Creating a PayPal payment link takes three steps: log into your PayPal account, go to the Tools section, and generate a link you can share by email, text, or social media

A PayPal payment link is a URL that lets someone pay you without needing your email address or account details. They click the link, enter the amount (if you didn't set one), and complete the payment. You can create one in under a minute from your PayPal dashboard, and it works whether the payer has a PayPal account or pays with a debit or credit card.

The link stays active until you delete it, so you can reuse it for multiple payments or send it to one person. PayPal doesn't charge you to create the link itself—you pay the standard transaction fee only when someone actually pays you.

Key Takeaways

  • Log into PayPal.com, click Tools, then select "Create a payment link" to generate a shareable URL in seconds.
  • You can set a fixed amount or leave it blank so the payer decides how much to send you.
  • The link works for anyone with a debit card, credit card, or PayPal account—they don't need to be PayPal users.
  • PayPal charges you a standard transaction fee (2.99% plus $0.30 for domestic transfers) only when someone pays, not when you create the link.
  • You can edit, copy, or delete the link anytime from your Tools section.

Step-by-step: generating your payment link

Start by going to PayPal.com and signing into your account. If you use the PayPal app on your phone, the process is the same but the menu layout differs slightly—look for the menu icon (three horizontal lines) instead of a top navigation bar.

Once logged in, look for Tools in the top menu or in the app's menu. Click it, then select Create a payment link. PayPal will open a form asking for three things: a description of what you're charging for, an amount (optional), and a currency.

Fill in the description—this is what appears to the payer when they click the link, so be clear: "Rent payment," "Invoice #2024-01," "Tutoring session," or whatever applies. If you want the payer to enter their own amount, leave the amount field blank. If you want to charge a fixed price, type it in. Then select your currency and click Create link.

PayPal generates a long URL. You can copy it directly, email it through PayPal, or share it however you want—text message, social media, a document, anywhere a link can go.

Fixed amount vs. open amount: which to use

A fixed-amount link charges the same price every time someone clicks it. Use this when you're invoicing a specific person for a specific debt, selling a product at a set price, or collecting a membership fee. The payer sees the amount before they enter their payment details, so there's no confusion.

An open-amount link (created by leaving the amount field blank) lets the payer type in whatever they want to send. Use this for tips, donations, or when you're splitting a bill and different people owe different amounts. The payer enters the amount on the payment page after they click the link.

You can create multiple links for different purposes—one fixed link for your rent, another open-amount link for tips—and they all live in your Tools section. Each one has its own URL.

Who can pay through your link and how

Anyone can pay through your link, whether or not they have a PayPal account. If they have a PayPal account, they can log in and pay from their balance or linked bank account. If they don't, they can pay with a debit card or credit card without creating an account—PayPal calls this a "guest checkout."

The payer clicks your link, sees the amount (if you set one), and enters their payment method. PayPal handles the rest. The payment lands in your PayPal account, and you can transfer it to your bank account, keep it in PayPal, or use it to pay someone else.

International payments work too, though PayPal's fees and currency conversion rates apply. The payer's country and payment method determine whether the transaction goes through—some countries and card types have restrictions, but PayPal tells the payer immediately if there's a problem.

Fees and what you actually receive

PayPal charges you a fee only when someone actually pays through your link. For domestic payments (within the United States), the fee is 2.99% of the amount plus $0.30. So if someone sends you $100, you receive $96.71.

International payments cost more: 4.99% plus $0.30 for most countries. If you're receiving money from outside the US, PayPal also applies a currency conversion rate, which varies by the day and the currency involved.

There is no charge to create the link, no monthly fee for using PayPal, and no charge if nobody pays. You only pay when money actually moves into your account.

Managing, editing, and deleting your links

Every link you create stays in your Tools section under Manage payment links. From there you can see how many times each link has been clicked, how many payments came through, and the total amount received. You can also copy the link again if you need to resend it.

To change the description or amount, click the link and select Edit. PayPal updates it immediately—anyone who clicks the link after that sees the new details. If you've already sent the link to someone, they can still use the old URL, but it will now show the updated information.

To stop accepting payments through a link, click Deactivate. The link still exists in your history, but anyone who tries to click it will see an error. You can reactivate it later if you change your mind. To remove it completely, click Delete—this is permanent and cannot be undone.

Security and what happens if something goes wrong

PayPal's fraud protection covers both you and the payer. If someone disputes a payment or claims they didn't authorize it, PayPal investigates and can reverse the transaction. If that happens, the money comes back out of your account.

To protect yourself, keep records of what the payment was for—an email confirming the amount, a message saying "I'm sending you $500 for rent," or a receipt. If a dispute comes up, you can show PayPal proof of what the payment was for, and they'll usually side with you.

If you accidentally send a payment link to the wrong person or someone pays the wrong amount, contact PayPal Support immediately. They can sometimes cancel a pending payment before it clears, but once it's completed, your only option is to ask the payer to send it back or file a dispute.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set a payment link to expire after a certain date?

PayPal does not have an automatic expiration feature. Links stay active until you manually deactivate or delete them. If you need a link to stop working on a specific date, set a reminder to deactivate it yourself on that day.

What if the payer's payment fails or gets declined?

PayPal tells them immediately why the payment didn't go through—usually a card issue, insufficient funds, or a fraud block. They can try a different card or contact their bank. You don't receive anything, and no fee is charged to you.

Can I use a payment link for a business or do I need a business account?

You can use a payment link with a personal PayPal account. If you're running a business and want invoicing tools, tax reporting, or higher transaction limits, a Business account offers more features, but it's not required to create and use payment links.

Does the payer need to know my name or email to pay through the link?

No. They only need the link itself. They don't see your email address or personal details unless you tell them. PayPal handles the connection between the link and your account behind the scenes.

Can I track who paid me through a payment link?

Yes. When someone pays, PayPal records their name, email, and payment method in your transaction history. You can see who paid, when, and how much. If you need a record for taxes or accounting, you can download your transaction history as a spreadsheet.