PayPal Setup

Accepting PayPal payments takes a few simple configuration steps. Here's everything you need to know.

To set up PayPal properly, please configure TEST and LIVE modes independently.

PayPal TEST Mode Configuration

PayPal LIVE Mode Configuration

Paypal TEST Mode Configuration

PayPal has a Developer Portal available at https://developer.paypal.com.

There are three steps in the TEST Mode (Sandbox) setup required in order to fully test payments in TEST mode.

1. Create a Sandbox Business Account - This will act as your "Business Account" to receive TEST payments and is necessary for creating the Sandbox Application (step #2).

2. Create a Sandbox Application - This will provide the credentials to be entered into the Payment Page plugin settings to receive TEST payments.

3. Create a Sandbox Personal Account - This will act as your "Personal Account" to make TEST payments. When making a test payment, you'll need to login with these credentials.

Create a Sandbox Business Account

To create a Sandbox Business Account, register for the Developer portal and then go to the Sandbox > Accounts section.

Click "Create Account:"

Creating a Sandbox PayPal Account

In the popup section, under Account Type, Select "Business (Merchant Account)" and your corresponding region:

Creating a Sandbox Business PayPal account

Click "Create" and then you'll see the account appear in the list.

Under the Manage Accounts column, click the 3 dot menu, and select "View/Edit Account:"

Copy the email address into the Payment Page Plugin settings in TEST mode for PayPal:

PayPal TEST Connection Settings in the Payment Page plugin settings

To obtain the Client ID and Secret for your application, proceed to create a Sandbox Application.

Creating a Sandbox Application

To create a Sandbox application, go to the PayPal My Apps & Credentials section.

Under the REST API apps section, click "Create App:"

Creating a PayPal Sandbox Application

Give your App a relevant name, such as your website domain name, and select the Sandbox Business Account from the dropdown menu. Then, click "Create App."

Creating a PayPal Sandbox Application

You will then be presented with the credentials page. Copy the Client ID and Secret into the Payment Page plugin settings and click "Save Settings:"

Entering PayPal Client ID and Secret into Payment Page plugin Settings

That's it! You've configured the connection to your PayPal account.

For other functionality to work properly, such as confirmation emails, please ensure you configure PayPal webhooks.

PayPal Webhook Configuration

Once you've configured the connection to your PayPal account in TEST mode, you may want to make test payments. To make test payments, you need to create a PayPal Personal Sandbox Account.

Creating a Sandbox Personal Account

Go back to PayPal Sandbox > Accounts section, and click "Create Account:"

Under "Account Type" leave the selection for "Personal (Buyer Account)" and select your corresponding country:

Create Personal Sandbox PayPal Account

Under the Manage Accounts column, click the 3 dots menu and select "View/Edit Account."

Change the password so you know what it is, as it is randomly designated by PayPal at first.

When making TEST payments with PayPal, use these credentials for the Buyer account when prompted to login.

PayPal Live Mode Configuration

The setup process is exactly the same for both TEST and LIVE modes - just ensure you've clicked either "Sandbox" or "Live" at the top of the PayPal My Apps & Credentials section.

For live mode configuration, you only need to create a new Live Application. You don't need a Sandbox Business Account to receive payments in LIVE mode.

The Live Application credentials should be entered into the Payment Page plugin settings along with your primary PayPal email address.

If you have any questions or get stuck anywhere, please email us at [email protected].