You owe a friend $40 for concert tickets and neither of you can remember the other’s PayPal username. Instead of hunting for an email address, you can create a PayPal Link in the app, drop it into a text, and let your friend tap to pay in seconds. Introduced in the U.S. in September 2025, PayPal Links is designed to keep money moving inside the conversations where you’re already talking about it — iMessage, WhatsApp, email, Instagram DMs, you name it.
This guide walks through exactly how to send and request money with PayPal Links, how the newer crypto transfers fit in, and — importantly — the one situation where a 2.90% fee applies so you’re never surprised.
What Is a PayPal Link?
A PayPal Link is a personalized, one-time payment URL you generate inside the PayPal app. It can carry a preset amount and a short note (“brunch 🥞” or “rent — October”), and you share it however you like. Because each link is unique and built for a single transaction, it’s more private than posting a permanent profile. It’s different from the older PayPal.Me link, which is a reusable, public page tied to your account.
The recipient needs a PayPal account to accept or pay, and transfers typically land instantly. PayPal says links can reach recipients in 110+ countries, with the sending feature live in the U.S. and expanding to markets like the U.K. and Italy.
How to Send Money With a PayPal Link
- Open the PayPal app and tap Send (or the “Send/Request” area on the home screen).
- Choose PayPal Link as the method.
- Enter the amount you want to send and add an optional note.
- Select your funding source — PayPal balance, linked bank account, debit card, or credit card.
- Tap to generate the link, then share it via your Messages app, email, or any messaging app.
Your recipient opens the link, confirms, and the money moves. Because you picked the amount up front, there’s no back-and-forth about how much to send.
How to Request Money With a PayPal Link
- In the app, tap Request.
- Choose the PayPal Link option and enter the amount owed to you.
- Add a note so the payer knows what it’s for.
- Copy the generated link and send it by text or email to whoever owes you.
- When they open it, the amount is pre-filled — they just confirm and pay.
Requesting is free for you, and the payer chooses their own funding method on their end (which is what determines whether a fee applies — more on that below).
When Does the 2.90% Fee Apply?
Here’s the part most people get wrong. For domestic personal payments to friends and family in the U.S., the PayPal Links payment itself has no service fee — as long as it’s funded the free way. The 2.90% fee is tied to the funding source, not to the link.
| Funding source (US, friends & family) | Fee |
|---|---|
| PayPal balance | Free |
| Linked bank account | Free |
| Debit card | Free |
| Credit card | 2.90% + a fixed fee ($0.30 in USD) |
| Cross-border / currency conversion | Additional fees may apply |
Worked example: You send $100 to a friend. Funded from your bank account or balance, the cost is $0.00. Funded from a credit card, PayPal charges 2.90% of $100 ($2.90) plus the $0.30 fixed fee, for a total fee of $3.20 — your friend still receives $100, but $103.20 leaves your card if you cover the fee.
The simple rule: pay from your balance, bank, or debit card and personal payments stay free. Reach for a credit card and the 2.90% + fixed fee kicks in. (Note: receiving money for goods and services as a business is a separate commercial rate, not covered here.)
Sending Crypto Through PayPal Links
In September 2025, PayPal began rolling out crypto transfers inside its peer-to-peer flow for eligible U.S. users. The idea: you can fund a payment link with cryptocurrency — such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, or PayPal’s own PYUSD stablecoin — and send it across PayPal, Venmo, and compatible external wallets.
A key convenience is that the sender and receiver don’t both have to deal in crypto. A sender can fund in crypto while the receiver gets settled in dollars or PYUSD, smoothing out the experience. A few fee details worth knowing:
- Holding crypto in your PayPal account: no fee.
- Buying or selling crypto (converting to/from dollars): roughly 1.50%–2.20%, depending on the transaction size.
- Transfers between PayPal accounts: no PayPal fee.
- Sending to an external wallet: blockchain network fees apply and vary by coin and congestion.
Crypto features roll out gradually and depend on eligibility, so if you don’t see the option yet, it may not have reached your account.
Getting Your Money Out
Once money lands in your PayPal balance, moving it to your bank is free with a standard transfer (typically 1–3 business days). Need it now? An Instant Transfer to an eligible bank or debit card costs 1.75% of the amount, subject to a minimum and maximum fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the person receiving my PayPal Link need an account?
Yes. To accept money or pay a request through a PayPal Link, the recipient needs a PayPal account. They can complete the payment in the PayPal app or on the website after opening your link.
Is sending money with a PayPal Link really free?
For U.S. personal (friends and family) payments, it’s free when funded by your PayPal balance, bank account, or debit card. A 2.90% fee plus a fixed fee ($0.30 in USD) applies only when you fund the payment with a credit card. International or currency-converted transfers can carry extra fees.
Can I send Bitcoin or PYUSD to someone with a PayPal Link?
Eligible U.S. users can fund peer-to-peer link payments with crypto like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and PYUSD, sending across PayPal, Venmo, and compatible wallets. The receiver can be settled in dollars or PYUSD. Buying/selling conversions and external-wallet network fees still apply.
How is a PayPal Link different from PayPal.Me?
PayPal.Me is a permanent, reusable public link tied to your profile. A PayPal Link is generated for a single transaction, can include a preset amount and note, and is meant to be dropped into a one-off text or email — making it more private for individual payments.
The Bottom Line
PayPal Links make sending or requesting money as easy as sharing a URL — no usernames, no guesswork. Keep payments free by funding from your balance, bank, or debit card, and remember that the 2.90% + fixed fee only appears when a credit card does the funding. If you’re experimenting with crypto, watch the conversion and network fees rather than the link itself. Used thoughtfully, it’s one of the quickest ways to settle up with friends.
WalletWisp is an informational resource, not financial advice. Fees and features change — confirm current details in the PayPal app or on paypal.com before you send.
