# PayPal QR codes — how they work

> A PayPal QR code is normally a PayPal.Me link, optionally with a fixed amount baked into the path. Scanning opens a payment page for your account. PayPal's separate in-app code is a different thing with different fees, so pick deliberately.

Source: https://useqr.app/paypal-qr-code · Last reviewed 2026-08-21 · UseQR is free forever, MIT licensed, no signup.

---

## The payload

```
https://paypal.me/yourname
https://paypal.me/yourname/25.00
```

A plain HTTPS link, so it works anywhere a link works and needs no PayPal-specific
scanner. Adding an amount as a path segment prefills it; the payer can usually still
change it.

The currency is whatever your PayPal.Me profile is set to. There is no currency
parameter in the path, which is a real limitation for anyone selling across borders.

## PayPal.Me versus the in-app QR code

These are genuinely different products and the difference matters:

| | PayPal.Me link | PayPal in-app QR code |
|---|---|---|
| How you get it | Claim a handle, any generator can encode it | Generated inside the PayPal app |
| Works in a QR code | yes, it is just a URL | yes, but tied to your account state |
| Fee treatment | Depends whether the payer chooses goods-and-services | Explicit business-vs-personal modes |
| Buyer protection | Only if paid as goods and services | Depends on the mode used |
| Survives account changes | Handle is stable unless you change it | Can be regenerated |

For anything printed, PayPal.Me is safer: it is an ordinary URL you control, and it does
not depend on a code the app might reissue.

## The fee trap

If the payer selects *friends and family*, you receive the full amount but neither party
has buyer or seller protection. If they select *goods and services*, PayPal takes a
percentage and both are protected. The QR code cannot force the choice. If you are
selling, say so on the printed material — "please pay as goods and services" — or you
will end up with unprotected transactions and disputes you cannot win.

## Where a local rail is better

For domestic payments, a local instant-payment scheme is almost always cheaper and
faster than PayPal:

- India → [UPI](/upi-qr-code), free for person-to-person
- Brazil → [PIX](/pix-qr-code), free and instant
- Eurozone → [EPC/SEPA](/epc-qr-code), a normal bank transfer

PayPal earns its fee on cross-border payments and on buyer protection. For a local
market stall, it rarely does.

## FAQ

### Can I set a fixed amount in a PayPal QR code?
Yes, by adding it to the path — paypal.me/yourname/25.00. The payer can usually still edit it before confirming.

### Which currency does the payment use?
Whichever your PayPal.Me profile is set to. There is no currency parameter in the link, which makes PayPal.Me awkward for selling across currencies.

### Is a PayPal.Me QR code the same as the code in the PayPal app?
No. PayPal.Me is an ordinary URL you control. The in-app code is tied to your account and can be regenerated, which would break printed copies. Use PayPal.Me for anything printed.

### Are there fees?
It depends on whether the payer selects friends and family or goods and services. The QR code cannot force the choice, so state your preference on the printed material.

## Try it

- https://useqr.app/paypal
- https://useqr.app/upi
- https://useqr.app/epc