# Website Payments Pro and Express Checkout (/api/nvp-soap/paypal-payments-pro/integration-guide/express-checkout)



> **Note:** **Important**: PayPal isn't accepting new users for this feature, and we require existing users to upgrade to our Advanced Debit and Credit solution that supports EMV 3DS (3DS 2.0) for PSD2. Our Advanced Debit and Credit solution enables highly customizable custom-card fields and reduced PCI Compliance requirements. For more information, see [Set up advanced credit and debit card payments](/platforms/checkout/advanced/integrate).

Use Express Checkout, PayPal's premier checkout solution, to streamline the checkout process for buyers with PayPal accounts and keep them on your website after making a purchase. The buyer either logs in to PayPal or checks out as a guest, and the PayPal checkout window is displayed as part of the checkout process.

This introduction shows you a basic Express Checkout integration and describes Express Checkout's main features. For integration details, see the [Express Checkout integration guide](/checkout).

## Integration steps [#integration-steps]

|    |          |                                                                                              |
| -- | -------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 1. | Required | [Set up a basic Express Checkout integration](#set-up-a-basic-express-checkout-integration). |
| 2. | Optional | [Customize the Express Checkout experience](#customize-the-express-checkout-experience).     |
| 3. | Optional | Review [additional Express Checkout features](#additional-express-checkout-features).        |
| 4. | Optional | Review [advanced Express Checkout features](#advanced-express-checkout-features).            |

## Set up a basic Express Checkout integration [#set-up-a-basic-express-checkout-integration]

To integrate Express Checkout:

1. Place PayPal [checkout buttons and PayPal payment mark](/archive/express-checkout) images in your checkout flow.
2. For each PayPal button that you place, modify your page to handle the button click. Use the PayPal Express Checkout API operations to set up the interaction with PayPal and redirect the browser to PayPal to initiate buyer approval for the payment. The first of the three operations [initiates a payment](/archive/express-checkout/ec-initiate-payment).
3. On the **Order Confirmation** page, [get payment details](/archive/express-checkout/ec-get-payment-details), such as the shipping address. Then, [finalize the payment](/archive/express-checkout/ec-finalize-payment).
4. Use the [PayPal sandbox](/sandbox-testing/overview) to test your integration before taking your pages live.

Because PayPal offers you the flexibility to control your checkout flow, you should first understand how your current checkout flow works, then, become familiar with the Express Checkout flow. Start by reviewing [Express Checkout Flow](/archive/express-checkout/ec-checkout-flow-details). For additional background information to help you get started, see [Express Checkout Overview](/archive/express-checkout/integration-guide/ECReference#overview).

## Customize the Express Checkout experience [#customize-the-express-checkout-experience]

After you implement and test your basic Express Checkout integration, you should configure the additional features of Express Checkout through your account settings on [paypal.com](https://www.paypal.com). Carefully evaluate each feature because the more you streamline the checkout process and make Express Checkout seamless to buyers, the more likely your sales will increase. At a minimum, you should configure the following:

* Set your logo on the PayPal site and provide order details in the transaction history.
* Use the PayPal **Review your information** page as your **Order Confirmation** page to further streamline the user experience when you do not need the benefits associated with paying on your site. This strategy can lead to a better order completion rate, also known as a *conversion rate*.

Configure the look and feel of PayPal pages to match the look and feel of your site by specifying the following:

* Logo to display
* Gradient fill color of the border around the cart review area
* Language in which PayPal content is displayed

You should include the following on your checkout page:

* Order details, including shipping and tax, during checkout.   > **Note:** **Important:** Not displaying this information is a major cause of shopping cart abandonment during checkout.  
* Shipping information for non-digital goods, which can be your address information for the buyer or the address on file with PayPal; if you use the address on file with PayPal, you can specify whether it must be a confirmed address.

You can also activate additional features, including:

* Associating a payment with an eBay auction item
* Assigning an invoice number to a payment

## Additional Express Checkout features [#additional-express-checkout-features]

You can use the following PayPal API operations to include advanced processing and back-office processes with Express Checkout:

* Capture payments associated with [authorizations and orders](/archive/express-checkout/integration-guide/ec-related-ops#authorization-payment-action-for-express-checkout)
* Process [recurring payments](/archive/express-checkout/integration-guide/ECRecurringPayments)
* [Issue refunds](/archive/express-checkout/ht-basicRefund-curl-etc)
* [Search transactions](/archive/express-checkout) using various criteria
* [Other advanced features](#advanced-express-checkout-features)

## Advanced Express Checkout features [#advanced-express-checkout-features]

Express Checkout includes a suite of advanced features. Detailed information about these features can be found in the [Express Checkout advanced features reference](/archive/express-checkout/integration-guide/ECReference). These features include the following:

* Express Checkout buttons and marks — Use [PayPal hosted checkout buttons and marks](/archive/express-checkout). You can also participate in promotional campaigns and take advantage of the [dynamic buttons feature](/archive/express-checkout).
* In-Context Checkout — In-Context checkout allows buyers to checkout through a small secure PayPal checkout window that overlays the merchant's website, with the merchant site always visible in the background. For more information about the in-context checkout experience, see the [in-context integration guide.](/archive/express-checkout/ec-integration)
* Express Checkout on mobile devices — By default, Express Checkout is optimized for mobile devices. You do not need to perform any additional programming for Express Checkout on mobile devices.
* Instant Update API — This API enables you to specify your callback server URL to which PayPal can send the buyer's shipping address. This allows you to provide the buyer with more detailed shipping, insurance and tax information. See [Express Checkout Instant Update API](/archive/express-checkout/integration-guide/ECInstantUpdateAPI) for details.
* Parallel Payments — This feature enables a buyer to pay multiple merchants in a single Express Checkout session. See [Express Checkout Parallel Payments](/archive/express-checkout/integration-guide/ECReference) for more information.
* Immediate Payment — This feature ensures a buyer pays for a purchase immediately after committing to it. This feature can also be utilized by merchants who are selling items on eBay and who also have Express Checkout on their website. See [Express Checkout Immediate Payment](/archive/express-checkout/ec-finalize-payment) for more information.

## Next [#next]

Learn more about Website Payments Pro [security features](/api/nvp-soap/paypal-payments-pro/integration-guide/security-features).