You cannot directly transfer money from a credit card to your own PayPal balance. While you can use a credit card to send money to others through PayPal, the platform does not allow you to top up your personal balance with a credit card, a fact that surprises many users searching for how to transfer money from a credit card to PayPal.
Can you transfer money from a credit card to PayPal?
The short answer is no, if your goal is to add funds to your own PayPal balance. Credit cards linked to PayPal are primarily used as a funding source for making payments to other individuals or businesses, not for topping up your own PayPal balance. This is a common misconception, and understanding this limitation upfront will save you time and frustration.
What you actually need
To use your credit card through PayPal, you only need two things:
- A valid PayPal account
- An active credit card accepted by PayPal
Step 1: Link your credit card to PayPal
- Log in to your PayPal account and go to your "Wallet."
- Click "Link a card or bank," then choose "Link a debit or credit card."
- Enter your credit card details, including the card number, expiration date, and security code.
- Follow any verification steps PayPal presents to complete the linking process.
Step 2: Add your credit card as a payment method
- In the "Wallet" section, locate your newly linked credit card.
- Select the option to set it as a payment method.
- Save your changes to confirm the card is active as a payment method.
Step 3: Verify your credit card
- Check your credit card statement for a small charge made by PayPal for verification purposes.
- Log in to your PayPal account and navigate to the "Wallet" section.
- Select your credit card and enter the exact amount of the PayPal charge.
- Submit the verification to complete the process and confirm your card's authenticity.
Step 4: How to use your credit card to send money
Once your card is linked, added, and verified, you can use it to send money to another person. This is the actual method for using your credit card through PayPal, rather than transferring to your own balance.
- Log in to your PayPal account and go to "Send and Request" (or "Payments" in the app).
- Enter the recipient's details and specify the amount you want to send.
- Choose your credit card as the payment method from the available options.
- Review the transaction details, including any fees, and confirm the payment.
Important fees and cash advance warnings
Using a credit card to send money through PayPal comes with significant costs. PayPal charges a fee when you use a credit card to send money to friends and family, typically 2.9% plus a fixed fee. More critically, your credit card issuer may treat money sent from your credit card using PayPal as a cash advance. This means you could face additional fees from your card issuer, and interest on credit card cash advances typically begins accruing immediately, without a grace period. Always check with your card issuer before proceeding.
How to actually add money to your PayPal balance
If your goal is to put money in a PayPal account, the official methods are from a confirmed bank account or an eligible Visa or Mastercard debit card. Bank transfers typically take a few business days, while debit card transfers are usually instant. These methods avoid the fees and cash advance risks associated with credit cards. For complete details on these options, see the article on how to put money in a PayPal account. And if you're considering using PayPal's own credit product, note that PayPal Credit does not offer a cash advance feature and cannot be used to withdraw cash or transfer funds to a bank account; for more on that, read how to use PayPal credit.
