What credit cards does PayPal accept?

See what cards you can use when transacting via PayPal.

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By

Tom Stelzer

Updated

Fact checked

You have a number of payment methods when it comes to making purchases via PayPal. Find out which cards you can use with PayPal and how much it costs to do so.

What type of credit cards can I use with PayPal?

PayPal accepts payment from all major credit cards, as well as debit cards and bank accounts. You can use Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express cards with PayPal, provided they have a registered billing address.

Does PayPal accept American Express?

Yes, PayPal accepts American Express cards, and Amex cardholders may even be able to use their membership reward points when making purchases from PayPal merchants.

How much does it cost to use a credit card with PayPal?

You won’t need to pay a fee if you’re buying something through PayPal using a credit card, unless you’re converting to another currency.

If you’re a merchant or selling something via PayPal, you may need to pay a credit card processing fee of 30p. This is in addition to the standard transaction fee, which is 2.9% for those in the UK. When using American Express, you will also need to pay a 3.5% merchant fee per transaction.

Can I get cash back when making a PayPal purchase?

Yes, you may be able to get cash back on your PayPal purchases, depending on the type of card you have.

Why isn’t my credit card working with PayPal?

If you’re having problems using your card in a PayPal transaction it may be due to the following:

  • Your card has been registered with a different PayPal account.
  • Your card was linked to an old PayPal account that is now closed.
  • You haven’t confirmed that your credit card is linked to your account.
  • You’ve exceeded your card limit.
  • Your account has been flagged by PayPal’s security system.
  • Your Internet browser isn’t accepting cookies. You may need to clear your cookies and try the transaction again.

Do I have Section 75 protection when using PayPal?

Section 75 is part of the Consumer Credit Act and is designed to protect consumers when they make a credit card purchase between £100 and £30,000. If you purchase something that is broken or is never delivered, Section 75 ensures that your credit card provider is jointly liable with the retailer, meaning you should be reimbursed on your card.

For a long time, using your credit card with PayPal meant you lost this protection. In January 2022, a ruling by the Financial Ombudsman revealed a consumer was able to use Section 75 protection to get a refund from his credit card provider after buying faulty goods. He used PayPal’s guest checkout and PayPal was simply processing the payment. If he paid using his PayPal account, drawing on his credit card, he would have lost the right to get a refund from his credit card company.

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