PayPal 10.14.0 for Android

PayPal 10.14.0 for Android is the current version of PayPal's digital wallet app for sending money, paying online and keeping track of your balance. It is free to download from Google Play; below are the quick facts, a safe setup guide and the habits that protect your account.

Quick facts

What the app is for

The PayPal app puts your PayPal account in your pocket. You can send money to friends and family with an email address or phone number, request money, pay in online shops that accept PayPal and check every transaction as soon as it happens. Cards and bank accounts are linked once, so you do not have to type card details into each new website, which is one of the main reasons people use PayPal for online shopping. The app also sends instant notifications for payments, so you notice anything unusual quickly. The first version for mobile phones appeared on 10 July 2008, and since then the app has become the main way many people manage their PayPal account. Features and fees vary by country, so check what applies where you live before relying on a particular service.

How to install and set up

1. Open PayPal on Google Play and make sure the developer is PayPal before installing.
2. Log in to your account or sign up with your email address and phone number.
3. Link a card or bank account and confirm it as the app asks.
4. Enable fingerprint or face unlock and turn on two-step verification in the security settings.

Security checklist

• Install only from Google Play; fake PayPal apps and websites are common.
• PayPal will not ask for your password by email, text or phone call.
• Check the recipient carefully before sending money; payments to strangers are hard to reverse.
• For purchases, use the goods-and-services option rather than sending money as a gift.
• Keep the phone locked and updated.

Statements and records

For taxes or bookkeeping you can export your history. PayPal explains the steps in its help article on viewing and downloading statements and reports. For news about the company's platform, see the PayPal Open release notes.

Pros and cons

• Pro: pay online without sharing card details with each shop.
• Pro: instant notifications for every payment.
• Pro: widely accepted by online shops.
• Con: fees for some transfers and currency conversion.
• Con: account limits can be frustrating during disputes.

Requirements

PayPal does not list separate requirements in our data. A current Android phone with Google Play, a screen lock and an internet connection is needed; the web version at paypal.com works in any browser.

Alternatives

There are no other payment apps in the same category of our listings. If you need a place to keep receipts and notes about payments, Google Keep and CamScanner in the productivity category can help with organising them.