PayPal send money fees [2024 guide]

PayPal®¹ is deservedly a super popular payment provider, and a giant in ecommerce. It’s also a convenient way to send money to friends and family - for example if you need to split the cost of a cab or a coffee date. But what about the fees?

This guide covers all you need to know. We’ll also introduce Wise as an alternative non-bank provider with low transfer costs² you might want to compare to international PayPal fees, to see if you can save.

What are the fees for sending money via PayPal?

PayPal fees to send money within the US and internationally can vary depending on the PayPal funding sources selected, and whether or not any currency conversion is needed. It’s important to know upfront what different PayPal transaction types might cost you, so there are no surprises.

Generally, sending a payment within the US - from one PayPal US account to another PayPal US account, in US dollars - is free if you choose to pay with a linked bank account, PayPal balance or Amex® Send account.

However, if you’re sending a payment domestically and paying with a card - or sending any transfer which requires currency conversion or which is crossing national borders - there’s a fee³.

PayPal international fees in particular can be fairly high, and it’s worth knowing that you’ll pay up to 3 separate costs in total:

• International payment fee: payable on all cross border payments
• Funding method fee: applies if you use a credit or debit card
• Currency conversion fee: if any currency exchange is needed

We’ll walk through the details of PayPal’s send money fees for local and overseas payments next.

How do fees vary for domestic and international transactions on PayPal?

PayPal charges domestic transfer fees for some payments - these costs apply if you fund your payment with a debit or credit card.

There’s a PayPal international fee for all international transfers - plus, you’ll pay any applicable domestic transfer fee, and any required currency conversion fee as well.

That means that if you send a payment overseas with PayPal and pay using a card, you could end up paying up to 3 charges in total, including a PayPal card transfer fee, an international payment charge, and currency conversion costs.

Sending money domestically via PayPal

Sending money domestically with PayPal can be economical and fast. There are some no fee payment methods which can arrive in the recipient’s PayPal account instantly.

Bear in mind that if your recipient wants to then withdraw the money to their own bank account they’ll pay a fee of 1.75% for an instant withdrawal, or they’ll need to wait a couple of days for a standard bank withdrawal to settle.

Here are the PayPal US domestic transfer fees which apply when sending money to friends and family, from one US PayPal account to another:

PayPal international transfer fees

If you’re sending money from a US PayPal account to a PayPal account that’s registered in another country, there’s a charge.

This fee depends on the PayPal funding method you prefer to use, and whether or not any currency conversion is required. Here’s a rundown of the potential charges you may need to pay when sending an international transfer with PayPal.

PayPal currency conversion and cross-border fees

If any currency conversion is needed for your payment, you’ll pay a PayPal currency conversion fee as well as any other applicable charges. The PayPal currency conversion fee can vary depending on the type of transaction you’re making, but the PayPal currency conversion fee when sending money to family or friends is set at 4%.

If you need currency exchange for any other transaction type you’ll need to double check the PayPal fee schedule to see what costs may apply.

Make low cost international transfers with Wise

Another smart option if you’re sending money overseas. Meet Wise.

Register a Wise account online or in the Wise app, and send digital payments from your bank account to 70+ countries, with the mid-market exchange rate and low, transparent fees.

Wise always shows you the amount you’re paying and how much your recipient will get — and you can even compare against other providers on the Wise app or desktop site. If another service is cheaper for your particular payment, you’ll be shown — so you can’t lose.

Send money abroad with Wise

Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information

Can you send money on PayPal without fees?

If you’re still wondering how to send money on PayPal without fees, the answer is that you’ll need to stick to local payments in USD, funded from your bank account, Amex Send account, or an existing PayPal balance.

Any payment that requires currency conversion or which is sent to a PayPal account registered in a country other than the US will incur PayPal fees.

How does PayPal’s fees compare with other money transfer services?

PayPal is super convenient for shopping online, sending transfers to local friends and splitting bills when you pay in USD.

However, it’s not necessarily the best choice for sending payments overseas because the international charges tend to be on the high side.

It’s worth shopping around to see which payment option offers the best balance of cost and convenience for your specific transfer, so you’ll know you’re getting the very best deal for you.

Whenever you send a payment to someone - at home or abroad - it’s worth comparing a few different provider options to make sure you’re getting the best available deal based on your specific needs.

PayPal’s domestic transfers to family and friends in the US can be free, depending on how you want to pay - but the PayPal international fees can be on the high side. Take a look at PayPal compared to other non-bank providers like Wise, to see which works best for your next international transfer.