If you want to receive money on PayPal, in most cases, all you have to do is give the sender your email address or phone number. They can send you money using either of these details, and PayPal will send a message telling you that it’s available.
Then you can access your money if you log in to your PayPal account, then transfer it to your bank account or keep them in PayPal.
Want to save money when receiving money internationally? You may want to consider using an alternative called Wise. But more on that later.
How Long Does It Take to Receive Money with PayPal?
It depends on the source of the money you are receiving. If the sender is giving you money from a PayPal balance or a debit or credit card, any funds should reach your account within a few minutes.
If the money is coming from a linked bank account, it may take between two or three business days depending on your bank since it has to clear the bank itself.¹
Because of this, it’s sometimes slower to receive money through PayPal compared to a normal bank transfer.
| 💡 If you’re interested about how long do transfers take from PayPal, read our guide here. |
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How to Receive Money Through PayPal Without an Account?
To receive money through PayPal without an account, just give your email address or phone number to the sender.
The funds they send you gets stored under the details you provided – no need for an account.
However, you’ll need to set up a PayPal account to be able to claim the money.
How to Receive Money Through PayPal from a Friend?
If you want to request money from friends and family and receive payments through PayPal, you can do so easily using the “Request Money” button.
To receive money through PayPal from a friend:
- Open your PayPal account
- Go to the “Request Money” page at the top of the screen
- Enter the amount of money you want to ask for and the friend’s email address to receive money.
- Then hit “Confirm”. The request will be sent, and your friend will get an email.
PayPal Fees for Receiving Money
When you receive an international transfer, PayPal charges a fixed fee for personal transactions (based on currency received).² For example, receiving Euros would cost 0.35 EUR. While this fee is paid by the sender, you’ll receive less money as a result.
Also, when you transfer money internationally, exchange fees can also come into play. By adding a markup to the mid-market rate, PayPal can significantly increase the fees the sender will pay.
PayPal vs. Wise: A quick breakdown of fees
Let’s take a look at an example. Say that your British friend wants to send you 1000 GBP to your PayPal account in USD.
Let’s see a quick breakdown of an international transfer with PayPal and an alternative, Wise.
As you can see, you could save a lot of money by using Wise as it uses the mid-market rate to calculate the exchange rate.
Even better, with a Wise Account you can receive money in a variety of currencies, including USD, GBP, EUR, and more.
It is a much better choice, especially if you and your friends often send money abroad.
Join over 10 million people who use Wise and start saving today! 🚀
Get a Wise Account today
Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit for the most up-to-date pricing and fee information.
Sources:
All sources checked on 20 March 2023
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information. This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional. We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
