How does PayPal.Me work?

Learn how to create a custom link for your PayPal account and what you can use it for.

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What is PayPal.Me?

PayPal.Me allows users who have a PayPal account to create a customized link to quickly request payments directly to their PayPal account. It was originally launched in 2015 to remove the need to give out personal information, like an email address or phone number, and can be customized with preset amounts of money.

What are the benefits?

  • Create a simple, personalized link to share with friends, family, customers, strangers and more.
  • Customize links with the amount of money you want to be paid.
  • Have funds transferred directly to your PayPal account.

What should you watch out for?

  • You can’t change your PayPal.Me link once it’s created.
  • You can only have one PayPal.Me link per PayPal account.
  • There are no tracking features for payments, so you won’t know why or what the money was sent for.

PayPal.Me fees

Because PayPal.Me transactions are the same as PayPal transactions, any fees you’d normally incur from PayPal will be attached to the PayPal.Me transaction.

The following fees apply when sending money to friends and family.

Funding methodDestination countryFees
PayPal balance or linked bank accountCanada$0
Credit card or Visa Debit cardCanada2.9% of the transaction amount + fixed fee based on the currency
PayPal balance or linked bank accountUS and most European countries$2.99
PayPal balance or linked bank accountAny other country$4.99
Credit card or Visa Debit cardUS and most European countries$2.99 + 2.9% + fixed fee based on the currency
Credit card or Visa Debit cardAny other country$4.99 + 2.9% + fixed fee based on the currency

How to use PayPal.Me

Your PayPal.Me link is designed to make requesting payments easier. Signing up requires you to already have a PayPal account or you must be willing to make one. Once you have a PayPal account, follow these steps to create your PayPal.Me link:

  1. Visit PayPal.Me in the web browser of your choice.
  2. Click Create Your PayPal.Me Link.
  3. Log in to your PayPal account.
  4. Enter the text you want for your PayPal link. Remember, this cannot be changed after you set it.
  5. Review your information and agree to the terms, conditions and privacy policy.
  6. Click Agree and Create to finalize your PayPal.Me link.

How does PayPal compare to other domestic transfer options?

How to request money through PayPal.Me

Requesting money through PayPal.Me is as easy as sending your custom link to whoever you are requesting money from. There are two types of link you can send to request money:

  • https://www.paypal.me/YOURNAME: This will request a payment without a specific payment amount. For example, paypal.me/finder.com will request any amount of money to be sent to the finder.com PayPal account.
  • https://www.paypal.me/YOURNAME/number: Whatever number you place at the end will create a request for that amount of money. For example, paypal.me/finder.com/100 will request $100 to be sent to the finder.com PayPal account.

You can create a PayPal.Me link through the PayPal.Me website or using the link structure above.

How do I pay someone through PayPal.Me?

To make a payment through PayPal.Me, ask the person you want to pay to send you a PayPal.Me link. After you have the link, either paste it into your web browser or click on it if it’s already a hyperlink.

The link will take you to a payment page where you can log in to your PayPal account to complete the payment with your preferred payment method.

Compare PayPal with other ways to send money

Our table below lets you compare services you can use to send money abroad. Compare fees, exchange rates and discounts from different money transfer services, and when you have made your choice, click Go to site.
Name Product CAFMT Offer Filter Values Fastest Transfer Speed Fees (Pay by Bank Transfer)
Wise logo
24 hours
From 0.33%
Wise uses the mid-market rate and transparent fees to help you send money in 45+ currencies.
Xe logo
Within minutes
$0
Xe has fast transfers with low fees and a range of foreign currency tools.
InstaReM logo
Within minutes
From $0
Enjoy a special exchange rate and zero fees on your first transfer. Conditions apply. Valid until January 15th, 2025.
Instarem offers inexpensive transfers and the opportunity to earn rewards points.
Africhange logo
Within minutes
From $0
Send money in CAD to Africa on this blockchain and P2P powered provider.
Remitly
Finder Award
Remitly logo
Within minutes
From $0
Special offers like free transfers and better exchange rates available for new customers.
Remitly has quick, affordable transfers around the world, with both express and economy options.
MoneyGram
Finder Award
MoneyGram logo
Within minutes
From $4.99
For a limited time, get $0 fees on your first money transfer from Canada. Conditions apply.
MoneyGram has fast cash pick-up transfers to more than 350,000 agent locations worldwide.
OFX
Finder Award
OFX  logo
24 hours
$0
Exclusive offer: Discounted exchange rates for your first and ongoing transactions. $0 transfer fee.
OFX has no maximum limit transfers, with competitive exchange rates for 50+ currencies.
Xe logo
Within minutes
$0
Xe has fast transfers with low fees and a range of foreign currency tools.
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Bottom line

PayPal.Me is a convenient way to request money, so long as the person you are requesting money from already has a PayPal account or is willing to create one. These kinds of payments function exactly as other PayPal transactions do and prevent you from having to share any more personal information than the link.

Frequently asked questions

Can you change your PayPal.Me link?

No. Once you’ve created your PayPal.Me link it cannot be changed, and each PayPal account can only have one PayPal.Me link attached to it.

Are purchases made through PayPal.Me protected by PayPal’s buyer and seller protection program?

PayPal.Me operates using the same standards as regular PayPal purchases, so if the purchase in question would be protected when bought through PayPal, it will be protected when bought through a PayPal.Me link.

Is PayPal.Me free to set up?

Yes, but you’ll need a PayPal account to use this feature.

What countries is PayPal.Me available in?

PayPal.Me is available in many countries around the world. To see a full list, check PayPal’s official page.

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Publisher

Zak Killermann was a technical publisher at Finder who specialized in currencies and investing. Zak’s expertise was in breaking down technical finance concepts into approachable, digestible nuggets of information. See full bio

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