PayPal
by PayPal, Inc. · Finance & Banking · Banking
Online payment platform for sending money, shopping, and accepting business payments worldwide.
Quick Answer: PayPal has a verified Real Score of 3.7/5 based on 120,000 verified reviews, compared to its App Store rating of 4.5/5. Mixed reviews from verified users.
Real Score vs App Store Rating
App Store Rating
Includes unverified reviews
Verified Real Score
Based on 120,000 verified reviews
Gap Alert: PayPal's App Store rating is 0.8 points higher than its verified Real Score. This suggests that some store reviews may be inflated by fake or incentivized ratings.
Pros & Cons
What Users Love
- Accepted everywhere online
- Buyer protection
- International transfers
- Business tools
Common Complaints
- Holds funds for sellers
- Account freezes
- Fees for everything
- Customer support issues
Verified Reviews (20)
Still the standard for online payments
When buying from unknown websites, PayPal's buyer protection gives me confidence. If something goes wrong, I can dispute it. This safety net is why PayPal remains relevant.
Fees have gotten out of hand
Friends and family is free but business transactions take 2.9% + $0.30. International fees, currency conversion fees, withdrawal fees. Everything has a fee. PayPal has become expensive.
Froze my account with $2000 in it
PayPal froze my account citing "suspicious activity" (I sell handmade crafts). It took 6 weeks to resolve. Having $2,000 locked up for 6 weeks with no clear explanation is absurd.
International payments are easy
Paying suppliers in China, freelancers in India, and clients in Europe through PayPal is straightforward. The currency conversion is handled automatically. For global payments, still the easiest option.
Buyer protection saved me once
Bought something on eBay that never arrived. Opened a PayPal dispute and got my $150 back within a week. The buyer protection works when you need it. Worth using PayPal for risky purchases.
Checkout experience is smooth
Seeing "Pay with PayPal" at checkout and completing the purchase without entering card details is convenient. One-touch payments make online shopping faster and safer than entering card numbers.
Seller holds are frustrating
As a small seller, PayPal holds my funds for 21 days on new transactions. I need that money to buy inventory and fulfill orders. The hold policy makes it hard for small businesses to operate.
PayPal Credit is convenient
The pay-in-4 option with no interest is useful for larger purchases. Splitting a $400 purchase into 4 biweekly payments without interest or credit check is genuinely helpful.
App is bloated
PayPal keeps adding features - crypto, savings, messaging, shopping deals. The app used to be simple. Now it's trying to be everything. I just want to send and receive money.
Business invoicing works well
Creating and sending invoices through PayPal for my freelance work is professional and easy. Clients can pay directly from the invoice link. Payment tracking and reminders save me time.
Disputes can go either way
Filed a dispute for a defective product. PayPal sided with the seller despite my evidence. The dispute process is unpredictable and doesn't always protect the buyer despite marketing claims.
QR code payments in stores
More physical stores accept PayPal QR codes now. Scan at checkout and pay from your PayPal balance or linked bank. No physical wallet needed. The adoption is growing.
Currency conversion rates are poor
PayPal's exchange rates are 3-4% worse than mid-market. For international payments, you're losing money on every conversion. Wise (TransferWise) offers much better rates for international transfers.
Two decades of reliability
Using PayPal since 2004. Despite complaints about fees and policies, it's been reliable for 20 years. Thousands of transactions, never lost money. That track record counts for something.
Venmo integration is confusing
PayPal owns Venmo but they're separate apps with separate balances. Sometimes merchants show both options. The relationship between the two is unnecessarily confusing for users.
Honey integration finds deals
After acquiring Honey, PayPal shows automatic coupon codes and price drop alerts. Saved $40 on a purchase I was going to make anyway. Nice value-add integrated into the payment flow.
Customer service is outsourced chaos
Called PayPal about a payment issue. Got transferred 4 times, explained my situation to each person, and nothing was resolved. Their support is a maze designed to make you give up.
Trusted online checkout option
For online shopping, PayPal adds a layer of protection between the merchant and my bank details. I feel safer using PayPal on unfamiliar websites than entering my credit card directly.
Friends and family hack is annoying
Sellers ask buyers to use "friends and family" to avoid fees, but this removes buyer protection. PayPal should crack down on this misuse or just lower their business fees.
Universal acceptance is the value
Nearly every online store, freelance platform, and marketplace accepts PayPal. This universal acceptance is its moat. You might not love PayPal but you'll probably use it.
Showing 1-20 of 12,847 reviews
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Last updated: April 2026