PayPal is one of the most popular online payment services, allowing users to send and receive money online without needing a credit or debit card. With over 300 million active user accounts, PayPal has become an essential tool for online shopping and transferring money. But what if you don’t have a card connected to your PayPal account? Luckily, there are still several ways to use PayPal without a card.
Connecting Your Bank Account
The easiest way to use PayPal without a card is to connect your bank account directly to your PayPal account. This allows you to send and receive payments using the funds in your bank account. Here’s how to connect your bank account to PayPal:
- Log into your PayPal account and click on the “Wallet” tab
- Select “Link a bank account” and enter your bank’s routing number and account number
- PayPal will make two small deposits into your bank account to verify it
- Once the deposits show up in your account in 1-2 days, log back into PayPal and enter the deposit amounts to confirm your bank account
- Once confirmed, your bank account will be linked and you can send/receive money using it
The advantage of linking your bank is that money sent to you through PayPal will go directly into your bank account. The downside is it takes 1-2 days for transfers between your bank and PayPal.
Using Your PayPal Balance
If you already have money in your PayPal account balance, you can use those funds to send payments and shop online. Your PayPal balance may come from:
- Receiving payments from others through PayPal
- Adding funds directly via bank transfer, debit card, etc. in the past
- Selling items and receiving payments through PayPal
- Referral bonuses and special offers from PayPal
As long as you have money in your PayPal balance, you can use it to shop online at the millions of sites that accept PayPal. When checking out, just select “PayPal” as the payment method and choose your PayPal balance as the funding source.
PayPal Digital Gifts
You can also add funds to your PayPal account without a card by redeeming PayPal Digital Gifts. These are digital gift cards you can buy from grocery stores, drug stores, and many other retailers. Here’s how it works:
- Purchase a PayPal Digital Gift from a participating retailer – these come in set amounts like $25, $50, etc.
- Scratch the card to reveal a claim code
- Go to www.paypal.com/redeem and enter the claim code
- The gift card balance will be added instantly to your PayPal balance
- Use your PayPal balance to shop or send money
The advantage here is you can add funds instantly without even having to link a bank account. The downside is you have to purchase the gift cards physically and can only add preset amounts.
PayPal Cash/Cash Plus
With PayPal Cash and Cash Plus, you can add money to your PayPal balance at thousands of retail locations. Here’s how it works:
- PayPal Cash: Go to a participating retailer like CVS, Rite Aid, Walmart, etc. and ask to add money to your PayPal account at the register. Pay in cash and the money will be added instantly.
- PayPal Cash Plus: Order a debit card linked to your PayPal account. Then you can add money at participating retailers by swiping your card and paying in cash. The money will be added instantly.
The advantage here is being able to add funds to PayPal with just cash. The downside is you need to go to a physical store location each time you want to add funds.
Using an eGift Card
If you receive an eGift Card (digital gift card code) for a retailer that accepts PayPal, you can use that to fund a PayPal purchase. Here’s how:
- Apply the eGift Card on the retailer’s website to add its value to your account balance
- When checking out on the retailer’s site, choose PayPal as the payment method
- When prompted how to pay within PayPal, choose “Use a gift card or rewards balance”
- Enter the retailer’s eGift Card as the funding source
- The purchase will be completed with the eGift Card balance through PayPal
This allows you to shop at popular PayPal-accepting sites like Home Depot, Best Buy, Nordstrom, and more without needing a card on PayPal itself. The limitation is you can only use eGift Cards for their issuing retailers.
Sending Money to Friends and Family
You can use PayPal to send money to friends and family members even without a card, as long as you have a PayPal balance. Here are two ways:
PayPal.Me Link
- Have the recipient create a PayPal.Me link, which is a custom link tied to their PayPal account
- When you access their PayPal.Me link, it will take you to a payment page with their details filled in
- Enter the amount and choose your PayPal balance as the funding source
- Complete the payment and the money will be sent from your balance instantly
Send Money Directly
- Log into your PayPal account and click “Send and Request” at the top
- Choose “Send Money” and enter the recipient’s email address and the payment amount
- Select your PayPal balance as the funding source and complete the payment
- The money will be instantly sent from your balance to their account
As long as you have sufficient funds in your PayPal balance, you can send money to anyone with just an email address, even without a card on file.
Shopping Online
Thousands of online stores accept PayPal as a payment method. This means you can use your PayPal balance to shop at many major retailers. Some popular examples include:
Store | What You Can Buy |
---|---|
eBay | Items from eBay sellers |
Etsy | Handmade goods |
Target | Clothing, electronics, home goods, etc. |
Walmart | Groceries, home items, etc. |
Best Buy | Electronics, appliances, etc. |
Home Depot | Home improvement, tools, etc. |
Overstock | Furniture, home decor, etc. |
Basically, if you see “PayPal” as a checkout option, you can use your PayPal balance to place the order. Just select PayPal at checkout, then select your balance as the funding source.
Withdrawing Cash
While PayPal is mostly focused on online payments, there are some ways to withdraw physical cash from your PayPal balance:
- PayPal Cash Card: Order a free debit card linked to your PayPal balance, then withdraw cash from ATMs.
- PayPal Cash Plus: Withdraw cash back when adding funds at participating retailers.
- PayPal Payouts: Withdraw funds directly to a bank account linked to your PayPal via electronic transfer.
Most of these options require planning ahead – ordering a PayPal debit card, linking a bank account, etc. But in a pinch, the PayPal Cash Plus option allows withdrawing cash without pre-planning when adding money at retailers.
Receipts and Purchase Protection
When using your PayPal balance to shop online, make sure to check your purchase receipts within PayPal by clicking “Activity.” You can view payment receipts for balance-funded purchases the same as card-funded ones. This ensures you have records of your transactions.
Importantly, purchases funded by your PayPal balance are still covered by PayPal Purchase Protection. This provides coverage in case issues arise with items not arriving or not matching the description.
So you get the same helpful buyer protections when using your PayPal balance as you would when using a card. Just make sure to check your receipts and dispute any problematic purchases through PayPal’s resolution center.
Credit and Debit Cards Still Useful
While you can use PayPal in many ways without a linked card, attaching a debit or credit card as a backup is still useful in certain situations. Consider linking a card to your PayPal account to:
- Add funds instantly if your balance runs low
- Shop at retailers that don’t directly accept PayPal balance
- Withdraw cash from ATMs without pre-ordering a cash card
As a backup funding source, a connected debit or credit card provides flexibility and convenience. But for daily use, you can use your PayPal account’s core features without any card attached.
Summary
While PayPal is designed primarily for digital payments, there are multiple ways to use its services without a credit or debit card:
- Link a bank account to transfer money in and out of PayPal
- Use your existing PayPal balance to send payments and shop online
- Add funds via PayPal Digital Gifts, Cash/Cash Plus, or eGift Cards
- Withdraw cash through certain options like the PayPal Cash Card
Combining these options allows buying online, sending funds, and even withdrawing physical cash without ever needing a card connected directly to your PayPal account. However, it’s still smart to link a backup card for added flexibility.
Overall, PayPal provides a very flexible digital wallet that can be adapted to many payment situations. With a little creativity, PayPal’s services can be utilized card-free for managing your online finances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I receive payments through PayPal without a card?
Yes, you can receive money sent to your PayPal account without a card attached. The money will sit in your PayPal balance for you to use or transfer out.
Is there a limit to how much I can hold in my PayPal balance?
For personal accounts, the balance limit is typically $10,000. Business accounts may have higher limits. You can request PayPal to review your account for a higher balance limit if needed.
Can I withdraw cash directly from an ATM using my PayPal balance?
Unfortunately no, the only way to withdraw physical cash directly from an ATM is to get a PayPal Cash Card linked to your account balance. This works like a normal debit card.
What happens if I use my PayPal balance and a purchase is more than my balance?
If you start a purchase with your PayPal balance as the funding source but don’t have enough to cover it, you will have the option to cover the remainder with a linked card or other method.
Can I cancel a payment made from my PayPal balance?
Yes, as long as the payment is still listed as “pending” in your activity, you should be able to cancel and have the funds returned to your balance. This must be done before the payment completes.
Conclusion
PayPal offers payment flexibility for consumers that traditional banks often lack. With some creative workarounds like using PayPal Cash and Digital Gifts, you can use PayPal’s core features without relying on a funded bank account or card.
Linking a debit/credit card as a backup is still a good idea. But it’s now possible to send funds, shop online, and receive payments through PayPal without ever adding a card. This makes PayPal an essential financial tool for those who prefer to avoid using cards.
With the options covered here, you can gain more control over your online finances using only your PayPal balance. Just remember to keep funds topped up and take advantage of features like Purchase Protection when shopping.