Did you know that you can make money with PayPal and turn your account into a powerful tool for earning extra income?
Whether you’re a student, a freelancer, or simply looking for a side hustle, PayPal offers countless opportunities to make money from the comfort of your home.
If you're looking to get the most out of PayPal, it's worth asking: how can I actually earn money with it?
While PayPal is widely known for sending and receiving money instantly, it also offers great opportunities to generate extra income from virtually anywhere.
By using this digital wallet, you can simplify your monthly budget, reduce financial stress, increase your business sales, or even chip away at outstanding debts.
What Is PayPal and How Does It Work?
Before diving into how to make money with PayPal, it’s important to understand exactly what it is and how it works. This clarity can help you make the most of its features.
PayPal is a global online payment platform that lets users send and receive money instantly. Whether you're shopping online or collecting payments, it's designed for speed, security, and convenience.
Founded in 1998 in the United States, PayPal has grown into a reliable alternative to traditional payment methods like checks and money orders. All you need to access it is a smartphone or any internet-connected device.
Although many people think PayPal is a bank, it’s not. It doesn’t operate under standard banking regulations. Still, it offers powerful financial tools—especially for everyday users, freelancers, and online business owners.
How PayPal Works and How It Can Benefit You
One of PayPal’s biggest strengths is how easy it makes electronic transfers—often all you need is the recipient’s email address.
For example, if you're in Mexico and want to send money to someone in the U.S., Spain, or Argentina, simply entering their email is enough to complete the transfer quickly and securely.
This borderless service also integrates smoothly with e-commerce. In fact, most online stores accept PayPal as a fast, convenient payment option.
However, it’s important to know that the funds in your PayPal account don’t earn interest. Since PayPal isn’t a bank, it doesn’t charge typical banking fees, but your balance also won’t grow over time like it might with savings or investment accounts.
Up next, we’ll break down the two main ways PayPal operates, so you can better understand which option suits your needs and how each can help you manage or grow your money.
How to Buy and Send Payments Online with PayPal
To make international purchases or send money online with PayPal, the first step is to sign up—completely free. All you need is an email address and a secure password to create your account without revealing sensitive financial details.
Next, link a payment method to your PayPal wallet. This can be a bank account or any credit/debit card that supports international transactions. You can also link multiple cards and choose your preferred one during checkout.
- Mastercard
- Visa
- American Express
- Diners Club International
- Maestro
- JCB
- GiroPay
A bonus: if your card earns rewards or travel miles, you’ll keep accumulating them when you pay through PayPal.
Example: Buying from Nike Online with PayPal
Let’s say you’re shopping for sneakers on Nike’s website. Just follow these three steps:- Choose PayPal as your payment option during checkout.
- Log in using your PayPal email and password.
- Click “Process Payment”—your transaction is completed securely in seconds.
Currency Conversion Fees
If you're making purchases in a foreign currency, PayPal will apply a currency conversion fee. This fee is shown before finalizing your purchase so you can decide whether to proceed.
- Americas: 3.5%
- Asia Pacific: 3.0%
- Africa and the Middle East: 3.0%
- Southeast Europe: 3.0%
How to Make Money with PayPal by Selling and Getting Paid Online
PayPal makes it easy to sell products or services worldwide and receive payments directly through your email, website, or app.
One of its major advantages is the Seller Protection program, which helps guard against fraud and unauthorized transactions—giving you peace of mind as you grow your online business.
If you have a website, you can integrate the “Pay with PayPal” button to start accepting payments quickly. This feature allows customers to use all major credit and debit cards securely through PayPal.
Don’t have a website yet? No problem. You can still get paid by sending invoices or custom payment requests directly to your customers’ email addresses. These forms can be personalized and sent in just a few clicks.
Whether you're running a full e-commerce store or freelancing online, PayPal offers a flexible and secure way to manage sales and receive money globally.
Get Paid Instantly with PayPal.Me Links
PayPal.Me offers a fast, easy way to receive payments. With this feature, you can create a personalized payment link and share it with clients via email, social media, or messaging apps—allowing them to pay you instantly.
It’s a convenient solution for freelancers, small business owners, and anyone who needs to collect money quickly without complex setups.
If you’re looking to fully integrate PayPal into a website or mobile app, it’s best to work with a certified developer. You can browse PayPal’s official developer directory to find a professional who fits your business needs and can handle the technical integration smoothly.
PayPal Fees for Receiving Payments Explained
While some sellers may hesitate to pay a fee for each payment received, PayPal’s transaction fees are generally reasonable and adaptable to different business needs.
Commercial fees for receiving payments—especially for online sales—vary by region. Typically, these fees range from 4.40% to 5.40%, plus a fixed charge based on the currency of the transaction.
Despite the fees, adding PayPal as a payment option can significantly boost your business sales. With over 200 million active users worldwide, it’s a trusted and familiar payment method for customers across the globe.
PayPal also supports 25 different currencies, including U.S. dollars, euros, British pounds, and pesos. That means you can accept payments from almost anywhere, at any time, and in multiple currencies—all through one platform.
Top Ways to Make Money Online with PayPal
Now that you understand what PayPal is and how it works, let’s focus on how you can actually earn money using this powerful platform.
Below are some of the most popular and effective strategies to generate income online and get paid directly through PayPal:
Earn with PayPal Cashback Rewards
One easy way to make money with PayPal is through its cashback program. By applying for a PayPal Mastercard via the app or website, you can earn cash rewards every time you shop online.
For example, if you spend $500 within the first three months of opening your account, you’ll receive a $100 cashback bonus.
You’ll also earn 3% cashback on purchases made through PayPal and 2% on other eligible transactions. Best of all, there’s no annual fee, making it a cost-effective way to save while spending.
Make Money with Paid Surveys via PayPal
Paid surveys are one of the simplest ways to earn money online, and most reputable survey platforms offer PayPal as a cash-out option.
To get started, sign up for free on survey sites that operate in your country. Complete your profile, then start answering surveys to accumulate rewards.
Once you’ve earned enough, you can withdraw your earnings directly to your PayPal account.
The best part? You can do this anytime, anywhere—right from your smartphone—making it a convenient and flexible income stream.
Earn PayPal Money by Playing Games Online
Looking for a fun way to earn money with PayPal? Online games and video games can be a surprisingly entertaining option.
Many platforms now reward players with real cash for completing in-game tasks, challenges, or achievements. Whether you enjoy sports games, simulations, strategy, or even gambling-style games, there’s something for every taste.
Popular titles that offer PayPal payouts include Bananatic, Betsuites, Triunfador, Gamehag, and My Profit Land. Once you accumulate enough rewards, you can transfer your earnings directly to your PayPal account.
It’s a fun and engaging way to turn your gaming time into a small income stream.
Get Paid via PayPal for Completing Online Tasks
Another easy way to earn money with PayPal is by doing simple online tasks. These micro-jobs are quick, accessible, and often require no special skills.
- Tagging or classifying images
- Recording short videos
- Voice-to-text transcription
- Performing online searches
- Watching ads or promotional content
- Downloading and testing apps
- Clicking on sponsored links
- Filling out registration forms
It’s a flexible and beginner-friendly way to earn extra income online.
Earn PayPal Cash with Mobile Reward Apps
If you have a smartphone and an internet connection, mobile apps can be a great way to earn money and cash out via PayPal.
Many free apps let you complete simple tasks—like visiting websites, unlocking your phone, uploading photos, watching videos, or playing games—in exchange for points or rewards that can be redeemed for real money.
These apps are available on both the App Store and Google Play, and most require only minimal effort to start earning.
- AppKarma
- Peoople
- BigTime
- Streetbees
- Betsim
- Honeygain
Top Benefits of Using PayPal for Payments
- Instant payments and purchases from anywhere in the world.
- Secure transactions for both buyers and sellers, backed by protection policies.
- Interest-free installment payments, allowing you to split purchases into four parts.
- Mobile payments via QR codes, making in-person purchases fast and convenient.
- Support for charitable donations, letting you contribute easily to NGOs and causes.
- Accepted by major global brands like Walmart, Nike, Spotify, Hulu, and more.
- Ability to request a Mastercard debit card for in-store purchases or ATM withdrawals.
- Tools to pay bills, send gifts, recharge phones, set up direct deposits, and even split payments.
- Send money to over 200 countries in more than 20 different currencies.
- According to Forbes, you can send up to $60,000 in a single transaction, offering unmatched flexibility.
Start Making Money with PayPal Today
Ready to start your journey toward earning money with PayPal?
Choose one of the methods we’ve covered—whether it’s surveys, games, freelance work, or mobile apps—and take the first step today.
Sign up, connect your PayPal account, and begin turning your time into real income. The easiest way to make money with PayPal is to start with what fits your lifestyle—whether that’s surveys, tasks, or apps.
The sooner you start, the sooner you earn. Don’t wait—your extra income is just a click away.