Get started with PayPal APIs
The PayPal REST API is organized around transaction workflows, including orders, payments, subscriptions, invoicing, and disputes.
The API uses standard verbs and returns HTTP response codes and JSON-encoded responses.
To get started with the PayPal REST API, first create a developer account on the Developer Dashboard. From there you can generate your credentials, authentication token, and sandbox accounts.
Logging into the Developer Dashboard to get credentials and create sandbox accounts requires a developer, personal, or business account. Each account provides a different level of access to PayPal functionality. If you need to access a capability you don't currently have, you can upgrade your account on the My Account page in the Developer Dashboard.
You can also try out our REST APIs with test credentials on Postman:
Account types
Use sandbox accounts to generate mock transactions to test your app. To send and receive money, you’ll need both both personal and business sandbox accounts.
The following features are available for each type of account:
| Capabilities | Developer Account | Personal Account | Business Account |
|---|---|---|---|
| Client and server-side integrations | |||
| Accept PayPal, Venmo and Pay Later Offers | |||
| Accept local payment methods |
Note: To test integrations in the US, use a PayPal developer account. To test integrations outside the US, use a PayPal business or personal account.
More Information
Generate mock transactions to test your app.
Make calls on behalf of a third party.