10 Best WooCommerce Plugins PayPal Express Checkout

What is PayPal Express Checkout for WooCommerce?

PayPal Express Checkout (also called PayPal Checkout or Smart Payment Buttons) is a PayPal-provided checkout flow that lets customers pay with PayPal, cards, or Pay Later options without leaving your store. When integrated with WooCommerce, it places PayPal’s fast “smart” buttons on product, cart, and checkout pages so buyers complete purchases faster.

Many WooCommerce plugins implement PayPal Express Checkout in different ways — some are official PayPal/WooCommerce integrations with advanced features like vaulting and Pay Later; others are lightweight gateway plugins or add-ons that add an Express button and customizable behaviors. The right plugin depends on desired features (in-context checkout, split payments, marketplace payouts, refunds, etc.), compatibility, and budget.

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How to use PayPal Express Checkout on WooCommerce

Most integrations follow the same high-level steps: install the plugin, connect a PayPal Business account (or API keys), configure which buttons appear (product, cart, checkout), test in Sandbox, then go live. Below is a generic step-by-step that applies to almost every plugin listed here.

1. Install the chosen plugin from the WordPress plugin directory or purchase and upload the premium ZIP.
2. Create or log into a PayPal Business account and get API credentials (Client ID / Secret) or connect via the plugin’s guided OAuth connect flow.
3. Enable sandbox/test mode and perform test transactions using PayPal Sandbox accounts to confirm orders, refunds, and webhook notifications work.
4. Customize button placement, labels, and allowed payment types (PayPal, cards, Pay Later, Venmo, where available).
5. Disable sandbox and switch to live credentials. Re-test a small live transaction and verify settlement and order creation in WooCommerce.

Best plugin picks for adding PayPal Express Checkout

Below are the chosen plugins, ranked by balance of features, reliability, and real-world adoption. Each entry has a short overview, key features, and pricing snapshot.

The Table of Contents below links only to the ten plugins, so jump directly to any plugin using those links.

1. PayPal Payments for WooCommerce

PayPal Payments for WooCommerce is the official, all-in-one solution (by PayPal/WooCommerce) that bundles PayPal, credit/debit card processing, Pay Later options, and local payment methods into a single plugin. It adds Smart Payment Buttons to product and checkout pages and supports vaulting and advanced payment flows. This plugin is widely used and actively maintained.

Ideal for stores that want a single vetted integration backed by PayPal with built-in features such as Pay Later messaging, vaulted cards for returning customers, and country-specific payment options. Setup is generally straightforward — connect via OAuth or paste client keys, enable buttons, and configure behavior.

Key features

• Smart Payment Buttons on product/cart/checkout.
• Supports PayPal, Venmo (US), Pay Later, and card payments.
• Vaulting (save cards) and recurring payment support in many setups.
• Official docs and wide adoption (hundreds of thousands of installs reported on WordPress.org/Marketplace).

Pricing: Free plugin with optional paid WooCommerce extensions for advanced features.

2. YITH PayPal Express Checkout for WooCommerce

YITH offers a PayPal Express/Payments integration for WooCommerce that focuses on button placement flexibility and merchant-focused options. YITH’s family of WooCommerce plugins is well known for checkout customization, and their PayPal add-ons often integrate with related YITH extensions like payouts and multi-vendor features.

This plugin is appropriate for shops that already use YITH plugins and want consistent support and UX across extensions — or for merchants who need specific YITH integrations such as automatic vendor payouts or commission workflows.

Key features

• Express Checkout button on product, cart, and checkout pages.
• Integration with YITH vendor/payout add-ons for split payments and marketplace flows.
• Customization for button labels, positions, and available payment options.

Pricing: Free core features with premium add-ons — YITH premium licensing generally starts from a yearly fee.

3. Payment Gateway for PayPal

Several independent plugins in the WordPress.org repository provide lightweight PayPal Express Checkout buttons and advanced button customization. One popular entry performs well as a free gateway that supports smart buttons, PayPal Credit, and optional mini-cart checkout flows. These are useful for small stores wanting a minimal footprint.

These plugins often focus on fast checkout flow, customizable button appearance, and optional premium modules (like product page buttons, mini-cart buttons, or advanced refunding from the admin).

Key features

• Fast, light integration of PayPal Smart Buttons.
• Button styling, localization, and optional product-page placement.
• Basic refund and capture options in some premium versions.

Pricing: Free core; premium add-on tiers typically available (often under $79/year for pro features).

4. WooCommerce PayPal Checkout

The WooCommerce PayPal Checkout (sometimes referenced in older docs as PayPal Express Checkout) provides Smart Payment Buttons and checkout flows within WooCommerce. Historically, this plugin delivered PayPal Checkout with in-context payment and support for multiple currencies. It is frequently referenced in WooCommerce docs as a standard PayPal integration.

Useful for stores that want a proven checkout button with standard features like product-page payments and PayPal’s in-context flow.

Key features

• Smart Payment Buttons and direct on-site checkout.
• Support for multiple currencies and PayPal payment options.
• Customizable button placement and behavior.

Pricing: Often free (official / marketplace distribution); premium support or extensions may cost extra.

Also Read:  How to Set Up WooCommerce One Page Checkout

5. Angell EYE — PayPal Integrations for WooCommerce

Angell EYE provides commercial PayPal integrations and advanced gateway features for WooCommerce. These plugins often include Express Checkout compatibility plus additional merchant tools like IPN/webhook handling, advanced logging, and extra admin controls. Angell EYE is a reputable vendor focused on PayPal solutions.

This option is solid when a merchant requires advanced PayPal features and commercial support rather than community-driven free plugins.

Key features

• Production-ready PayPal integrations with strong logging and support.
• Webhooks/IPN handling and advanced admin capture/refund controls.
• Commercial support and frequent updates.

Pricing: Paid plugin(s) licensing usually begins around a one-time or annual fee (varies by SKU).

Also Read: Best WooCommerce Plugins Added to Cart Popup

6. Checkout for PayPal (Smart Buttons plugin)

Lightweight plugins that only implement PayPal’s Checkout API (Smart Buttons) are a great add-on when minimalism and performance matter. Checkout for PayPal implementations adds a clean Smart Buttons integration using official PayPal APIs, and is often used alongside WooCommerce or for non-ecommerce pages.

These plugins provide a simple setup and are useful when advanced store-level features (like subscription handling) are handled by other plugins and only a PayPal button is needed.

Key features

• Official PayPal Checkout API (Smart Buttons).
• Lightweight footprint and fast load.
• Sandbox testing support and easy credential entry.

Pricing: Free core; some pro versions or add-ons available.

7. PayPal Express Checkout by Community

The WordPress repository includes several community-made “PayPal Express Checkout” plugins offering varying feature sets: some provide product-page checkout, others add mini-cart buttons or advanced button styling. These are useful when a specific behavior is needed and the official plugin is too opinionated.

Keep plugin compatibility and recent update frequency in mind when choosing community builds; older or poorly maintained plugins can break when WooCommerce or PHP updates.

Key features

• Flexible customizations for button placement and appearance.
• Often free with optional paid add-ons for product-page button support.
• Varies widely by author — check changelog and reviews.

Pricing: Usually free core with optional premium features under $50–$100/year.

Also Read: Best WooCommerce Plugins Custom Order Status

8. Braintree for WooCommerce

Braintree (owned by PayPal) provides gateways that accept PayPal wallets as well as cards. Braintree integrations for WooCommerce allow PayPal to appear as a payment option while centralizing payment processing and vaulting across methods. This is useful for merchants who want one gateway to handle cards and PayPal payments together.

Using Braintree, merchants can present PayPal as a wallet option in the checkout and keep unified reporting and tokenization for saved payment methods.

Key features

• Accept PayPal and cards through one gateway.
• Vaulting and tokenization of cards and PayPal authorization.
• Strong fraud tools and unified transaction reporting.

Pricing: Gateway-level fees applied by Braintree/PayPal; plugin integrations are often free or bundled with extensions.

9. PayPal Payouts / Split Payment Add-ons

Marketplaces and multi-vendor shops often need automated payouts and split payments. Plugins or add-ons that implement PayPal Payouts or chained/split payments let store owners distribute funds to vendors automatically after an order. YITH, WooCommerce marketplace extensions, and third-party vendors offer these features.

These add-ons are essential for marketplace operators who want to automate commission payments rather than performing manual transfers.

Key features

• Automatic vendor payouts using PayPal Payouts API.
• Percentage-based or fixed commission support.
• Integration with vendor/multi-vendor plugins for order routing.

Pricing: Usually premium add-ons — pricing varies by vendor and marketplace bundle.

10. PayPal Commerce Platform / Marketplace Integrations

PayPal Commerce Platform provides enterprise-grade marketplace and commerce features — including onboarding, payouts, and compliance tools. Several commercial WooCommerce integrations surface these capabilities within the WooCommerce admin and may include onboarding flows for sellers or advanced reporting. These are aimed at larger marketplaces or stores needing a compliant seller onboarding.

These integrations are more complex but provide the infrastructure to scale marketplace payments while managing compliance and payouts.

Key features

• Seller onboarding, KYC workflows, and managed payouts.
• Advanced reporting, dispute management, and marketplace controls.
• Designed for scaling multi-party commerce.

Pricing: Commercial licensing plus PayPal platform fees; costs vary by partner and transaction volume.

Also Read: Best WooCommerce Plugins Checkout Manager

Quick comparison — features & pricing

Which WooCommerce Plugins PayPal Express Checkout should we pick?

For most stores, the official PayPal Payments for WooCommerce is an excellent starting point: it’s maintained, feature-rich, and supports PayPal, cards, and Pay Later in one place. YITH is a strong alternative for shops already invested in the YITH ecosystem or marketplaces that need integrated payouts. For minimal, high-performance implementations, use a lightweight Smart Button plugin or a Checkout-for-PayPal add-on.

Always test in Sandbox, validate compatibility with your theme and other plugins (subscriptions, multi-vendor), and verify support and update cadence before committing to a paid license.

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