How To Set Up PayPal Express Checkout on Shopify And Tips

Written by Lauren

Topics: Shopify Guide

Published: Sep 8, 2023

8 minutes read

Guide to set up paypal express at shopify checkout

Online shopping is all about convenience. However, a common hiccup customers face is the lack of flexible payment options, which can hinder their purchasing experience. For e-commerce stores, especially those using platforms like Shopify, offering a diverse range of payment methods isn't just an added perk—it's crucial for customer satisfaction and sales conversions.


Enter PayPal Express Checkout, a favored choice among countless online retailers and shoppers. Its popularity isn't without reason. PayPal Express Checkout offers swift, secure, and streamlined transactions, assuring customers and enhancing their shopping experience.


This article serves a dual purpose. Firstly, to walk you through a detailed, step-by-step process of integrating PayPal Express Checkout with your Shopify store. Secondly, to bestow upon you some expert insights into optimizing payment methods for your e-commerce platform. If you're looking to elevate your store's user experience and solve those pesky payment problems, you've landed on the right guide. 


Read on to unlock the potential of seamless online transactions.

Setting Up PayPal Express Checkout Shopify

PayPal, being an integral gateway on Shopify, ensures that its integration is straightforward for merchants. The PayPal Express Checkout is much more preeminent as it allows buyers to continue with the payment without redirecting to PayPal'’s website to authenticate, review their order, and authorize the payment. 


After these steps, they're rerouted back to Shopify to complete their purchase which can disrupt the fluidity of the shopping experience, especially on mobile devices. By prioritizing customer ease and a simplified checkout process, opting for PayPal Express Checkout on Shopify becomes a clear choice for businesses aiming to maximize sales and elevate their users' shopping experience.


If you're starting afresh, you'd want to establish a PayPal Business account, keeping in mind that a personal account doesn't suffice for commercial transactions due to legal constraints.

Part 1: Steps to Establish Your PayPal Business Profile

(you can skip this step if you already have a PayPal Business Profile)

create business account for paypal express

Create a Business Account to use PayPal Express Checkout

  • Visit the PayPal Business site and hit the "Sign Up" prompt on the main page and input your enterprise details such as its name, contact, and address.
  • Designate an email and devise a secure password for this profile.
  • Specify your business category and furnish extra specifics like your EIN or SSN as prompted.
  • Associate your banking details or even a card to the PayPal account to facilitate customer payments.
  • Complete the verification by submitting any added data or documents that PayPal might ask for, ensuring your account's authenticity.

Upon finishing the above, you've successfully set up your PayPal Business account. Always acquaint yourself with PayPal's pricing and terms, ensuring clarity on its operations and potential charges.

Part 2: Implementing PayPal Express Checkout in Shopify

  • With your PayPal Business profile ready, access your Shopify profile and steer to the Payment Providers space within Shopify's Settings.

active paypal express as payment on shopify store

Activate PayPal Express Checkout in the Shopify store’s payment setting

  • Choose the "Activate PayPal" option, and insert your PayPal-associated email.

active paypal express checkout setting on shopify

Click on the Active PayPal Express Checkout button to begin the process

  • Finalize the steps, and voila, your Shopify outlet can now process transactions using PayPal Express Checkout.

active paypal express account to connect with shopify store

Connect PayPal Express Checkout account through the registered email

  • Protip

    Before fully opening up to all customers, always run a trial on the payment procedure to verify its seamless operation.

Part 3: A Guide to Authenticating Your PayPal Account

For newcomers to PayPal, account verification is standard. It's as simple as connecting your bank details to PayPal. A rundown on the verification procedure:

  1. Log into your PayPal profile, aiming for the dashboard.
  2. Tap the "Pay and get paid" section overhead.
  3. Opt for "Banks & Cards" followed by "Link a bank account."
  4. Key in your bank's name and select it as it pops up.
  5. If your bank shows up, proceed with the automated prompts.
  6. Choose "Agree and link" to seal the deal.
  7. If your bank isn't present, click "Link your bank another way" and manually input your bank data.
  8. Expect two nominal PayPal deposits in your bank.
  9. Punch in these deposit values on the PayPal portal.
  10. Hit "Submit" to wrap things up.

The validation routine is generally hassle-free and swift. If any hitches arise, the PayPal help desk is always available.

Why Offering Multiple Payment Options Matters?

Did you know that a significant portion of online shoppers abandon their carts midway through the checkout process? 

As per recent data, 11% of these abandonments are due to an insufficient variety of payment methods. Even more startling is that 19% abandon their purchase because they don't trust the security of the site's payment methods. 


This underscores the critical importance of not just diversifying the payment options but also ensuring they're recognized for their security and trustworthiness. As a store owner, you shouldn't merely view payment methods as a transactional tool but as a vital element of customer trust and convenience. Investing in diverse, reputable payment options can significantly enhance user confidence and conversion rates, ensuring that potential sales stay caught up due to avoidable payment concerns.

reasons for abandonments during checkout

Source: Baymard Research on the reasons for abandonments during checkout

In the vast array of online payment options, PayPal Express Checkout distinctly shines. Why does it resonate so profoundly with both merchants and consumers? Its longstanding reputation and unwavering commitment to security offer some clarity. Established in 1998, PayPal has grown over the decades to serve over 433 million users globally. Such an expansive user base is not just a testament to its utility but also to the trust it has fostered over the years.

The prominence of PayPal is not accidental. Recognized universally, it's synonymous with secure online transactions, bolstered by stringent encryption protocols and a dedicated history of safeguarding user data. 

For a vast number of online shoppers, spotting the familiar PayPal logo at checkout serves as a beacon of reliability. They see it as an assurance that their financial transactions are in seasoned and safe hands. This inherent trust reduces hesitancy during the final purchase stages, thereby minimizing cart abandonment rates for store owners. 

Furthermore, with PayPal Express Checkout, users enjoy streamlined transactions, sparing them from repeatedly entering card details. This blend of trust, drawn from decades of operation and millions of satisfied users, coupled with unmatched convenience, positions PayPal Express Checkout as the gold standard in online payments.

Expert Tips for Streamlining Payment Methods on Your Shopify Store

1. Customize your payment methods

Even if you're not a Shopify Plus merchant, Shopify empowers you to tailor the payment methods during checkout. It's essential to leverage the full capabilities of your selected selling platform.


What are your options? You have the flexibility to rearrange or conceal specific payment methods based on predetermined conditions.


Consider this: You might have COD (cash on delivery) as an available payment option on your checkout page. However, if a customer hails from a different region or country, it might be prudent to remove the COD choice to mitigate potential issues like delivery rejection. 

2. Prioritize Security 

Ensure all payment gateways are secure and trustworthy. Consider adding SSL certificates to your site and displaying trust badges near the checkout to reassure customers about their data safety. 

  • Protips: Display the payment method icons

    The human brain remembers and recognizes images better than words. A great tip is simply displaying the familiar icons so customers can quickly recognize their commonly used payment methods. 

display payment icons at shopify checkout page

Show payment icons at checkout page for more credit and to build trust

3. Mobile Optimization

According to Statista's Market Insights, mobile e-commerce sales reached $2.2 trillion in 2023 and now make up 60% of all e-commerce sales around the world. Ensure all payment gateways are mobile-friendly. This includes easy-to-use interfaces for entering payment information and supporting mobile wallets. 

4. Localize Payment Options

Consider your primary target markets and offer localized payment solutions. For instance, if you have many customers in the Netherlands, consider adding iDEAL as a payment method. If you’re selling globally, don’t worry since you are able to customize the payment methods based on the customers’ language and currency. 

5. Transparent Policies

Clearly state all payment-related policies, including returns, refunds, and any potential additional fees from the payment method. In some bad cases, customers might meet problems with the payment gateway’s policy but there is a high chance that they still claim on your store.

6. Reduce Transaction Fees

Regularly review the transaction fees of your payment providers. Consider reordering the payment providers to prioritize the more competitive fees.

Conclusion: Your Path to Seamless Transactions

In the rapidly evolving e-commerce landscape, payment solutions play an integral role in customer trust and experience. From the seamless integration of PayPal Express Checkout on Shopify to the critical importance of diverse, secure payment methods, offering a trustworthy transaction is paramount. PayPal's enduring reputation and the value of PayPal Express Checkout underscore this emphasis on security and convenience. 


As a Shopify merchant, optimizing your store's payment methods, from mobile optimization to transparent policies, can make all the difference in customer retention and conversion rates. To further enhance the checkout experience, consider utilizing qikify Checkout Plus – a robust tool designed to customize your Shopify store's payment and delivery methods and even more at your checkout page seamlessly.


Take the leap and try it today!

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