Send money through PayPal by entering the recipient's email or phone number, the amount, and a note, then confirming the payment
PayPal lets you send money to anyone with an email address or phone number linked to a PayPal account. The payment goes through in minutes if both of you are verified users. If the recipient doesn't have a PayPal account yet, they'll receive a notification and can claim the money by creating one. You can send from your PayPal balance, a linked bank account, or a debit or credit card on file.
The steps are the same whether you're sending $5 to a friend or $500 to a contractor. What changes is how long the money takes to land and whether PayPal charges you a fee — that depends on whether you're sending domestically or internationally, and whether the recipient is a business or a person.
Key Takeaways
- You can send money to anyone with an email address or phone number, even if they don't have a PayPal account yet.
- Domestic payments to friends and family are free if you send from your PayPal balance or a linked bank account, but cost 2.2% plus $0.30 if you use a credit card.
- International payments cost between 1% and 3.99% depending on the destination country, plus a fixed fee that ranges from $0.30 to $2.00.
- Money sent to a friend or family member arrives in minutes to hours; money sent to a business account may take one to three business days.
- You can cancel a payment only if the recipient hasn't claimed it yet, which is usually possible within 30 days.
The five steps to send a PayPal payment
Log into your PayPal account on the website or mobile app. On the website, click the "Send money" button in the top menu. On the app, tap the paper airplane icon at the bottom of the screen.
Enter the recipient's email address or phone number in the "To" field. If they're in your contacts or you've sent to them before, their name will appear as you type. Select their name from the dropdown or finish typing the full address.
Enter the amount you want to send. PayPal will show you the exchange rate if you're sending to a different country. Choose your currency from the dropdown if it's not already set to USD.
Select the payment source: your PayPal balance, a linked bank account, or a debit or credit card. If you're sending to a friend or family member and want to avoid fees, choose your PayPal balance or bank account. If you use a credit card, PayPal charges a fee.
Add a note (optional) and click "Send money now." Review the amount, recipient, and any fees before you confirm. Once you click the final confirmation button, the payment is sent and cannot be edited — though you can still cancel it if the recipient hasn't claimed it.
Fees for sending money domestically
Sending money to a friend or family member in the United States is free if you pay from your PayPal balance or a linked bank account. If you send from a credit card or debit card, PayPal charges 2.2% of the amount plus $0.30. For example, sending $100 from a credit card costs $2.50.
Sending money to a business account always costs money, regardless of your payment source. The fee is 2.2% plus $0.30 for domestic transfers. There is no way to avoid this fee when paying a business.
If you're unsure whether an account is personal or business, PayPal will tell you before you confirm the payment. The fee will appear on the review screen, so you can cancel if you change your mind.
International payments and currency conversion
Sending money outside the United States costs between 1% and 3.99% of the amount, depending on the destination country. PayPal also charges a fixed fee that ranges from $0.30 to $2.00. The exact cost depends on which country you're sending to and whether you're sending to a personal or business account.
PayPal converts your money to the recipient's local currency at its own exchange rate, which includes a markup. You'll see the conversion rate and total fee on the review screen before you confirm. If the rate seems high, you can cancel and try a different payment method, though most alternatives (wire transfers, money transfer services) charge similar or higher fees for international sends.
Some countries don't accept PayPal transfers at all. If you try to send to an unsupported country, PayPal will tell you when you enter the recipient's address and won't let you proceed.
How long it takes for the money to arrive
Money sent to a personal PayPal account usually arrives in minutes to a few hours. The recipient will see it in their account balance immediately if they're online, or in their email notification if they're not.
Money sent to a business account can take one to three business days. This delay happens because PayPal holds business payments for fraud review before releasing them.
If you sent money to someone who doesn't have a PayPal account yet, they'll receive an email or text notification. They have 30 days to claim the money by creating an account or linking it to an existing one. If they don't claim it within 30 days, the money returns to your account automatically.
What to do if you need to cancel or dispute a payment
You can cancel a payment only if the recipient hasn't claimed it yet. On the website, go to your Activity or Transaction History, find the payment, and click "Cancel." On the app, swipe left on the transaction and tap "Cancel." If the cancellation goes through, the money returns to your original payment source within three to five business days.
If the recipient has already claimed the money, you cannot cancel it through PayPal. Instead, you'll need to contact the recipient and ask them to send the money back. If they refuse and you believe the transaction was unauthorized or fraudulent, you can file a dispute through PayPal's Resolution Center within 180 days of the payment date.
To file a dispute, go to your Activity, find the transaction, and click "Report a problem." Describe what happened and provide any evidence (screenshots, messages, receipts). PayPal will investigate and decide whether to refund you. The process usually takes 10 business days, though complex cases can take longer.
Sending money to someone without a PayPal account
You can send money to anyone with an email address or phone number, even if they don't have a PayPal account. PayPal will send them a notification asking them to claim the money. They can claim it by creating a new PayPal account or by linking the payment to an existing account under a different email.
The recipient has 30 days to claim the money. If they don't claim it within that window, PayPal automatically returns it to you. You'll receive a notification when the money is returned, and it will go back to whichever payment source you originally used (your PayPal balance, bank account, or card).
If you're sending to someone in another country who doesn't have PayPal, they may not be able to claim the money at all — PayPal is not available in every country. Before you send, confirm that the recipient's country supports PayPal accounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I send money to someone if I don't know their PayPal username?
Yes. You only need their email address or phone number. PayPal will find their account automatically. If multiple accounts are linked to that email or phone number, PayPal will ask you to confirm which person you're sending to.
What happens if I send money to the wrong person?
If the recipient hasn't claimed the money yet, you can cancel the payment immediately and it will be returned to you. If they've already claimed it, you'll need to contact them directly and ask them to send it back. If they refuse, you can file a dispute through PayPal's Resolution Center, though PayPal may not refund you if the money was sent intentionally.
Do I need to verify my PayPal account to send money?
You can send money with an unverified account, but there are limits. Unverified accounts can send up to $500 per transaction and $1,000 per month. To send larger amounts, you'll need to verify your identity by linking a bank account or confirming your address.
Can I schedule a payment to send later?
PayPal does not have a built-in scheduling feature for personal payments. You can only send money immediately. If you need to send money on a specific date, set a reminder on your phone or calendar to send it manually on that day.
Is sending money through PayPal safe?
PayPal uses encryption and fraud detection to protect your account. Your financial information is not shared with the recipient — they only see your name and email. If an unauthorized person sends money from your account, you can file a dispute and PayPal will investigate. Buyer and seller protection does not cover personal payments between friends, so only send money to people you trust.