is it better to use paypal or credit card for international transactions

PayPal vs. Credit Card for purchases in USD?

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Credit card will almost always charge less to do the conversion than PayPal. PayPal’s fee is 3.5% which is higher than the standard 2.5%. Also you can get no FX fee credit cards Answer from Dragynfyre on reddit.com

reddit.com › r/mkindia › paypal or credit card for international purchase

r/mkindia on Reddit: PayPal or Credit Card for International Purchase

June 17, 2021 -

Most of the International Store accept payments Via PayPal or Credit Credit, I guess as most of them use Shopify,
Which option should be cheaper interns of conversions rate and fees.

I Recently made a purchase on Epomaker.com using CC, I observed bank charged me 3% conversion fees on the amount.
Does PayPal or another option offers cheaper conversion fees

People also ask

Is it better to pay with PayPal or credit card?

If you want smoother checkout and built-in fraud protection, PayPal can help. But pay with PayPal vs credit card depends on your audience—credit cards are more widely used.

noda.live

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PayPal vs Credit Card for Merchants | Noda

How is PayPal different from credit card?

The difference between credit card and PayPal is that PayPal acts as a digital wallet, in other words a middleman, handling security and customer data. Card details aren’t shared with PayPal. Open banking is another option, which removes the middleman entirely, sending funds straight from customer’s account to merchant’s.

noda.live

noda.live › articles › paypal vs credit card for merchants: which payment method to choose

PayPal vs Credit Card for Merchants | Noda

Why use PayPal vs credit card?

Using PayPal vs credit card makes sense for trust and convenience, especially with digital goods. But combining both—and adding open banking—gives your customers choice while helping you cut fees.

noda.live

noda.live › articles › paypal vs credit card for merchants: which payment method to choose

PayPal vs Credit Card for Merchants | Noda

Noda

noda.live › articles › paypal vs credit card for merchants: which payment method to choose

PayPal vs Credit Card for Merchants | Noda

Use credit cards if your customers are older, international, or you’re in a market where cards are still the go-to. Just be ready for higher fees and slower settlements. Use PayPal if you sell digital goods, subscriptions, or have a loyal ...

PayPal

paypal.com › us › money-hub › article › personal-banking-when-traveling-abroad

Personal banking tips for traveling abroad | PayPal US

November 11, 2024 - Credit cards can be a good choice for international travelers. They offer protection in the event of fraud, theft, or unauthorized transactions and may also provide rewards, loyalty incentives, cash back opportunities, and travel insurance.

MoneySavingExpert

forums.moneysavingexpert.com › ebay, auctions, car boot sales, post & parcels

Payment in Euros - Better to use Bank Account or Credit Card through Paypal? — MoneySavingExpert Forum

June 30, 2015 - When I am highest bidder in an auction in a foreign currency, I get a choice between paying for the item in UK£, at PayPal's rate (which is shown on the screen) OR paying in the foreign currency on my credit card.

Wise

wise.com › us › blog › paypal-international-fees-usa

What are PayPal’s international fees and how to avoid them: US guide - Wise

September 22, 2025 - The PayPal wire transfer fee is the most expensive when you use a credit or debit card to fund your transfer. You'll pay the 5% international transfer fee as well as the 2.90% + fixed fee for using a card.¹ On a 1,000 USD transfer, you'll pay ...

NerdWallet

nerdwallet.com › article › credit-cards › pay-with-paypal-or-with-credit-cards

Should I Pay With PayPal or With My Credit Card? - NerdWallet

April 17, 2014 - Paying with a credit card or PayPal generates similar fees and protections, and can even earn similar rewards. The best choice for you ultimately depends on which option is more convenient, since the other differences can be negligible.

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Investopedia

investopedia.com › articles › personal-finance › 011215 › which-safer-paypal-or-credit-card.asp

PayPal and Credit Cards: A Comparison of Safety Measures

January 12, 2015 - Discover if PayPal or credit cards offer safer transactions. Understand their security features, including encryption and fraud prevention, to protect your financial data.

WalletHub

wallethub.com › edu › cc › paypal-foreign-transaction-fee › 96944

PayPal Foreign Transaction Fees: What to Watch Out For

August 11, 2021 - In most – if not all – cases, your no-foreign-fee credit card’s conversion rate will absolutely be cheaper than PayPal’s. You just won’t be able to see the total amount until your transaction posts on your credit card statement. Keep in mind that just because you can see PayPal’s converted total in U.S. dollars before you complete your transaction does not mean it will be a better deal than the credit card’s converted total.

Wise

wise.com › gb › blog › paypal-vs-credit-card

PayPal vs. credit cards for shopping online in the UK - Wise

January 15, 2024 - In this guide, we’ll be looking at PayPal vs. credit cards, to see which is the best choice to pay for your online purchase. We’ll run through pros and cons, and compare the two on security, fees, buyer protection and much more.

Canstar

canstar.com.au › home › credit cards › paypal vs credit card payments

PayPal vs credit card payments | Canstar

October 8, 2025 - Some credit and debit cards may apply a currency conversion fee when making purchases from an international store. PayPal can be convenient and easy to navigate, but if you’re worried about the security of using this online payment system, it’s a good idea to consider some of the following pros and cons. You don’t have to enter card details every time you buy something online. PayPal stores all your payment information. Your financial details and transactions are encrypted and monitored to help prevent fraud and identity theft.

Rick Steves Travel Forum

community.ricksteves.com › travel-forum › italy › do-you-pay-regular-international-credit-card-fees-when-using-paypal

Do you pay regular international credit card fees when using Paypal? - Rick Steves Travel Forum

From their website: "Capital One does not charge a fee for using your credit card for foreign currency transactions. Foreign purchases will be converted at the foreign exchange rate in effect at the time of posting the charge". If you don't have one, I would suggest getting one just for overseas travel. It saved us lots of money, however, it is true that paying cash can sometimes get you a discount with the owner of the establishment as well. I'm pretty sure that if you use Paypal, do not use a Capital One card, and the company is not based out of the US (some of these rental company are based out of the US) you would pay the fee, which is usually around 3-5%.

Tipalti

tipalti.com › blog › avoiding international paypal fees: a guide for us users

What are PayPal's International Fees? How to Avoid Them

May 13, 2025 - For domestic personal transactions within the U.S. to friends and family, there is generally no fee if you use your PayPal balance or a linked bank account. However, if you use a credit card, debit card, or PayPal Credit to fund such a domestic personal payment, a fee of 2.9% of the transaction amount plus a fixed fee based on the currency will apply.

Wayward Blog

waywardblog.com › home › why you should never use paypal when paying for travel expenses

Why You Should Never Use PayPal When Booking Travel

October 17, 2019 - Moving forward, I’ll be using my zero foreign transaction fee card directly for all international purchases, and I recommend you do the same. Here you can see how Chase converted the same amount (€287.90) to USD: This amount is much closer to the rate posted on September 13. Lesson learned! But if you must book via PayPal (some foreign websites have issues accepting U.S. credit cards), you’ll have to adjust your preferred conversion method (and hope that the merchant is listed in your Active Payments tab in your account) to convert via your credit card rather than PayPal.

RateCity

ratecity.com.au › home › credit cards › articles › paypal versus credit cards: which is the better online payment option?

PayPal versus credit cards: Which is the better online payment option?

December 19, 2023 - For those who prioritise convenience, PayPal might be more suitable in this respect. However, it's worth noting that not all online merchants offer PayPal as an option when making a purchase, whereas credit cards are more globally accepted by all.

Rates

rates.fm › homepage › payment systems › paypal international fees: a complete guide to foreign transaction costs

PayPal International Fees: A Complete Guide to Foreign Transaction Costs

September 19, 2025 - Your verification status allows for lower processing costs for international transactions compared to debit or credit cards. Additionally, verified accounts have increased transaction limits.

reddit.com › r/ausfinance › overseas purhases, bank direct or paypal?

r/AusFinance on Reddit: Overseas purhases, bank direct or PayPal?

October 29, 2022 -

I make OS purchases and am wondering if the OS currency conversion fee free that places like UPbank have are still fee free when run through PayPal? (Obviously still a PayPal fee). Or is it better to lose the purchase protection of PayPal and buy direct through the bank as a transfer or debit card payment? Basically what is the cheapest way to make OS purchases in different currencies?