PayPal QR Code for Payments

Pricing and privacy at QR Kontor

Static QR codes are free, with no sign-up, no limit and no watermark. Dynamic QR codes, where you can change the destination after printing, cost €4.99 one-time per code. No subscription, no recurring fees.

Your data is hosted in Frankfurt, Germany (Supabase EU and Vercel fra1). Only essential cookies for the login session, no marketing tracking and no third-party pixels.

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Route 1: The PayPal app (for paying on the spot)

PayPal has built the QR code straight into the mobile app. No tool needed, no separate QR generator.

1. Open the PayPal app on your phone
2. Tap the "Scan" button at the bottom center
3. Switch to "My QR code" at the top
4. The code is displayed. Whoever scans it lands directly in the pay-you flow

Limit: works only in the app, not for print or embedding on the web. No custom design, no logo, no way to track scans.

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Route 2: PayPal.Me link as a QR code (for print)

If you want to print the code on a business card, flyer or shop window, you need a fixed link that leads to the payment flow. That is what PayPal.Me is for, a free service from PayPal itself.

Step 1: Set up your PayPal.Me link (once)

1. Go to paypal.me and log in
2. Choose your personal URL, for example paypal.me/janesmith
3. Optional: add a default amount by appending it to the link, for example /5 for a tip jar

Step 2: Turn the link into a QR code

Paste the finished PayPal.Me link into the generator above as a URL. The live QR code updates immediately. Download as PNG (for print) or SVG (for vector workflows).

Example link: https://paypal.me/janesmith/5 → the QR code leads straight to a payment of 5 in your account currency.

Step 3 (optional): Add your logo

PayPal allows branding the code, but we recommend not integrating the PayPal logo (trademark gray area, check PayPal's brand guidelines). Place your own logo in the middle of the QR code instead. That works well when the code ends up on a menu or a counter display.

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Route 3: Business account with preset amounts

A PayPal Business account can do more:

1. PayPal Business app → menu → "QR codes"
2. Create a new code, preset the amount (for example $25 for a haircut)
3. Download the code as a PDF, print it, place it at the counter

Advantage: customers pay exactly that amount, no input needed. Ideal for fixed prices.

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FAQ

Do I need a business account for a PayPal QR code? No, a regular PayPal account is enough. PayPal.Me links do not require a business account.

Are there PayPal fees when paying via QR code? Personal: none if the payer chooses "Friends and Family" (where available). Business: yes, PayPal's usual merchant fees apply. Check PayPal's current fee page for your country. Rates differ between the US, the UK and the EU.

Can I brand the QR code with a logo? Yes, in the generator above you can add your own logo in the middle. We advise against using the PayPal logo for trademark reasons.

How big does the QR code need to be for print? Rule of thumb: minimum 2 × 2 cm (0.8 × 0.8 in) for scanning distances up to 30 cm (12 in). On a counter display scanned from 1 m (3 ft), make it 6 × 6 cm (2.4 × 2.4 in).

Can I track how often my PayPal QR code was scanned? PayPal itself only shows payments, not scans. If you want scan statistics, you need a dynamic QR code that redirects to your PayPal.Me link and counts every scan.

What happens if I change my PayPal.Me link later? With a static QR code: the code is dead, all printed copies useless. With a dynamic QR code from QR Kontor: enter the new URL in the dashboard, the printed code stays valid.

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When a dynamic QR code is the better choice

If your PayPal.Me link might change later (rebranding, a different account, switching to Square, SumUp or Stripe), a dynamic QR code pays off: the code stays the same, you can swap the destination in the dashboard at any time. At QR Kontor that costs €4.99 one-time instead of a monthly fee. Other generators charge $49 to $197 for the same thing as a "lifetime" code. Ours stays at €4.99 because it is only a short redirect, nothing stored beyond the target URL, on EU hosting that costs little to run.