The fastest way to send money through PayPal
Open PayPal on your phone or computer, click or tap Send & Request, enter the recipient's email address or phone number, type the amount, choose whether to send as a personal payment or goods/services payment, and hit send. The money moves to their PayPal account instantly if they're already a user. If they're not, PayPal holds the payment for 30 days while they sign up—after that, the money returns to you.
The whole process takes about two minutes. You don't need the recipient's bank account or routing number. PayPal handles the connection between your account and theirs, or between your account and their bank if they've linked one.
Key Takeaways
- PayPal sends money instantly to other PayPal users, but the recipient must claim the payment within 30 days or it returns to your account.
- You can send from your PayPal balance, linked bank account, or linked debit or credit card—each option has different speed and fee rules.
- Personal payments between friends and family usually have no fee; payments for goods or services charge a percentage plus a flat fee.
- If the recipient doesn't have a PayPal account yet, they receive an email or text notification and can claim the money by signing up.
- PayPal's Seller Protection and Buyer Protection apply differently depending on whether you mark the payment as personal or commercial.
Step-by-step: sending money to someone with a PayPal account
Log into PayPal.com or open the PayPal app. On the home screen, look for a button labeled Send & Request (on mobile, it's usually at the bottom of the screen; on desktop, it's in the top navigation). Tap or click it.
In the field that says "To," enter the recipient's email address or phone number. PayPal will show you if that person already has an account. If they do, their name appears below the field. If they don't, PayPal will tell you they're not yet a member and offer to send them an invitation.
Type the amount you want to send in the dollar field. Then choose the payment type: Personal (for money between friends and family, usually no fee) or Goods and Services (for business transactions, which includes a fee). If you're unsure, personal is the right choice for splitting rent, paying back a loan, or sending a gift.
Add a note if you want—this helps the recipient remember what the payment was for. Then review the total and hit Send Now. PayPal will ask you to confirm your password or use your phone's fingerprint or face recognition. Once confirmed, the payment is sent.
What happens after you hit send
If the recipient has a PayPal account, the money appears in their account within seconds. They can see it in their PayPal balance right away and transfer it to their bank account whenever they want (usually within one to three business days, depending on their bank).
If the recipient does not have a PayPal account, they receive an email or text message (depending on whether you sent to their email or phone number) with a link to claim the payment. They have 30 days to sign up and accept it. If they don't claim it within 30 days, PayPal automatically returns the money to your account—you'll see it back in your PayPal balance or the original funding source you used.
You can cancel an unclaimed payment at any time before the recipient accepts it. Log into PayPal, go to your activity or transaction history, find the payment, and select the option to cancel. The money returns to you immediately.
Choosing where the money comes from
When you send money, PayPal draws from one of three sources: your PayPal balance, a linked bank account, or a linked debit or credit card. You can usually choose which one before you confirm the payment, though PayPal may default to your balance if you have one.
Sending from your PayPal balance is fastest—the recipient gets the money instantly and you have no fees (for personal payments). Sending from a linked bank account is also free for personal payments but may take a few hours for PayPal to pull the funds. Sending from a debit or credit card is instant but may trigger a small fee depending on the card type and your account history.
If you don't have enough in your chosen source, PayPal will tell you and ask you to pick a different one or add funds first. You can link a new bank account or card right from the send screen if needed.
Understanding PayPal's payment types and fees
Personal payments are for money between friends, family, or people you know. There is no fee when you send from your PayPal balance or a linked bank account. If you send from a credit card, PayPal may charge a small fee (usually 2.2% plus $0.30, but this varies). The recipient never pays a fee to receive personal money.
Goods and Services payments are for buying something or paying for work. PayPal charges the sender 2.2% of the amount plus $0.30 (for payments within the US; rates differ for international transfers). This fee comes out of the money you send, so if you send $100, PayPal takes about $2.50 and the recipient gets about $97.50. You can choose to cover the fee yourself so the recipient gets the full amount, but you'll pay more out of pocket.
International payments have higher fees. The rate depends on which country the recipient is in and which currency you're sending. PayPal shows you the exact fee before you confirm, so you always know the cost upfront.
What to do if a payment fails or gets stuck
If PayPal can't pull money from your bank account or card, the payment fails and you get a notification explaining why. Common reasons include insufficient funds, a card that's expired or flagged for fraud, or a bank account that's been closed. PayPal will ask you to try again with a different payment method or add funds to your balance first.
If you sent money to someone and it's been more than a few minutes but the recipient says they haven't received it, check your activity log. Look for the transaction and see its status—it should say "completed," "pending," or "unclaimed." If it's pending, PayPal is still processing it; wait a few more hours. If it's unclaimed, the recipient hasn't signed up yet or hasn't claimed the payment.
If a payment shows as completed but the recipient never got it, contact PayPal's Resolution Center. Go to your transaction history, find the payment, and select "Report a Problem." Describe what happened and PayPal will investigate. They can usually resolve this within a few business days.
Protecting yourself when sending money
PayPal's Buyer Protection covers you if you send money for goods or services and don't receive what you paid for—but only if you marked the payment as "Goods and Services," not "Personal." Personal payments have no protection, so only use that option for people you trust.
Never send money to someone you don't know or haven't verified, especially if they're asking you to send it urgently or to an unusual location. Scammers often pose as friends or family members and ask for quick payments. If something feels off, contact the person through another method (a phone call, not a text) to confirm they actually asked for the money.
If you think you've been scammed, report it to PayPal right away through the Resolution Center. The sooner you report it, the better chance PayPal has of recovering your money or blocking the recipient's account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I send money to someone who doesn't have PayPal yet?
Yes. PayPal sends them an email or text with a link to claim the payment. They have 30 days to sign up and accept it. If they don't claim it within 30 days, the money returns to your account automatically.
How long does it take for money to show up in someone's PayPal account?
If they already have a PayPal account, the money arrives within seconds. If they don't have an account yet, they receive a notification and can claim the money once they sign up, which usually takes a few minutes.
What's the difference between sending as "Personal" and "Goods and Services"?
Personal payments are for friends and family and usually have no fee. Goods and Services payments are for business or purchases and include a fee (2.2% plus $0.30 in the US). Only Goods and Services payments have buyer protection if something goes wrong.
Can I cancel a payment after I send it?
Yes, but only if the recipient hasn't claimed or accepted it yet. Log into your activity, find the payment, and select cancel. Once someone accepts the payment, you can't cancel it—you'd have to ask them to send the money back.
What happens if I send money from a credit card instead of my bank account?
PayPal may charge a fee (usually around 2.2% plus $0.30) when you send from a credit card, even for personal payments. Sending from your PayPal balance or linked bank account is free for personal transfers.