, and Authorize.net.
First, let’s install and activate the WPForms plugin. For detailed instructions, refer to our comprehensive guide on installing a WordPress plugin.
Important Note:WPForms Lite is completely free. However, to access the PayPal add-on and the Order Form template, you will need to upgrade to the pro version of the plugin.
After activation, navigate to the WPForms » Settings section in the WordPress admin sidebar to input your license key. You can find this information in your WPForms account.
Once you’ve entered the key, be sure to click the ‘Verify Key’ button to activate your premium WPForms license.
Next, head over to the WPForms » Addons section in the WordPress dashboard. Here, you will install the PayPal Standard add-on.
Locate it in the list and click the ‘Install Addon’ button beneath it. The add-on will be installed and activated automatically.
After completing this step, you can proceed to create your payment form.
How to Create a PayPal Payment Form in WordPress
To begin creating your payment form, navigate to the WPForms » Add New section in your WordPress dashboard to open the form builder.
On the ‘Setup’ screen, the first step is to give your form a name.
Next, scroll down to locate the ‘Billing / Order Form’ template, hover over it, and click the ‘Use Template’ button when it appears.
WPForms will now load your selected form template into the drag-and-drop builder.
From this point, you can easily add, remove, or modify the fields on your form. For instance, click on the ‘Multiple Items’ option to allow visitors to select the product or service they want to purchase.
By clicking on this field in the live preview, you can set its label and specify the name and price of each item.
If you only have one item for sale, you can remove the ‘Multiple Items’ field by clicking the trash icon located in the top right corner of the field.
Alternatively, scroll down to the customization panel and select the ‘Single Item’ field.
Now, click on this field to customize it further in the left column.
Feel free to adjust the field’s label, description, and price to match your offering. The preview of your form on the right will update automatically.
If you are selling a single item, the ‘Total’ field is optional. However, we recommend keeping it visible so that customers can review and confirm the final price before proceeding with payment.
For more comprehensive guidance, check out our tutorial on creating an online order form in WordPress.
Next, navigate to the Payments » PayPal Standard tab to configure your PayPal settings.
From this section, simply check the box to ‘Enable PayPal Standard payments’.
If you do not have a PayPal account, you will need to create one. After that, enter your PayPal email address in the WPForms settings.
Next, complete the other PayPal settings. If you want to test your payment form, select the ‘Test / Sandbox’ mode. This allows you to make test PayPal transactions to ensure the form functions correctly.
Remember to switch the Mode option back to ‘Production’ after you finish testing.
Most websites will require the ‘Products and Services’ payment type. The alternative is ‘Donations’, which you can learn about in our guide on adding a PayPal donate button.
You can also provide a URL to redirect users who do not complete the payment and decide if a shipping address and note are mandatory.
You can now utilize the ‘Enable Conditional Logic’ feature to accept various payment methods. For more information, refer to our guide on allowing users to select their preferred payment method in WordPress forms.
Once you have completed your settings, click the ‘Save’ button to store your changes.
Your PayPal payment form is now fully set up and can be added to any post or page on your WordPress website.
Integrating Your PayPal Payment Form into Your Website
WPForms simplifies the process of adding forms anywhere on your site.
Begin by opening the WordPress post or page where you wish to insert the form from the admin dashboard. Then, click the ‘Add Block’ (+) button located at the top left corner of the screen to access the block menu.
Next, find and insert the WPForms block into the block editor.
Then, select your order form from the dropdown menu within the WPForms block.
When you are done, save or publish your page and click the preview button to see your form in action.
After your user clicks the ‘Submit’ button, they will be securely redirected to the PayPal website to finalize their payment.
Congratulations! You have successfully created a PayPal payment form in WordPress.
You can enhance your payment forms by integrating them with email marketing services, Google Sheets, and other applications, thanks to the built-in integrations offered by WPForms.
Bonus: Enable Direct Payments on Your Website with PayPal Commerce
For online stores, integrating your WordPress site with PayPal Commerce is highly recommended. It provides a streamlined global payment solution along with protection for both sellers and buyers.
This approach allows customers to pay with a credit card directly on your website, eliminating the need to be redirected to PayPal.
To link PayPal Commerce with WPForms, start by visiting the WPForms » Addons page, then install and activate the ‘PayPal Commerce Addon.’
After activation, navigate to the WPForms » Settings page and select the ‘Payments’ tab.
Next, click the ‘Connect with PayPal Commerce’ button.
A prompt will appear on your screen, guiding you to connect your WordPress site with PayPal.
Proceed to link the service to your website. Afterward, you can create a form and easily add the ‘PayPal Commerce’ field from the left column.
This allows you to accept payments via both PayPal and credit card information using a single field.
For comprehensive guidance, please refer to our tutorial on integrating WordPress with PayPal Commerce.
Common Questions About PayPal Payments
Here are some commonly asked questions from our readers regarding the integration of a PayPal payment form in WordPress:
Can users enter a custom payment amount?
Absolutely! If you’re accepting donations or offering flexible pricing, many form builders (such as WPForms and Charitable) allow you to include a custom amount field.
You can send that amount to PayPal so the user pays exactly what they specified.
Is it secure to accept payments via a PayPal form?
Yes, it is very secure. PayPal manages the payment processing on its protected platform, ensuring that your website does not store any sensitive credit card information.
Just ensure your site is using HTTPS for an additional layer of security.
Do I need a PayPal business account?
You can use either a personal or business PayPal account to accept payments, but a business account is recommended for better branding and a smoother checkout experience.
This is particularly beneficial if you frequently sell products or process payments.
Is it possible to send email confirmations after a payment is made via PayPal?
Absolutely! Most WordPress form plugins, such as WPForms, enable you to configure automatic email notifications.
You can send confirmation emails to both yourself and the buyer following a successful PayPal transaction.
Can I accept payments from international customers using a PayPal form?
Yes, PayPal accommodates multiple currencies and countries. When creating your form, you can select the currency you wish to accept.
Just ensure that your PayPal account is configured to manage international transactions.
We hope this tutorial has guided you in adding a PayPal payment form to your WordPress site. You might also be interested in our guide on accepting payments with Stripe in WordPress or our expert recommendations for PayPal alternatives for freelancers to receive payments in WordPress.
