Complete tutorial to integrate PayPal into WordPress with & without Plugins

Integrating PayPal into WordPress can be done both with plugins (which simplifies the process) and without plugins (using custom code). Below is a comprehensive tutorial for both methods.

Method 1: Integrating PayPal Using Plugins

Using a plugin is the easiest and most user-friendly way to integrate PayPal into WordPress. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Choose a PayPal Plugin

There are several WordPress plugins for PayPal integration. Some popular ones include:

• WooCommerce (for eCommerce stores)
• PayPal Donations
• PayPal Button by PayPal
• WP Easy PayPal Payment Accept

For this tutorial, we’ll use WP Easy PayPal Payment Accept as an example.

Step 2: Install and Activate the Plugin

1. Log in to your WordPress Admin Dashboard.
2. Go to Plugins > Add New.
3. In the search box, type WP Easy PayPal Payment Accept.
4. Click Install Now and then Activate the plugin.

Step 3: Configure PayPal Settings

1. After activation, go to Settings > WP Easy PayPal Payment.
2. Enter your PayPal Email Address — this is the email associated with your PayPal business account.
3. Set up any other options such as the currency, payment amount (fixed or dynamic), button text, and more.
4. Save the changes.

Step 4: Add PayPal Button to Pages or Posts

1. 1. To add a PayPal payment button, go to the page or post where you want to place the button.
   2. Use the shortcode generated by the plugin. For example:

[wp_e_store_button name="Buy Now" price="20.00" button_text="Pay with PayPal"]

1. Insert the shortcode into the content area of the page or post.
2. Publish the page.

Step 5: Test the Payment Process

1. Visit the page where you placed the PayPal button.
2. Click on the button, and you will be redirected to PayPal to complete the payment.

Method 2: Integrating PayPal Using Code (Without Plugins)

Integrating PayPal using custom code requires more manual effort but gives you more control over the process. You can use the PayPal REST API or embed PayPal buttons directly. Below, we cover how to embed PayPal buttons and set up a simple payment form.

Step 1: Create a PayPal Business Account

To use PayPal’s services, you need to have a PayPal Business Account. If you don’t have one, sign up at PayPal’s website.

Step 2: Get PayPal Button Code

1. Log in to your PayPal Business Account.
2. Go to Tools > All Tools > PayPal Buttons.
3. Click Create New Button.
4. Choose the type of button (e.g., Buy Now, Donate, etc.).
5. Configure the button with details like:
   • Item name/description
   • Price
   • Currency
   • Shipping (optional)
6. After customization, click Create Button.
7. Copy the HTML Code provided by PayPal.

Step 3: Add PayPal Button Code to Your WordPress Site

1. In your WordPress dashboard, go to Pages or Posts.
2. Edit the page or post where you want the button to appear.
3. Switch to the HTML editor (or use a Custom HTML block if you’re using the Block Editor).
4. Paste the PayPal button code into the content area.
5. Update or publish the page.

Step 4: Customizing the Button (Optional)

If you’d like to customize the button, such as adding additional options like quantity selection or custom fields, you can modify the code slightly. For example:

<form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post" target="_top">
<input type="hidden" name="cmd" value="_xclick">
<input type="hidden" name="business" value="your-paypal-email@example.com">
<input type="hidden" name="item_name" value="Your Product Name">
<input type="hidden" name="amount" value="25.00">
<input type="hidden" name="currency_code" value="USD">
<input type="submit" value="Pay with PayPal">
</form>


• cmd: This parameter indicates the type of transaction.
• business: Your PayPal email or business account.
• item_name: The product or service name.
• amount: The price.
• currency_code: The currency code (e.g., USD, EUR).

Step 5: Testing the Payment

1. Visit the page where you embedded the PayPal button.
2. Click the button, and you will be taken to the PayPal checkout page.
3. Complete the payment as a customer would.

Advanced Integration: PayPal REST API (Custom Payment Integration)

For a more customized experience, you can integrate PayPal using their REST API. This involves setting up a PayPal application, obtaining API credentials (Client ID and Secret), and using those credentials to make API calls.

Here’s a basic outline of how to integrate PayPal’s REST API:

Step 1: Create a PayPal REST API App

1. Go to PayPal Developer Dashboard.
2. Log in with your PayPal Business account.
3. Navigate to My Apps & Credentials.
4. Under REST API apps, click Create App.
5. Follow the steps to create your application and get your Client ID and Secret.

Step 2: Set Up API Integration in WordPress

You can use a PHP script to make API requests. Below is a sample PHP code for creating a PayPal payment using PayPal’s REST API:

<?php
// Set up PayPal API credentials
$clientId = 'your-client-id';
$secret = 'your-secret';
$apiUrl = 'https://api.sandbox.paypal.com/v1/checkout/orders';

echo $response; // Process the response here (create payment link, etc.)
?>


Step 3: Handle the Payment Confirmation

Once the payment is created, you need to redirect the user to PayPal for payment and then capture the payment upon successful payment confirmation.

This requires additional handling in the PHP script to manage the payment status, errors, and confirmations using PayPal’s API.

Conclusion

• With Plugins: Using a plugin like WP Easy PayPal Payment Accept is the easiest and fastest way to integrate PayPal into WordPress, and is ideal for users with minimal technical knowledge.
• Without Plugins (Custom Code): If you need more control or customization, you can integrate PayPal using HTML buttons or by leveraging PayPal’s REST API. This method requires more coding but offers more flexibility.

Each method has its use case,

so you can choose based on your needs. For most users, using a plugin is sufficient, but for advanced customization, integrating via the REST API might be necessary.