Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteFor a genuine domestic PayPal payment to a friend or family member, U.S. senders can avoid PayPal’s transfer fee by paying from their PayPal balance or a linked bank account. Funding that same personal transfer with a card carries a fee. International transfers and currency conversion can add costs, so check the transaction’s displayed fee and exchange rate before sending.
Choose the right payment type first
Use a personal payment only for a real exchange between people, such as a gift or splitting a meal. PayPal says personal payments are not covered by Purchase Protection. If you are buying goods or services, choose “Paying for an item or service” and use Goods and Services. PayPal’s User Agreement says not to use a personal transaction to pay for goods or services; eligible Goods and Services payments may receive Purchase Protection, and the seller pays a receiving fee. See PayPal’s guidance on sending money and its U.S. User Agreement.
Use a balance or bank account for domestic personal transfers
For U.S. consumer accounts, PayPal’s fee schedule, last updated May 19, 2026, lists no fee for domestic personal transfers funded by PayPal balance or bank account. It lists a fee of 2.90% plus a fixed fee for card-funded domestic personal transfers; the fixed fee depends on the currency. If you have a choice, compare the funding options shown in the send flow and select balance or bank funding for a legitimate domestic personal payment when it costs less. Check the current PayPal U.S. consumer fee schedule and the transaction disclosure, since rates can change.
Check international fees and currency conversion
International personal payments can incur a 5.00% additional fee, with a minimum of $0.99 and maximum of $4.99, according to PayPal’s U.S. consumer fee schedule last updated May 19, 2026. Any applicable domestic fee may also apply. If the recipient receives a different currency, PayPal lists a 4.00% conversion spread, or another amount disclosed during the transaction. A standard withdrawal to an eligible linked bank account has no fee when no currency conversion is involved; instant withdrawals carry a fee. Review the fee and conversion terms in the payment flow and the fee schedule before proceeding.
#1 Best Overall
Compare conversion options when paying by card
When a card payment involves currency conversion, PayPal may offer a choice between “Convert currency with PayPal” and “Convert with card issuer.” The issuer option is not available for every card, and the issuer’s exact rate may not be known until the statement arrives or you contact the issuer. Compare the total cost using the rate displayed by PayPal and include any fee your card issuer discloses. PayPal explains the conversion choice on its currency conversion help page.
Compare alternatives by what the recipient gets
PayPal identifies Xoom as another way to send money internationally, but that alone does not show that Xoom costs less for a particular route or transfer. Compare the total charges, exchange rate, recipient’s final amount, delivery speed, availability in both countries, and funding method before choosing a service. The PayPal sending-money help page provides its information about sending options.
Rank #2
- Ideal for Gifting
- Ideal for a bookworm
- Compact for travelling
Review everything before you send
- Identify whether the payment is genuinely personal or is for goods or services.
- For a domestic personal transfer, compare the displayed cost for PayPal balance, bank account, and card funding.
- For an international transfer, review the fee, currency conversion rate, and amount the recipient will receive.
- Before confirming, verify the recipient, amount, currency, payment type, and funding method.
PayPal says sent payments generally cannot be canceled or reversed. If you send money by mistake, you may need to ask the recipient to refund it. See PayPal’s sending-money help page.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- It can be a gift option
- Comes with secure packaging
- Helpful in various ways
Rank #4
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
