Plutio + PayPal Integration (2026)

Give clients the payment option they already trust. Connect PayPal to Plutio and every invoice includes a Pay with PayPal button. Clients click, log into PayPal (or check out as a guest), and payment completes in under 30 seconds. Plutio marks the invoice as paid automatically.

Many clients prefer PayPal because they have funds in their balance, trust PayPal's buyer protection, or prefer not entering card numbers. Offering PayPal alongside Stripe removes friction for clients who prefer it.

PayPal handles currency conversion for international clients. Native integration (no Zapier), free on all Plutio plans. Standard fee: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. Plutio adds no fees.

Last updated January 2026

Plutio

PayPal

Accept payments

Native

5 min setup

What is PayPal

PayPal is an online payment platform used by over 400 million active accounts worldwide. Clients pay using their PayPal balance, linked bank account, credit card, or debit card. PayPal offers buyer protection and operates in over 200 countries. Many clients prefer PayPal because they trust the brand and already have an account.

TLDR (summary)

Plutio connects to PayPal natively (no Zapier required). When clients pay via PayPal, Plutio marks the invoice as paid automatically and records the transaction in your reports.

Key facts: native integration (no Zapier needed), free on all Plutio plans, 2.9% + $0.30 fee per transaction (PayPal standard rate), clients can pay as guests without a PayPal account, automatic payment recording, setup takes 2 minutes.

Offer PayPal alongside Stripe to give clients their preferred payment method.

Payment flow

How does PayPal payment work on Plutio invoices?

When you enable PayPal, a Pay with PayPal button appears on every invoice you send. Clients click the button and complete payment through PayPal's secure checkout. Plutio receives confirmation and marks the invoice as paid automatically.

Client experience

The client opens your invoice email and clicks View Invoice. They see the invoice total and available payment methods. Clicking Pay with PayPal opens PayPal's checkout. They log into PayPal (or use guest checkout with a card), confirm the amount, and complete payment. A success message confirms payment, and they receive a receipt from PayPal.

Your experience

You receive a notification that the invoice was paid. The invoice status changes to Paid in your Plutio dashboard. The payment appears in your payment history and revenue reports. Funds arrive in your PayPal account immediately, ready to transfer to your bank.

Automatic recording

Plutio records the payment amount, date, and method without any manual entry. Your reports stay accurate without you copying payment data from PayPal. The integration handles all the bookkeeping automatically.

What are PayPal's transaction fees?

PayPal's standard rate is 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction for US accounts. Plutio adds no fees on top of PayPal's charges.

Fee examples

$500 invoice: $14.80 fee, you receive $485.20
$1,000 invoice: $29.30 fee, you receive $970.70
$5,000 invoice: $145.30 fee, you receive $4,854.70
$10,000 invoice: $290.30 fee, you receive $9,709.70

International fees

International transactions may incur additional fees (typically 1.5% extra for cross-border payments). Currency conversion adds approximately 3-4% above the mid-market exchange rate. The exact rate depends on the currencies involved.

No hidden fees

PayPal has no monthly fees, no setup fees, and no minimum transaction requirements. You only pay when you receive payments. If no one pays via PayPal this month, you pay nothing.

Compare PayPal's 2.9% + $0.30 to Stripe's identical rate. The fees are the same. Your choice should be based on client preference, not fee comparison.

Do clients need a PayPal account to pay?

No. Clients can pay as a PayPal guest without creating an account.

When a client clicks the PayPal button on your invoice, they see options to log into an existing PayPal account OR pay with a credit/debit card as a guest. Guest checkout processes the payment through PayPal without requiring account creation.

Why guest checkout matters

Some clients resist creating new accounts for payments. Guest checkout captures these payments that would otherwise require follow-up or alternative payment methods. The client enters their card details on PayPal's secure servers and completes payment without any account creation.

PayPal account vs guest

PayPal account: Faster checkout, can use PayPal balance, payment history saved
Guest checkout: No account needed, slightly more steps, card details entered each time

You receive payment the same way regardless of which method the client uses. Both routes process through PayPal's secure infrastructure.

Can I offer both Stripe and PayPal?

Yes, and offering both is recommended for maximum flexibility.

When you connect both Stripe and PayPal, clients see buttons for both options on your invoices. Some clients have strong preferences based on what accounts they already have or which checkout experience they trust more. Offering both options maximizes the chance that a client pays immediately rather than delaying because their preferred method is unavailable.

Why offer multiple options

Clients with PayPal balance want to use those funds
Clients without PayPal accounts prefer Stripe's card checkout
International clients may prefer one over the other based on regional availability
Reducing friction leads to faster payment

Which to choose if you can only have one

If you must choose only one payment method, Stripe is generally the better default for most freelancers because more clients prefer card-on-file over PayPal logins. But if you know your clients prefer PayPal (common in certain industries and regions), start with PayPal.

There is no downside to enabling both. Clients choose their preference, and you receive payment either way. The fees are identical.

How do I connect PayPal to Plutio?

Connecting PayPal takes about 2 minutes. You authorize Plutio to receive payments through your PayPal account, and the connection activates immediately.

Step by step setup

Step 1: Go to Settings in Plutio and click on Payments in the left sidebar.
Step 2: Find PayPal in the list of payment providers and click Connect.
Step 3: Log into your PayPal account on the authorization page. Use your PayPal Business account for the best experience.
Step 4: Grant Plutio permission to receive payments on your behalf.
Step 5: Return to Plutio to confirm the connection. PayPal now appears as a payment option.

After connecting, PayPal automatically appears as a payment option on all invoices. Send yourself a test invoice to verify the PayPal button works correctly before sending to real clients.

Use a PayPal Business account rather than a Personal account. Business accounts have higher transaction limits and better reporting features.

Does PayPal work for international clients?

Yes. PayPal operates in over 200 countries and supports 25 currencies.

When you invoice an international client, they pay in their local currency using their local PayPal account or cards. PayPal handles the currency conversion and deposits the equivalent amount in your currency. International payments through PayPal remove the friction of wire transfers and make cross-border payments as simple as domestic ones.

Currency conversion

PayPal converts currency at approximately 3-4% above the mid-market exchange rate. This conversion fee comes with in the amount you receive. The client sees their total in their local currency. You receive your currency equivalent after conversion.

International considerations

Regional availability: PayPal operates in most countries but has restrictions in some regions
Cross-border fee: Additional 1.5% fee for international transactions
Payment holds: PayPal may hold large international payments for verification
Client trust: International clients often prefer PayPal over entering card details on unfamiliar sites

What if a client disputes a PayPal payment?

Disputes are handled through PayPal's Resolution Center. PayPal notifies you and provides an opportunity to respond with evidence.

Responding to disputes

When a client disputes a payment, PayPal freezes the funds and asks you for evidence. Provide documentation that proves you delivered the agreed services:

Signed contracts or proposals from Plutio
Proof of delivery (file transfers, completed work)
Communication history showing client approval
Project timelines showing work completed

Preventing disputes

Having a signed Plutio proposal or contract strengthens your position in disputes. PayPal protects sellers who can demonstrate the work was completed as agreed. Clear scope documentation and client sign-off at milestones reduce dispute risk significantly.

Disconnecting the integration does not affect pending disputes. All disputes must be resolved through PayPal's Resolution Center regardless of your Plutio connection status.

All integrations included free

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PayPal integration questions

Is the PayPal integration free?

Yes. Plutio includes the integration free on all plans. PayPal charges their standard transaction fees (2.9% + $0.30) directly to your PayPal account.

Do clients need a PayPal account to pay?

No. Clients can pay as a PayPal guest using their credit or debit card without creating a PayPal account.

Can I offer both Stripe and PayPal?

Yes. Connect both and clients see buttons for both options on your invoices. They choose their preferred payment method. See also: Plutio Stripe integration.

Are partial payments supported?

PayPal payments through Plutio are for the full invoice amount. For deposits, create a separate invoice for the deposit amount.

What if a client disputes a payment?

Disputes are handled through PayPal's Resolution Center. Provide evidence (signed contracts, proof of delivery) to support your case.

Does this work with PayPal Business accounts?

Yes. The integration works with both PayPal Personal and PayPal Business accounts. Business accounts are recommended for higher limits.

Can I disconnect PayPal?

Yes. Go to Settings, Payments and click Disconnect. PayPal will no longer appear on invoices. Historical payments remain recorded.

How do refunds work?

Refunds are processed directly in your PayPal account. Log into PayPal, find the transaction, and issue the refund there.

Can I use PayPal for recurring payments?

PayPal can be used for recurring invoices, but clients must manually pay each invoice. Stripe offers smoother automatic recurring billing.

What currencies can I receive?

You can receive payments in any currency your PayPal account supports. PayPal handles currency conversion automatically.

Is PayPal secure?

Yes. PayPal is PCI-DSS compliant and uses encryption to protect payment data. Clients enter information on PayPal's servers, not yours.

How quickly do I receive funds?

Funds appear in your PayPal balance immediately. Transfer to your bank takes 1-3 business days (free) or minutes (1.5% fee for instant transfer).

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