Paypal Payments

How to integrate PayPal Payments with Webflow

PayPal offers flexible integration paths for Webflow sites, from native e-commerce checkout to custom payment flows.

While Webflow Ecommerce plans include built-in PayPal support for standard checkout, you can also leverage third-party apps for enhanced functionality, embed PayPal buttons for donations or single products, or build advanced integrations using PayPal's APIs for subscriptions, marketplace payments, and custom checkout experiences.

Use native Webflow Ecommerce integration

Webflow Ecommerce plans include native PayPal checkout alongside Stripe, letting customers pay with their PayPal accounts or credit cards. This integration automatically syncs with your product catalog and handles order management within Webflow's dashboard.

Key capabilities include:

• Global reach in 119 PayPal-supported countries, including China, Indonesia, Argentina, and South Africa
• Automatic currency formatting based on customer location with proper decimal/comma conventions
• One-click checkout for returning PayPal users who bypass manual data entry
• Mobile-optimized buttons that maintain functionality across all devices

To enable PayPal in your Webflow Ecommerce site, navigate to Ecommerce Settings > Payment Providers and connect your PayPal Business Account. You can then customize button appearance (color, shape, labels) directly in Webflow to match your brand.

Note that this native integration requires a Webflow Ecommerce plan and PayPal Business Account (personal accounts are not supported). Subscription payments are not available through the native integration.

Use third-party apps

Third-party apps extend PayPal functionality to enable integration with non-e-commerce sites or advanced payment scenarios.

The Flowstar Payment Button creates customizable PayPal buttons for any Webflow site:

• Multiple payment types, including donations, checkout, and subscriptions
• Auto-localization for currency and language based on visitor location
• Design customization with full control over text, icons, and button styling
• Support for 10+ payment methods, including Visa, Mastercard, and American Express

Install Flowstar from the Webflow Apps panel, then drag payment buttons into your design. The visual configuration interface requires no coding while supporting advanced features like dynamic pricing and custom fields.

For subscription management, consider apps like Outseta, which enable recurring PayPal payments with gated content access based on membership tiers.

Use Code embeds and PayPal buttons

For simple payment needs without Webflow Ecommerce plans, embed PayPal's prebuilt buttons directly into any Webflow page using the Embed element.

Standard button implementation:

1. Generate button code in your PayPal Business Account under Tools > PayPal Buttons
2. Configure button type (Buy Now, Donate, Subscribe), pricing, and post-payment redirect URLs
3. Add an Embed element in Webflow and paste the PayPal HTML code
4. Style the container using Webflow's visual tools while maintaining PayPal's secure payment handling

PayPal SDK integration for enhanced customization:

Add this to your site's custom code section, then render buttons with JavaScript for dynamic pricing, multiple funding sources, or custom validation logic.

Build with Webflow and PayPal APIs

Direct Webflow and PayPal API integration enables marketplace payments, dynamic subscriptions, and custom checkout experiences. It requires server-side implementation (via serverless functions or external servers) since Webflow doesn't execute backend code.

PayPal's REST APIs provide comprehensive payment processing through the Orders API for transactions, the Subscriptions API for recurring billing, and Webhooks for real-time event notifications.

Key integration benefits include full control over the payment flow, the ability to save payment methods for future use, and support for complex business models like marketplaces or SaaS platforms.

Implement custom checkout flows

Build tailored payment experiences using the Orders v2 API:

1. Create orders server-side using POST /v2/checkout/orders with your product details and pricing
2. Handle buyer approval by redirecting to PayPal's approval URL, then capturing the payment upon return
3. Process webhooks for order events using endpoints like CHECKOUT.ORDER.APPROVED to update your Webflow CMS

The Orders API supports both immediate capture and authorized payments for delayed fulfillment scenarios. Implement idempotency using the PayPal-Request-Id header to ensure reliable payment processing in distributed systems.

Enable subscription billing

Automate recurring payments with the Subscriptions API:

1. Define billing plans with trial periods, setup fees, and recurring cycles using POST /v1/billing/plans
2. Create subscriptions linking customers to plans via POST /v1/billing/subscriptions
3. Manage lifecycle events through webhooks like BILLING.SUBSCRIPTION.ACTIVATED and BILLING.SUBSCRIPTION.CANCELLED

Subscribe to webhook events to automatically update user access in your Webflow CMS when subscription status changes. The API supports complex billing scenarios including usage-based pricing and plan migrations.

Process marketplace payments

Distribute payments to multiple recipients using the Payouts API:

1. Batch payments to up to 15,000 recipients in a single API call
2. Track payout status via webhooks like PAYMENT.PAYOUTSBATCH.SUCCESS
3. Handle currency conversion automatically for international sellers

This enables marketplace models where your platform takes a commission before distributing funds to sellers, all while maintaining PCI compliance through PayPal's infrastructure.

What you can build

Integrating PayPal Payments with Webflow empowers you to create sophisticated payment experiences that drive conversions and expand your market reach globally.

• A global e-commerce store that accepts payments in 119 countries with automatic currency conversion and localized checkout experiences
• A donation platform with customizable giving levels, recurring donations, and thermometer-style progress tracking synced to your Webflow CMS
• A membership site using PayPal subscriptions for content gating, with automated access control based on payment status
• A multi-vendor marketplace that splits payments between sellers while handling refunds and disputes through PayPal's resolution center