PayPal is a worldwide accepted money transfer service and it’s very easy to integrate PayPal payment gateway even if you are not using the WooCommerce plugin on your website. So, without further ado let’s see how to add PayPal payment option for non-WooCommerce websites.
Before you can integrate PayPal on your website let’s read what are the merits and demerits of using PayPal.
Merits of using PayPal
- PayPal allows various currencies to be accepted and transferred worldwide faster and safely.
- Easy to convert different currencies into the dedicated currency of your country.
- Account is easy to set up and you will receive payments into your PayPal account directly.
Demerits of using PayPal
- PayPal charges a convenience fee while transferring payment.
- It takes 3-5 business days while transferring money from PayPal to your bank account.
- Limitation on sending and withdrawing amount if PayPal thinks you are violating terms of service.
This guide will help you to include a custom payment option where users can insert any desired amount and pay using PayPal. If you have decided that PayPal is the right gateway for your website, let’s start our guide on how to add PayPal payment option for non-WooCommerce websites.
If you are using WooCommerce for your website then follow this article How to Add PayPal Payment Gateway to WooCommerce (with Video)
Creating a PayPal account
Firstly, you need to register at PayPal as an individual or business.
Individual Account: This is a better option for freelancers or single owners.
Business Account: This is generally used by companies registered under a specific name or brand.
Steps to Sign Up for PayPal
- Click Sign up and select one of the following between Individual or Business account.
- Fill the required fields and click the Continue button.
- Now, fill the next form with your personal details and proceed forward.
- Here, you can link your debit or credit card and start sending payments.
For receiving payments using PayPal you need to confirm your email address and identity. When you have confirmed your email id you can proceed further by uploading the necessary documents to confirm your national identity and tax information. The verification process usually takes 3-5 business days once done, you are all set to receive payments.
Installing plugin for custom PayPal payments.
In this process I am using the plugin ‘WP Easy Paypal Payment Accept’. This plugin is free to use and easy to set up with minimal settings. To get started you need a WordPress website that is already published. Read the article on How to Get Started with WordPress and Set Up your own Website Quickly.
Just follow the instructions below to install the above mentioned plugin.
- Go to Plugins tab > Add New Plugin
- In the search bar type or copy and paste ‘WP Easy Paypal Payment Accept’ you will see a plugin like below.
Click the Install button, then click Activate.
- Go to the Settings tab here, you will see ‘WP PayPal Payment’. Click and open it. You will see a settings form like below.
WP Paypal Payment Widget Title: Use a suitable title for your payment box. This will not be visible to your customers.
PayPal Email address: Here, you need to insert the PayPal email address that you used to create your PayPal account.
Choose Payment Currency: From the drop-down, you can select the desired currency to receive payments. A widely used currency on PayPal is the US Dollar.
Payment Subject: Here, you can give a suitable name for your service. This will tell the potential customers what they are paying for.
Payment Option 1: If you want to charge a fixed fee for your service or product you can insert it here, also give it a title such as Basic Service. You can insert the desired amount for basic service.
Payment Option 2: You can also provide different services such as Premium service or Advanced service. You can name it according to your services and insert a price quote.
Payment Option 3: Similar to payment options 1 and 2 you can also add Platinum or other higher-level services for your customers. Also, you can include a price quotation here. Use the other payment options if you offer more services.
Show Other Amount: If you want to include a custom price option, you can tick the box to allow clients to insert a custom amount.
Show Reference Text Box: Tick this box if you want customers to insert the description of the custom payment.
Reference Text Box Title: Here, you can provide simple text like provide details of the payment. This will make it easier to keep records of the payment that you are receiving.
Return URL from PayPal: After payment, you can redirect customers to a Thank You page. Just insert the page link here.
Cancel URL from PayPal: If a user clicks the cancel button they can be redirected to a new page. You can insert the desired URL to redirect customers.
When you are done you can choose one of the above 2 payment buttons.
- Donate if you want visitors to know that you only accept donations.
- Pay Now button to receive payment for your service or products.
When you are satisfied with your details click the Update options button.
How to insert the custom payment box on your website.
You can simply copy and paste this shortcode: [wp_paypal_payment] wherever you want the payment box to appear on your website. You can either create a new payment page for your website or add this payment box in a new post.
Adding Custom Payment option to a new page
Go to Pages > Add New
Provide a title for your page such as Pay Now.
Below the page title insert a New Block then, using the Plus sign, Select Shortcode.
Paste this shortcode: [wp_paypal_payment]
You can also customize this new page providing details about your services or products. When you are done click the Publish Button. Click the View Link option. After adding only the custom PayPal payment box your payment page will look similar to this.
Here, potential customers can select the desired payment option from the dropdown. Then insert a custom amount in the Other Amount box. The payment Description box can be used to insert details about the service they are paying. When they click the Pay Now button they will be redirected to the PayPal payment gateway where clients can pay using their PayPal id or using Debit/Credit cards.
This custom payment option is suitable for NGOs or services that need to be charged on the basis of quality or quantity. So, go ahead and follow this guide on how to add PayPal payment option for non-WooCommerce websites and start accepting payments online. If you have any doubts or additional information to share, do not forget to mention them in the comments below.
Further reading
WordPress Square Payment Integration with WP Easy Pay
How to Add Affiliate Products to Your WooCommerce Store (with Video)
