PayPal

PayPal has made its mark as an eCommerce shortcut - a way for retailers to make the checkout process easier. With a simple PayPal login, a customer can complete a transaction with minimal data input; it removes problems with data entry, improves CRO, and reduces basket abandonment.

Recently, they have released new versions of the payment gateway, and there are several alternatives with subtle distinctions. We've put together a guide, so that you know what you need.

Pay with PayPal

The Express button also appears on basket page, which allows the user to log in to their account and skip most of the eCommerce checkout process (this is the main reason for choosing PayPal as a payment gateway in the first place).

This PayPal button opens a popup that customers can use to complete their transaction:

• Users can login to their PayPal account
• Guest checkout is available also within the popup
• PayPal Pay Later is available (see below)

Debit or Credit Card (optional extra - PayPal Checkout Standard+)

This black button allows customers to complete the checkout with a card payment, rather than a PayPal account. Although PayPal has always offered this solution, the user experience is the same as a standard payment gateway, meaning that you no longer need to have PayPal as well as another payment solution. 

Once pressed, a form folds out below the button:

• The customer journey does not include a pop up
• It’s clearly branded as ‘Powered by PayPal’

Functionally, Advanced is very similar to Standard:

• As per Standard, Advanced provides the yellow 'Pay with PayPal' button at checkout and basket stages
• As per Standard, PayPal Pay Later is available for Advanced (see below)
• As per Standard, Advanced provides the black 'Debit or Credit Card' button in the checkout 
• Unlike Standard, the Advanced 'Debit or Credit Card' form is unbranded, and will not read 'Powered by PayPal'
• Unlike Standard, the appearance of the Advanced 'Debit or Credit Card' form can be customised
• PayPal have also stated that Advanced has superior fraud protection, PSD2 compliance, 3D Secure and compliance with new SCA regulations

Please note: If you have been offered a special rate by PayPal, it may be contingent on you using PayPal Checkout Advanced; please make certain of this before beginning any project work.

Once set up, this will allow your customers to take advantage of PayPal Pay Later, PayPal Credit and PayPal Pay in 3; these services are becoming increasingly popular and are a direct response to the success of companies like Klarna.

• The Pay Later integration adds an additional yellow button to the checkout and basket
• Customers can use this to log in to their PayPal account and complete the transaction
• All finance offers are handled by PayPal, externally to the eCommerce wesbite

Please note: PayPal may include these options with both PayPal Payments Standard and PayPal Payments Advanced, but a separate integration is required. Simply having these enabled within your account will not enable them for your eCommerce customers. 

Do I need PayPal for my eCommerce website?

In short, there's a reason why PayPal is so common - it has a huge market share, and the reason is largely down to conversion rates. When you have PayPal on a website, conversion rates increase.

That said, it's not for everyone, but if you've read this far, it's likely that youve got a good handle on things. If you would like a quote for adding any of the PayPal versions listed above to your eCommerce website, just get in touch!