Selling internationally — or receiving payments from overseas clients — can feel complicated. PayPal handles the money side, but explaining the payment process to every buyer wastes time. A QR Code fixes that: the customer scans, lands directly on your payment page, and pays in seconds.
This guide covers two approaches: the native QR inside the PayPal app (great for in-person sales) and a PayPal.Me link turned into a QR Code via Code2Scan (perfect for flyers, invoices, websites, and email signatures). We explain when to use each, the fees involved, and the most common mistakes.
Two ways to create a PayPal QR Code
Option 1 — Native QR in the PayPal app
The PayPal app generates a QR Code tied directly to your account. It's the fastest solution for in-person and retail payments.
How to generate it:
- Open the PayPal app on your phone.
- Tap Receive (or the QR Code icon on the home screen).
- A QR Code is generated automatically with an open amount — the customer enters how much to pay, or you can prefill the amount before showing the code.
- Show the screen for the customer to scan, or print it and place it at your counter.
Where it works: in countries where PayPal supports in-person QR payments (mainly the US, UK, Australia, and other developed markets). Availability varies — always check the official PayPal website for your country.
Fee: in many countries PayPal charges a reduced fee for in-person QR payments (typically ~1.9% + a small fixed amount, lower than the standard online card rate). Conditions vary by region — always confirm in the PayPal Help Center.
Option 2 — PayPal.Me + QR Code (Code2Scan)
PayPal.Me is a personalised link of the form paypal.me/yourname that any PayPal account holder can create. It works in every country where PayPal is available, including international payments in foreign currencies.
The strategy: create a PayPal.Me link and turn it into a professional QR Code with Code2Scan — with your logo, brand colours, and scan tracking.
How to create your PayPal.Me link:
- Go to paypal.me and log in.
- Choose your username (e.g.
paypal.me/johnsmith). - Copy the generated URL.
How to turn it into a QR Code:
- Open the Code2Scan link QR Code generator.
- Paste your
paypal.me/yournamelink into the URL field. - Customise: add your logo, choose a colour, set the size.
- Download in PNG, SVG, or PDF.
Place the QR Code anywhere:
- Poster or banner in a physical shop
- Invoice sent by email (embedded PNG)
- Website contact page
- Email signature
- Social media profiles (link-in-bio)
- Printed or digital catalogue
PayPal QR vs Other Payment Methods — Quick Comparison
If your buyers are in countries with instant local payment systems (like Pix in Brazil, UPI in India, or iDEAL in the Netherlands), those methods are cheaper and faster domestically. For international payments, PayPal is still the most widely accessible option.
| Criterion | PayPal.Me QR | Local instant payment |
|---|---|---|
| Accepts international payments | Yes | Usually No |
| Currencies | Multiple (USD, EUR, GBP…) | Local currency only |
| Fee (cross-border) | ~4.4% + fixed fee | 0% |
| Speed | Instant (PayPal account) | Instant |
| Buyer needs PayPal account | Yes | Depends on method |
| Works on website/e-commerce | Yes | Yes |
For international e-commerce, see also QR Code for online stores.
Scenario × recommended method
| Scenario | Recommended method |
|---|---|
| Freelancer receiving from abroad | PayPal.Me → QR via Code2Scan |
| Vendor at a US trade show | Native PayPal app QR |
| E-commerce with international customers | PayPal.Me on site + QR in catalogue |
| Domestic sales only | Local payment QR (Pix, etc.) |
| Digital product (course, ebook) | PayPal.Me + checkout page |
| Monthly international subscription | PayPal.Me (customer accesses manually) |
Full step-by-step: PayPal.Me QR Code for invoices
- Create your
paypal.me/yournamelink (one-time setup). - In Code2Scan, open the link QR Code generator.
- Paste the PayPal.Me link.
- (Optional) Add the amount directly in the URL:
paypal.me/yourname/50USD— the customer sees the amount pre-filled. - Customise the QR Code with your brand logo.
- Download as PNG and embed it in your invoice (Word, Google Docs, Canva, any editor).
- Send the invoice — the customer scans the QR and pays in seconds.
Tip: use a dynamic QR Code if you want to track how many customers scanned each invoice. See dynamic vs static QR Code to understand when it's worth it.
Watch out for fees by country
PayPal fees vary significantly depending on the sender's country, the recipient's country, and the currency. The figures below are approximate for 2025/2026 — always check at paypal.com/fees:
| Payment type | Approximate fee |
|---|---|
| In-person QR (US and select countries) | ~1.9% + $0.10 |
| International send (cross-border) | ~4.4% + fixed fee per currency |
| Receiving from another country | ~4.4–6.4% (incl. conversion) |
| Withdrawal to bank account | Usually free above minimum |
Common mistakes
Using the wrong link in the QR
paypal.com/myaccount/transfer/homepage doesn't work as a public link. Use only paypal.me/yourname.
Not including the amount when there's a fixed price
If your product has a set price, use paypal.me/yourname/99USD — prevents the customer from entering the wrong amount.
Printing a QR Code that's too small
For a poster or shop counter, the QR Code needs to be at least 2.5 cm (1 inch). For a 1-metre banner, use at least 8 cm.
Forgetting that the buyer needs a PayPal account
PayPal.Me requires the payer to have a PayPal account (some countries also accept guest checkout by card). If your audience doesn't have accounts, consider alternatives — such as crypto for alternative international payments (see Crypto QR Code).
Changing your PayPal.Me name after printing
If you change your PayPal.Me link, printed QR Codes stop working. Use a dynamic QR Code so you can update the destination without reprinting.
Summary
- For in-person charges (markets, physical stores abroad): use the native QR in the PayPal app.
- For invoices, websites, and printed materials: create a PayPal.Me link and generate the QR on Code2Scan.
- To receive a fixed amount, add it to the URL (
paypal.me/name/50USD). - To track scans or update the link later: use a dynamic QR Code.
- For domestic-only customers: prefer local instant payment methods — no fee and simpler.
Generate your PayPal QR Code now — with your logo, brand colours, and PNG/SVG/PDF export: visit the Code2Scan link QR Code generator.
