What's the difference between PayPal and PayPal Express?
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Last Updated:
October 24, 2008 12:07 PM
Quick Shopping Cart features provide you with many options for how to accept payment from your customers, including both PayPal® and PayPal Express®. Both of these options are provided by PayPal and require the customer to visit the PayPal site to complete a transaction. But, there are important differences between them. To identify the best option for you, review the following details.
NOTE: You are not able to concurrently use both PayPal and PayPal Express. Enabling one of these options disables the other one.
- PayPal
- The PayPal option does not require your customers to have a PayPal account. Customers are directed to the PayPal site as part of their checkout path, but they are not required to log in to PayPal. Rather, they simply supply PayPal with the information to verify their payment. PayPal verifies the customer and guarantees that the customer and credit card or instant bank transfer payment are valid, and then credits your PayPal business account. This payment option is beneficial, since many customers may prefer to simply enter their information without having a formal PayPal account.
- This method does not automatically complete the transaction. After customers enter their information on the PayPal site, they need to complete the transaction on your Quick Shopping Cart site. This feature means that some customers may leave your site thinking they are done, yet having not completed their order.
- PayPal Express
- The PayPal Express option requires your customers to have a PayPal account. With this option, customers are directed to the PayPal site as part of their checkout path and are required to log in to a PayPal account to complete payment. If the customer does not have an existing account, one can be created at this time. PayPal then credits your PayPal business account.
This payment option is beneficial, since it automatically completes the transaction, ensuring the order is complete. However, it may deter some customers who would prefer to not have a PayPal account.
NOTE: There are two checkout procedures for customers selecting the PayPal Express option. For more information, see What's the difference between the Address Route and Payment Route in PayPal Express?
