Checkout for PayPal WordPress plugin connects PayPal to your WordPress website and makes e-commerce available for you. With this PayPal plugin, you can create smart payment buttons with a simple shortcode to accept PayPal payments from your customers.
Checkout for PayPal plugin uses the PayPal Checkout API to create a simplified and secure checkout experience for your customers. With one simple shortcode, you can add a PayPal smart payment button to your website that lets you accept PayPal, Pay Later, credit and debit card payments from any mobile device, tablet, or PC.
Note: This is NOT an official PayPal product.
Table of Contents
- PayPal Pay Later
- Features
- Checkout for PayPal Plugin Installation
- How to Use Checkout for PayPal
- PayPal Smart Payment Button Demo
- PayPal Button Customizations
- Manage PayPal Orders
- Checkout for PayPal Add-ons
- Priority Support
PayPal Pay Later
When eligible, your existing PayPal buttons change to show a new Pay Later button. When customers select Pay Later, they can pay with flexible, buy now, pay later financing offers.
PayPal offers short-term, interest-free payments and other special financing options that buyers can use to buy now and pay later, while merchants still get paid up-front. Because pay later offers are included with PayPal Checkout, you won’t pay additional costs.
Pay later offers include the following:
- Pay in 4, which buyers can use to pay for purchases in four, interest-free installments.
- PayPal Credit, a revolving line of credit that buyers can use to pay over time.
Checkout for PayPal Info
Features
- Accept PayPal, Pay Later (Pay in 4 and PayPal Credit) payments
- Accept Venmo payments
- Accept credit card and debit card payments
- Accept one-time payments
- Accept donation payments
- Smart Fast PayPal Checkout
- No monthly fee
- Simplified and secure mobile checkout experience
- Simplified PCI compliance
- Checkout with a click of the button
- Support Venmo checkout
- Support PayPal guest checkout (PayPal checkout without an account)
- Accept payments in multiple countries and currencies
- Accept custom PayPal payments by allowing customers to set the amount they will pay
Checkout for PayPal Plugin Installation
- Login to your WordPress admin dashboard
- Go to Plugins->Add New
- Enter Checkout for PayPal in the search box
- Once you find the plugin hit the install button
Option 2
- Download the zip version of the plugin
- Go to Plugins->Add New and switch to the Upload tab
- Select the zip file on your computer
- Upload and install it
Option 3
- Download the zip file and extract it
- Connect to your website via FTP (you can use a software like Filezilla to transfer files to your server) and browse to the “/wp-content/plugins” folder
- Select the folder containing the plugin files on your computer and upload it
- Once all the files have been uploaded to your web server you can activate the plugin from the Plugins menu (WordPress admin dashboard)
How to Use Checkout for PayPal
Checkout for PayPal uses PayPal REST API to add smart payment buttons to your website. To Generate REST API credentials for the sandbox and live environments:
- Log in to the Developer Dashboard with your PayPal account credentials.
- On My Apps & Credentials, use the toggle to switch between live and sandbox testing apps (If you are creating a Sandbox app, you will also need to select a test business account that will act as the API caller).
- Navigate to the REST API apps section and click Create App.
- Type a name for your app and click Create App. The app details page opens and displays your credentials.
- Copy and save the client ID and secret for your app.
- Review your app details and save your app.
Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard and navigate to Checkout for PayPal > Settings.
- Enter the Client ID for your REST API app.
- Enter the default Currency Code.
- Enter a return page URL to which the customer will be redirected after a payment.
- Click Save Changes.
In order to create a smart payment button, you just need to insert a shortcode and a price in the button parameter. The shortcode needs to be inserted into a shortcode block of the default WordPress post/page editor.
[checkout_for_paypal amount="3.99"]
If you want to use the shortcode in a custom field, the field name must be checkout-for-paypal-custom-field and the field type must be WordPress editor.
PayPal Smart Payment Button Demo
PayPal Button Customizations
Item Description
The “item_description” parameter can be added to the shortcode to pass a description of your item to PayPal. For example:
[checkout_for_paypal item_description="My item description" amount="3.99"]
Return URL
The “return_url” parameter can be added to the shortcode to redirect the customer to a specific page on your site after the payment. For example:
[checkout_for_paypal item_description="My item description" amount="3.99" return_url="https://example.com/thank-you/"]
No Shipping
If you do not want to prompt buyers for a shipping address you can use the “no_shipping” parameter in the shortcode. For example:
[checkout_for_paypal item_description="My item description" amount="3.99" no_shipping="1"]
Button Color
The “color” parameter can be added to the shortcode to change the color of the PayPal button to blue, silver, white or black. The default is gold. For example:
[checkout_for_paypal item_description="My item description" amount="3.99" color="blue"]
Button Shape
The “shape” parameter can be added to the shortcode to change the shape of the PayPal button to pill. The default is rect. For example:
[checkout_for_paypal item_description="My item description" amount="3.99" shape="pill"]
Button Size
The “width” parameter can be added to the shortcode to change the width of the PayPal button. The default is 300px. For example:
[checkout_for_paypal item_description="My item description" amount="3.99" width="500"]
Manage PayPal Orders
When you receive a new order it will appear in the Orders menu. You can then do the following to finalize it:
1) Send a purchase confirmation email to the customer (include download links if applicable)
2) Ship the goods
Checkout for PayPal Add-ons
Checkout for PayPal plugin comes with an add-on that you can use to enhance its functionality on your website.
Variable Price
Variable Price add-on lets buyers set the amount they will pay. It can also be used for accepting donation payments.
Priority Support
If you are having an issue with the plugin, our support team can help investigate it by taking a closer look at your site.
Jonathan McMills says
Your plugin works great, but I notice that the buttons receive a “max-width:300px” as an inline style by default. Is there are a way to change this?
Noor Alam says
@Jonathan, I believe so. What changes are you looking for?
Jonathan McMills says
Hi again, Noor. Forgive me for taking a moment to reply. We’ve had a busy few weeks of moving into a new house.
Mostly what I’d like is to not have this style included in the div at all. That way I could control the buttons’ appearance myself (width, alignment, etc) by assigning styles to the container div.
Manish Jain says
Hey, Did you find the solution to control the button appearance?
Alex says
@ Noor Alam
Hi, your plugin sounds great. But: i need to sell 10 products with this smart button option.
do you have andy idea how to realise this with your plugin?
Noor Alam says
@Alex, It’s not possible at the moment.
Andrew says
Is there a way to disable shipping address in the paypal container?
Andrew says
Disregard. I read on this page that it can. Nice work!
Renee says
Hi,
I recently received an error form PayPal regarding IPN which i am unable to resolve with this Plugin.. was hoping for some help
” failing IPN warning email for your account. The IPN script on the URL is failing with HTTP status 500 (Not found)”
Noor Alam says
@Renee, This plugin doesn’t require any IPN from PayPal.
Mark burton says
Hi there, does this have a woocommerce version
Noor Alam says
@Mark, This is not for WooCommerce.
Esal says
Hello! how can i use a shortcode in a custom field? Shortcode doesn’t work unless added to default editor
Esal says
found a condition in /plugins/checkout-for-paypal/main.php – the shortcode is processed only in the $ post-> post_content field
Please make support for custom fields – for better use of your plugin
Noor Alam says
@Esal, The plugin doesn’t filter the shortcode, WordPress does. What you looked at is the post order body that contains details of each purchase. It has nothing to do with shortcodes (the shortcode is what renders the button).
Esal says
this is line 77 of main.php – function plugin_scripts ()
scripts were not included because the shortcode in the custom field didn’t meet the conditions
I added an additional condition:
has_shortcode (get_post_meta ($ post-> ID, ‘paypal’, true), ‘checkout_for_paypal’)
and the buttons are displayed on the frontend
Esal says
but this condition can be removed when the plugin is updated 🙁
so I ask you to add to function plugin_scripts () a check for the presence of a shortcode in an custom post field
Thank you!
Noor Alam says
@Esal, If you tell me how to check for it in a custom field I will add it to the plugin. I do not want to include it on every page for no reason (it can conflict with other plugins and affect page load speed).
Esal says
It will be great!
I suggest using a custom field with a unique name – for example, “checkout-for-paypal-custom-field” and if it has a shortcode – load scripts too.
And in the instructions for the plugin after the text “The shortcode needs to be inserted into a shortcode block of the default WordPress post / page editor.”
add: “if you want to use the shortcode in a custom field – the field name must be” checkout-for-paypal-custom-field “and the field type must be” WordPress editor ”
updated function code in main.php:
function plugin_scripts () { if (! is_admin ()) { global $ post; if (is_a ($ post, 'WP_Post') && (has_shortcode ($ post-> post_content, 'checkout_for_paypal') || has_shortcode (get_post_meta ($ post-> ID, 'checkout-for-paypal-custom-field', true), 'checkout_for_paypal') ) ) { $ options = checkout_for_paypal_get_option (); $ sdk_js_url = add_query_arg (array ( 'client-id' => $ options ['app_client_id'], 'currency' => $ options ['currency_code'], ), 'https://www.paypal.com/sdk/js'); wp_enqueue_script ('jquery'); wp_register_script ('checkout-for-paypal', $ sdk_js_url, array ('jquery'), null); wp_enqueue_script ('checkout-for-paypal'); } } }Noor Alam says
@Esal, Thank you!! I have just released an update for it.
Esal says
Thank you for efficiency!
Manish Jain says
How to change button color? I want white background instead of gold. I tried to do this using CSS but nothing happened. Please help me!
Noor Alam says
@Manish, I have just released an update to support this feature. Please update the plugin and see the instructions for details.
Manish Jain says
Thanks for the reply! I have updated the plugin and see the instruction on the same page but I am not able to find any information about button appearance customization pls let me know how to change the button design.
Noor Alam says
@Manish, Check the Button Color section.
Manish Jain says
Thanks for the reply! I found it. The last thing can you please tell me how to change the button border-radius?
Noor Alam says
@Manish, What do you want to change it to?
Manish Jain says
I want the button corners should be rounded. Thanks!
Cielo says
Hello there, your plug-in has been very helpful. However, is it possible to add a drop down option for a customer to select more than one item? I would deeply appreciate your help. Thank you.
Noor Alam says
@Cielo, That’s not possible at the moment.
Brian S says
Any updates on being able to have a drop down for more than one item qty? Thanks Brian
William Moyes says
What if it’s a variable amount? Can your plug-in be adjusted for that?
Noor Alam says
@William, There is no variable amount at the moment.
Jack says
Can this be used in the Divi theme? I dropped short code into code module but it did not render, only the text of the code appeared. I see above “The shortcode needs to be inserted into a shortcode block of the default WordPress post/page editor” But if I have a WYSIWYG theme installed like Divi, I can’t use plug in?
Noor Alam says
@Jack, A shortcode is not the same as a code block in HTML. It’s a WordPress feature that allows a plugin/theme to print specific content. WordPress offers a shortcode block for rendering shortcodes in the block editor. There is no block in the class editor. You can just copy and paste the shortcode into the content area.
Martin says
Hey there,
What a wonderful plug-in. Just one question, would it be possible to display ONLY the PayPal button and DO NOT show SEPA, griopay, Klarna, Debit / Credit Card?
Thanks,
Martin
Noor Alam says
@Martin, The plugin has no control over these options. I believe PayPal automatically shows all the payment methods available in your account.
Robert says
I would like to use the plugin in combination with a form. Is there a way to pass the contents of a Total field to the plugin?
Noor Alam says
@Robert, That’s not possible at the moment.
Marcus says
Hi! Is it necessary to have a paypal account or can the customer buy without having an account?
Noor Alam says
@Marcus, They can pay with a credit card.
nancy says
Hi there, Your plugin is great for the simple paypal button. One question please, in orders I cannot see the emails of my customers, unless I go into each order, scroll down and find it. Is there an easier way of doing this? thank you so much.
Noor Alam says
@nancy, I have just released an update for it. Email address is now shown for new orders.
Stine says
Is it possible for the customer to place a individual amount? How do I do this?
Thank you.
Dan says
Hi, I have a problem, the plugin does not display the button in the front-end, but only when after entering the short code and updating the page, I click on “view page”. In this case it gives me the Paypal button, but if I open the page from a new browser, it doesn’t show me anything. Also when I click on the paypal button, it opens me the sandbox link even if I have created the LIVE app. I would add that I use a personal, not a business, paypal account. Do you know what the problem can be?
Noor Alam says
@Dan, I don’t think you can use PayPal’s Checkout API without a business account. You can contact PayPal to verify it.