How to Use the PayPal App to Send Money
Use the PayPal app to send money to friends and family, request a payment, and check your balance — all from your phone without sharing your bank details.
At a Glance
Download the PayPal app and sign in
~23sTap "Send" to send money
~18sQuick Tip
Double-check the email address or phone number before sending. Money sent to the wrong person can be difficult to recover.
Enter the amount and choose Friends and Family
~27sWarning
Only use "Friends and Family" for personal payments to people you know. For any purchase from a seller, always use "Goods and Services" to keep PayPal buyer protection active.
Choose your payment method and send
~16sRequest a payment
~15sTransfer your PayPal balance to your bank
~18sYou Did It!
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PayPal is one of the oldest and most trusted services for sending money between people online. You do not need to share your bank account number or credit card details with the person you are paying — PayPal handles that part securely. The recipient only needs to know your email address or phone number. And you only need to know theirs.
The PayPal app is available free on both iPhones and Android phones. Once you set it up with your bank account or a debit or credit card, you can send money to almost anyone instantly — as long as they also have a PayPal account. If they do not have one, PayPal will email them an invitation to claim the money by creating a free account.
Sending money to friends and family is free when you use your PayPal balance or a linked bank account. If you use a credit card, PayPal usually charges a small fee (currently around 2.9% plus a fixed fee per transaction). Receiving money from a friend or family member is free. Business payments may have different fee structures.
One important distinction in the PayPal app: when you send money, you choose between "Friends and Family" and "Goods and Services." Friends and Family transfers have no seller protection and no buyer protection. They are meant for splitting a dinner bill, paying back a friend, or similar personal transactions. Goods and Services transfers include PayPal's buyer protection, which is appropriate when paying an online seller you do not personally know. Using the wrong category can affect whether you can get a refund if something goes wrong.
Your PayPal balance sits in your PayPal account, separate from your bank account. You can spend it through PayPal or transfer it to your linked bank account at any time. Standard transfers to a bank account are free and take one to three business days. Instant transfers carry a small fee (currently 1.75% of the transfer, minimum 25 cents, maximum $25).
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