The fastest way to send money on PayPal

Open PayPal, click Send & Request at the top, enter the recipient's email address or phone number, type the amount, choose whether it's a personal payment or payment for goods or services, and click Send Money Now. The recipient gets the funds in their PayPal account instantly if they're already a PayPal user; if not, they receive an email invitation to claim the money, which they can do by creating an account or linking a bank account.

The whole process takes about two minutes. You don't need to know the recipient's bank details—just their email or the phone number they registered with PayPal. If you're paying for something you bought, choose the goods-and-services option so you have a record and some protection if the transaction goes wrong.

Key Takeaways

  • PayPal transfers to other PayPal users land instantly; transfers to non-users take longer because they must first accept the invitation and set up an account.
  • Sending money for goods or services creates a receipt and gives you buyer protection; sending it as a personal transfer does not.
  • You can fund a PayPal payment from your linked bank account, debit card, credit card, or PayPal balance—choose which one at checkout.
  • PayPal charges no fee for personal transfers between users in the same country, but does charge a fee for goods-and-services payments and for international transfers.
  • If the recipient doesn't claim the money within 30 days, it returns to your account automatically.

Step-by-step: sending a personal payment

Log into PayPal on the website or app. Click Send & Request (on the website, this is in the top navigation; on the app, it's a button near the bottom). Select Send Money.

Enter the recipient's email address or phone number in the field that says "Who are you sending money to?" If they're in your contacts or you've sent to them before, their name may appear as you type. Click on their name or finish typing the full address. Type the amount you're sending in the next field. PayPal will show you the exchange rate if you're sending to a different country.

Select Personal as the payment type (the other option is goods or services, which is for purchases). Add a note if you want—for example, "rent" or "dinner last night"—though this is optional. Review the total and click Send Money Now. PayPal will confirm the payment went through and show you a transaction ID.

Step-by-step: sending a payment for goods or services

Use this option when you're paying someone for something you bought from them, or when you want a record and buyer protection. Follow the same first steps: log in, click Send & Request, select Send Money, and enter the recipient's email or phone number and the amount.

This time, select Goods and Services as the payment type. You'll see a field asking what you're paying for—fill this in with a description like "laptop" or "freelance writing." PayPal will add a fee to your total (usually 2.99% plus $0.30 for domestic payments in the US). Review the amount including the fee and click Send Money Now.

The recipient sees this payment in their account and can accept or decline it. Once they accept, the money is theirs to keep. If there's a problem—the item never arrived, or it's not what you paid for—you can file a dispute within 180 days and PayPal will investigate.

Which funding source to use

When you click Send Money Now, PayPal shows you which account it will pull the money from. If you have a PayPal balance (money sitting in your PayPal account), it uses that first. If your balance isn't enough, it pulls from your default funding source—usually a linked bank account or debit card.

You can change which account PayPal uses before you send. Click on the funding source shown and select a different one from the list. Linked bank accounts and debit cards work instantly; credit cards work instantly too but may show as a pending charge for a day or two. If you want to use a specific card or bank account, make sure it's linked to your PayPal account first (go to Settings > Payments to add or manage payment methods).

Using your PayPal balance is fastest because the money is already there. Using a bank account is free but may take a day to process if you're withdrawing money later. Credit cards charge a fee if you're sending a goods-and-services payment, though personal transfers are free regardless of funding source.

What happens when the recipient doesn't have PayPal

If you send money to someone who isn't a PayPal user, they receive an email saying you've sent them money and asking them to claim it. They click the link in the email, create a PayPal account (or log in if they have one), and the money appears in their account. They can then transfer it to their bank account or keep it in PayPal to spend.

The money sits unclaimed for 30 days. If the recipient doesn't claim it by then, PayPal returns it to your account automatically. You'll see a notification that the payment was unclaimed and reversed. If the recipient claims the money after 30 days, they won't be able to—the money is already back with you.

If you need to send money urgently to someone without PayPal, consider using a different service like Venmo, Square Cash, or a direct bank transfer, since those don't require the recipient to set up a new account. PayPal works fine for non-urgent payments where you have time to wait for the recipient to create an account.

Fees and when you pay them

Personal transfers between PayPal users in the same country are free, regardless of which funding source you use. If you send money internationally (to a different country), PayPal charges a fee that varies by country and currency—usually between 1% and 3% of the amount, plus a flat fee of $0.99 to $2.00.

Goods-and-services payments always include a fee. In the US, it's 2.99% of the amount plus $0.30. If you're sending internationally for goods or services, the fee is higher—usually 4.4% plus $0.30. The fee comes out of what you send, so if you send $100 for goods and services, the recipient gets about $97 and PayPal keeps about $3.

You see the total fee before you click Send Money Now, so there are no surprises. Some people ask the recipient to cover the fee by sending a slightly higher amount, but that's between you and them—PayPal doesn't split fees or let you choose who pays.

If something goes wrong with your payment

If you sent money to the wrong person, you can cancel it only if they haven't claimed it yet. Go to your transaction history, find the payment, and click Cancel. The money returns to your account in a few minutes. Once the recipient claims the money, you can't cancel—you'd have to ask them to send it back, or file a dispute if it was a goods-and-services payment.

If you sent a goods-and-services payment and the recipient didn't deliver what they promised, or the item arrived damaged, you can file a dispute. Go to your transaction history, click the payment, and select Report a Problem. PayPal will ask you to describe what happened and give the recipient a chance to respond. If PayPal sides with you, it refunds the money to your account. This process usually takes 10 to 20 days.

If you sent money as a personal transfer and the recipient won't return it, PayPal can't help—personal transfers are final once claimed. That's why personal transfers are best for people you trust, and goods-and-services payments are better for strangers or large amounts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for the recipient to get the money?

If the recipient is a PayPal user, they see the money in their account instantly. If they're not a PayPal user, they receive an email invitation and the money appears once they claim it, which usually takes a few minutes to an hour. Transfers to bank accounts outside PayPal take 1 to 3 business days depending on the bank.

Can I send money to someone in another country?

Yes, but PayPal charges an international fee (usually 1% to 3% plus a flat fee). The recipient must have a PayPal account in their country, or they must be able to create one. Some countries have restrictions on PayPal, so check PayPal's list of supported countries before sending.

What's the difference between personal and goods-and-services payments?

Personal transfers are free and final—once the recipient claims the money, you can't get it back. Goods-and-services payments include a fee but give you buyer protection: if the item doesn't arrive or isn't what you paid for, you can file a dispute and PayPal will investigate.

Can I undo a payment I just sent?

Only if the recipient hasn't claimed it yet. Go to your transaction history, find the payment, and click Cancel. Once they claim it, you can't cancel—you'd have to ask them to send it back, or file a dispute if it was a goods-and-services payment.

What if I don't have a PayPal balance—where does the money come from?

PayPal pulls from your default funding source, which is usually a linked bank account or debit card. You can change which account it uses before you send. Bank transfers are free; credit cards may charge a fee for goods-and-services payments.