The fastest way to receive money on PayPal
To receive a payment on PayPal, the person sending you money needs your email address or phone number linked to your PayPal account. They log into their PayPal account, click "Send & Request," enter your email or phone, type the amount, and hit send. The money lands in your PayPal balance within minutes if both accounts are in the same country; international transfers take one to three business days. You do not have to do anything except have an active PayPal account.
If someone wants to pay you but does not have a PayPal account yet, you can send them a payment request instead. PayPal will email them a link where they can pay you without creating an account—they can use a debit or credit card directly. This is useful for splitting bills, collecting money from a group, or getting paid by someone who does not use PayPal regularly.
Money received shows up in your PayPal balance immediately. You can leave it there, transfer it to your linked bank account (which takes one to three business days), or use it to pay other people or make purchases online.
Key Takeaways
- Anyone can send you money if they have your PayPal email address or phone number; the money arrives in your balance within minutes for domestic transfers.
- You can request payment from someone by their email address, and PayPal will send them a link they can pay through without opening a PayPal account.
- Money received appears in your PayPal balance right away and can be transferred to your bank account within one to three business days.
- PayPal charges the sender a fee for most payments, not you—you receive the full amount unless you withdraw it to your bank, which is free.
Receiving money from someone with a PayPal account
The sender logs into PayPal, clicks "Send & Request" at the top of the page, and selects "Send Money." They enter your email address or the phone number connected to your PayPal account, type the amount, add a note if they want to, and click "Send." That is the entire process on their end.
You will see the payment land in your PayPal balance almost instantly if you are both in the United States. If the sender is outside the US or sending to an international account, the transfer takes one to three business days. You do not need to accept or confirm the payment—it is yours as soon as it arrives.
The sender may be charged a fee depending on the payment type. If they send money as a "friends and family" transfer, there is no fee. If they send it as a "goods and services" payment, PayPal charges them a percentage plus a flat fee. Either way, you receive the full amount they sent.
Requesting payment from someone
If you want to ask someone to pay you, use PayPal's request feature instead of waiting for them to send money on their own. Click "Send & Request," then select "Request Money." Enter the person's email address or phone number, type the amount, add a description of what the payment is for, and click "Request."
PayPal sends them an email with a link to pay you. If they have a PayPal account, they can click the link and send the money immediately. If they do not have an account, they can still pay you using a debit or credit card—PayPal handles the transaction without requiring them to sign up.
The person you requested money from can accept or decline the request, or ignore it entirely. If they pay, the money goes into your balance the same way as a regular transfer. Requesting money does not charge you anything, and it does not charge them anything either unless they choose to add a tip.
Receiving money from someone without a PayPal account
If someone wants to pay you but does not use PayPal, you can still receive their money. Send them a payment request using their email address. When they click the link in the email, they will see a page where they can enter their debit or credit card information and send you the payment without creating a PayPal account.
Alternatively, you can give them your PayPal.me link. This is a personalized URL (like paypal.me/yourname) that anyone can use to send you money. They do not need a PayPal account—they just click the link, enter the amount, and pay with a card. You can find your PayPal.me link in your account settings under "Profile" and then "My Business Info."
Both methods work the same way: the money arrives in your PayPal balance within minutes for domestic payments, and you can leave it there or transfer it to your bank account.
What happens to the money once it arrives
When someone sends you money, it sits in your PayPal balance. You can use this balance to send money to other people, pay for things online at stores that accept PayPal, or leave it untouched. PayPal does not charge you to hold money in your balance.
To move the money to your bank account, go to your PayPal wallet, click "Transfer Money," select "Transfer to your bank," choose the bank account you want to use, enter the amount, and confirm. The transfer is free and takes one to three business days. Some accounts may see the money arrive faster, depending on your bank.
If you have a PayPal debit card linked to your account, you can also withdraw money from an ATM or spend it directly from your PayPal balance without transferring to your bank first.
Fees and what you actually receive
PayPal does not charge you a fee to receive money from another person. The sender may be charged a fee depending on how they send it, but that does not affect what lands in your account. If someone sends you $100, you receive $100.
The only time you might lose money is if you transfer your PayPal balance to your bank account through certain methods or if you convert currency. Standard transfers to a US bank account are free. Some third-party services that connect to PayPal may charge their own fees, but PayPal itself does not.
If you receive money as a business payment (marked "goods and services"), PayPal takes a percentage from the sender, not from you. You still receive the full amount they sent.
Troubleshooting: money sent but not received
If someone says they sent you money but you do not see it in your balance, check your email for a PayPal notification. Sometimes payments take a few minutes to process, especially if the sender's bank is slow to authorize the transfer.
If more than an hour has passed and you still do not see the money, ask the sender to log into their PayPal account and check the "Activity" section. They can see whether the payment went through, failed, or is still pending. If it shows as sent on their end but you do not see it, contact PayPal support with the transaction ID (a number the sender can find in their activity history).
International payments can take up to three business days. If the payment is older than that and still has not arrived, the sender may need to cancel it and try again, or PayPal may have flagged it for review due to security concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a bank account to receive money on PayPal?
No. You can receive money and keep it in your PayPal balance without linking a bank account. You only need a bank account if you want to transfer the money out of PayPal. If you have a PayPal debit card, you can spend directly from your balance at stores and ATMs.
Can someone pay me on PayPal if they do not have an account?
Yes. If you send them a payment request, they can click the link in the email and pay you with a debit or credit card. They do not have to create a PayPal account. You can also share your PayPal.me link, which works the same way.
How long does it take to receive money on PayPal?
Domestic payments (within the US) arrive in your balance within minutes. International transfers take one to three business days. The time depends on the sender's bank, not PayPal itself.
What is the difference between sending money as friends and family versus goods and services?
Friends and family transfers have no fee for the sender. Goods and services payments charge the sender a percentage plus a flat fee. You receive the full amount either way. Use friends and family for personal payments and goods and services if you are being paid for something you sold or a service you provided.
Can I receive money on PayPal if my account is not verified?
Yes, you can receive money with an unverified account. However, PayPal may limit how much you can withdraw or hold in your balance until you verify your identity by providing a phone number or confirming your bank account.