Express Checkout One Time Payment is a PayPal integration that allows you to accept one-time payments directly on your website through API integration. Express Checkout requires development work to integrate into your checkout flow, giving you more control over the customer experience while still leveraging PayPal's secure payment processing.
With Express Checkout, customers can pay with PayPal without leaving your website's checkout experience. This integration is ideal if you want to maintain your brand throughout the payment process while offering PayPal as a payment option alongside credit cards and other payment methods.
Upgrading to modern PayPal Checkout provides enhanced features, additional payment options, and an improved experience for customers.
To find the right upgrade path for your business, identify which Express Checkout use case matches your current implementation. Review the descriptions below to determine how your system currently processes payments.
You're using this use case if payments are captured immediately when customers complete their purchase. The full payment amount is transferred from the customer's account as soon as the transaction is authorized, and funds are available in your PayPal account right away (subject to standard processing times).
Common examples: Digital product sales, online course access, software licenses, event tickets, immediate service bookings, downloadable content
Recommended: Upgrade to PayPal Checkout
You're using this use case if payments are authorized first but captured later. When a customer completes checkout, their payment method is verified and the amount is reserved, but you capture (collect) the payment at a later time—typically after confirming inventory, shipping the order, or fulfilling the service.
Common examples: Physical product sales, made-to-order items, custom manufacturing, drop-shipping businesses, pre-orders, services with delayed fulfillment, high-value items requiring verification
Recommended: Upgrade to PayPal Checkout