PayPal API · Payouts · Subscriptions · UK
PayPal API Integration.
Custom PayPal API integration for UK businesses — automated Payouts to sellers and contractors, recurring Subscriptions billing, and bespoke checkout with Pay Later for custom platforms. Fixed price. You own the code.
Or describe what you need in one line — I’ll reply within one business day.
What it does
What the PayPal API provides.
The PayPal API covers three distinct use cases that are often confused. Payouts — sending money to sellers, affiliates or contractors who have PayPal accounts. Subscriptions — recurring billing via PayPal Billing Plans for customers who prefer to manage payments through PayPal. Custom checkout — Orders API integration for bespoke platforms, Pay Later (Pay in 3) surfacing, and marketplace payment splitting.
For standard WooCommerce stores needing a basic PayPal checkout option, the PayPal plugin is sufficient and a custom integration isn’t needed. A custom build makes sense when the plugin can’t do what’s required: automated Payouts at scale, Subscriptions with custom access provisioning, Pay Later configured correctly as a distinct option, or PayPal integrated alongside Stripe in a unified multi-gateway checkout.
Who it’s for
Who uses a PayPal API integration.
Marketplace platforms paying sellers
A buyer purchases on your marketplace, the seller expects to be paid via PayPal, and you need to distribute seller payments programmatically at the end of a settlement period. The Payouts API sends to each seller’s PayPal account automatically — no manual dashboard payments, no CSV uploads. PayPal’s 2% fee (capped at £1) is the per-payout cost.
Affiliate and commission platforms
Affiliates who have promoted your products or services expect their commission paid via PayPal. The integration calculates earnings from your affiliate tracking system and triggers Payouts automatically on your payment schedule — weekly, monthly or on demand. Each affiliate receives their commission to their PayPal account without manual intervention.
Subscription businesses whose customers prefer PayPal
Some customer segments strongly prefer managing recurring payments through PayPal rather than leaving card details with individual merchants. A custom PayPal Subscriptions integration handles plan creation, billing agreements, payment events and cancellations — with access to your platform provisioned or revoked based on PayPal billing status, exactly as a Stripe Billing integration would.
Custom platforms needing PayPal checkout
Bespoke booking systems, proprietary marketplaces, membership platforms and any custom application that doesn’t have a PayPal plugin needs the Orders API implemented directly. PayPal as a payment option alongside Stripe in a unified checkout, with both wired into the same order management flow, is the most common version of this build.
Businesses wanting Pay Later (Pay in 3)
PayPal’s Pay in 3 splits purchases into three interest-free monthly instalments. Surfacing it correctly as a distinct checkout option — with the “or from £X/month” messaging on product pages — requires custom SDK configuration that plugins don’t expose. For businesses selling items in the £30–£2,000 range where instalment options increase conversion, Pay Later integration is worth the build.
Why custom
When the plugin isn’t enough.
Automated Payouts
Plugins only handle receiving payments. Paying out to multiple recipients programmatically — sellers, affiliates, contractors — always requires a custom Payouts API integration.
Subscription access control
PayPal subscription plugins don’t implement custom access provisioning. A custom integration grants and revokes platform access based on PayPal billing events automatically.
Pay Later surfacing
Pay in 3 as a distinct, correctly configured checkout option requires custom SDK implementation. It doesn’t appear correctly through standard plugin configuration.
Unified multi-gateway
PayPal alongside Stripe in the same checkout flow, tracked in the same order management system, with unified webhook handling — always a custom build.
The process
How a PayPal API integration is built.
Scoping
We establish whether you need Payouts, Subscriptions, custom checkout or a combination — and whether Payouts production approval needs to be applied for before the build starts.
Fixed-price quote
Clear, itemised quote before work begins. Scope agreed in writing.
PayPal setup and sandbox
Developer app creation, sandbox buyer and seller test accounts, OAuth credentials configured and all logic built and tested in sandbox before touching live funds.
Build and integration
API calls, webhook handlers, business logic and any access provisioning built and integrated with your platform to specification.
Production and handover
Switch to production credentials, real-world testing with small transactions, full documentation. You own the code.
The deliverable
What’s included.
What I build
- PayPal OAuth 2.0 authentication with token caching
- Payouts API — individual and batch disbursements
- Failed payout detection, logging and alerting
- Subscriptions — plan creation, billing agreements, lifecycle events
- Orders API checkout — order creation, capture, refunds
- Pay Later SDK configuration and messaging components
- Webhook handler for all payment lifecycle events
- Signature verification on all incoming webhooks
- Access provisioning based on payment status (subscriptions)
- Technical handover document
What’s not included
- PayPal Business account — free to create at paypal.com/uk/business
- Payouts production approval — applied for by you, guidance included
- PayPal transaction fees — 2% capped at £1 per Payout; ~2.99% + 49p per received payment, paid to PayPal
- Standard WooCommerce PayPal checkout — use the plugin
- PayPal Commerce Platform full marketplace onboarding — quoted separately if needed
Pricing
Fixed-price builds. No hidden costs.
PayPal API access is free. Transaction fees (Payouts: 2% capped at £1; receiving payments: ~2.99% + 49p) are paid directly to PayPal and are not part of the build cost.
Payouts
£1,295
~1 week
Automated disbursements to PayPal accounts. Individual or batch Payouts triggered from your platform, failed payout handling and alerting, full audit log. For marketplace seller payments, affiliate commissions and contractor payouts. Includes Payouts production approval guidance.
- OAuth 2.0 authentication
- Individual and batch Payout calls
- Failed payout detection and alerting
- Audit log of all disbursements
- Webhook confirmation handling
- Payouts approval guidance
- Subscription billing
- Custom checkout
Subscriptions
£1,495
~1–1.5 weeks
PayPal Billing Plans for recurring subscription payments. Billing agreement flow, payment lifecycle webhooks, access provisioning and revocation based on payment status, failed payment handling. For businesses whose customers prefer PayPal for recurring payments.
- OAuth 2.0 authentication
- Billing plan and agreement creation
- Payment lifecycle webhook handling
- Access provisioning based on payment status
- Subscription cancellation handling
- Failed payment management
Custom Checkout
£1,995
~2 weeks
Orders API integration for bespoke platforms, Pay Later (Pay in 3) configured as a distinct checkout option, PayPal alongside Stripe in unified multi-gateway checkout, or marketplace payment splitting. For custom platforms where a plugin isn’t available or doesn’t meet requirements.
- Orders API — create, capture, refund
- Client-side SDK configuration
- Pay Later messaging components
- Multi-gateway checkout (with Stripe)
- Full webhook lifecycle management
- Programmatic refund automation
Payment terms: 50% on agreement, balance on completion. For Payouts: apply for production access before the build starts — approval can take several days. PayPal Business account required.
Common questions
PayPal API FAQ.
Do I need a custom integration or will the WooCommerce plugin do?
For standard WooCommerce checkout with basic PayPal, the plugin is sufficient. You need a custom integration for: automated Payouts to multiple recipients, Subscriptions with custom access control, Pay Later surfaced correctly as a distinct option, PayPal alongside Stripe in a unified checkout, or any platform that isn’t standard WooCommerce.
What does PayPal charge for Payouts?
2% of the payout amount, capped at £1 per payout for GBP transactions in the UK. So a £50 payout costs £1. A £200 payout costs £1. A £10 payout costs 20p. International payouts in foreign currencies add a currency conversion fee of approximately 2.5%. These charges are paid to PayPal directly — not part of the build cost.
Do I need separate approval for the Payouts API?
Yes — PayPal requires separate production approval for Payouts beyond standard Business account access. The application is in the PayPal Developer Dashboard and involves confirming your use case and expected volumes. Approval typically takes a few days. Apply before the build starts so it doesn’t delay go-live. Sandbox Payouts are available immediately without approval.
How does PayPal Payouts compare to Revolut for paying people out?
PayPal Payouts sends to PayPal accounts — recipients need a PayPal account and payment goes to their PayPal balance. Revolut Business API sends to UK bank accounts directly — no PayPal account needed. Revolut is typically cheaper per transaction for higher volumes. PayPal is better when recipients specifically want or expect PayPal. See the Revolut Business API integration for the bank transfer approach.
Can it run PayPal alongside Stripe in the same checkout?
Yes — the Custom Checkout tier handles multi-gateway integration. Both payment methods are available at checkout, both are wired into the same order management flow, and webhook handling for both is unified. Customers choose their preferred payment method and both are tracked consistently in your system.
How long does the integration take?
Payouts takes approximately one week. Subscriptions takes one to one-and-a-half weeks. Custom Checkout takes approximately two weeks. For Payouts specifically, the timeline also depends on how quickly PayPal approves production Payouts access.
A PayPal integration is most valuable as part of your business website, backed by ongoing SEO that keeps customers discovering you.
Need PayPal API integration built?
Tell me whether you need Payouts, Subscriptions or custom checkout — and what platform it needs to connect to. I’ll come back with a clear answer on what’s involved and what it costs. Fixed price, no obligation.
