A PayPal Key is essentially a virtual credit card that's linked to your PayPal account, allowing you to make secure online payments.
To generate a PayPal Key, you need to have a PayPal account with a verified credit or debit card, which is a requirement to create a PayPal Key.
The PayPal Key is a unique 16-digit code that's generated when you make a purchase online, and it's used to authenticate the transaction.
This code is not stored on your device, so you don't have to worry about it being compromised if your device is hacked.
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Getting Started
To get started with PayPal Key, you'll need to sign up for a PayPal account, which can be done by creating a business account. This will give you access to PayPal Key, a virtual credit card number that lets you use your PayPal account to pay any vendor that accepts credit cards.
You can link your PayPal Key to a credit card, debit card, or bank account, and it's recommended to link it to a credit card to earn rewards for your purchases. PayPal Key has a 1.1% foreign transaction fee if you make a purchase in a currency other than US Dollars, or from a merchant located outside the US.
To get started with PayPal Key, follow these steps: Sign up for a PayPal account and create a business account.Link your PayPal Key to a credit card, debit card, or bank account.
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Basics
Getting started with PayPal Key requires a basic understanding of how it works. PayPal Key is a virtual credit card number that lets you use your PayPal account to pay any vendor that accepts credit cards.
You can link your PayPal Key to a credit card to earn rewards for your purchases. I highly recommend this, as it's a great way to maximize your rewards.
To sign up for PayPal Key, you'll be given a card number, expiration date, and security code. You can use this number for any online card purchase.
One thing to note is that you'll incur a 1.1% foreign transaction fee if you make a purchase in a currency other than US Dollars, or from a merchant located outside the US.
PayPal Key uses the Mastercard payment network for all transactions.
Here are the key features of PayPal Key at a glance:
- Card number and expiration date provided upon sign-up
- Security code required for online purchases
- 1.1% foreign transaction fee for non-US currency or merchant purchases
- Mastercard payment network
Getting Credentials and Signature
To get started with PayPal, you'll need to create a business account. This is required for working with the PayPal API, so don't skip this step. You can choose from Premier, Business, or Website Payments Pro accounts.
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First, you'll need to sign up for a business account. This will give you access to the PayPal Developer page, where you can get your API credentials. To get started, go to the "My Apps & Credentials" section and click "Create App".
You'll need to enter an app name and click "Create" to get your Client ID, a name of a Sandbox account, and a "Secret". This will give you the API key and credentials you need to get started.
To generate your API Signature or Certificate credentials, log in to your PayPal Sandbox account using your business profile data. Then, click the "Settings" icon and select "Account access" under "Account & Security". From there, click "Update" and then "Manage API credentials".
You have two options: Request API Signature or Request API Certificate. Choose one of these options and click "Agree" and "Submit". PayPal will then generate your API credentials.
Here's a summary of the API credentials you can get:
Remember to link your PayPal Key to a credit card to earn rewards on your purchases.
Using PayPal Key
You can use PayPal Key anywhere that accepts MasterCard, making it a versatile payment option. This includes online purchases and in-store transactions.
To use PayPal Key, you'll need to obtain a 16-digit card number, which you can get through your PayPal account. This process is straightforward, and you can access it by logging into your PayPal account and following the prompts.
You can fund your PayPal Key with any payment method you prefer, making it easy to manage your finances. Once you've obtained your 16-digit card number, you're ready to start shopping with PayPal Key.
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Where to Use
You can use PayPal Key anywhere that accepts MasterCard, which is a huge advantage.
PayPal Key is available to US-based customers, and if you're one of them, you can use it abroad as long as the retailer accepts MasterCard.
The 16-digit card number is all you need to enter at any physical store to complete a purchase.
It's great that you can use PayPal Key online, and it's just as easy to use it in-store by entering your 16-digit card number.
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What Does My Device Need to Set Up a Passkey?
To set up a passkey with PayPal, you'll need a device that meets certain requirements.
iOS 16 or higher, MacOS Ventura or higher, Windows 10 or higher, and Android 9 or higher are all supported.
You can check if your device is eligible by looking at the operating system version.
Managing PayPal Key
Managing PayPal Key is a straightforward process. You can have multiple PayPal Keys for different purposes, such as travel, food delivery, and everyday expenses.
To get started, log into your PayPal account and look for the PayPal Key icon at the top of your screen or a link elsewhere. If you can't find it, visit the PayPal link mentioned in the instructions.
You can choose which payment method to use to fund your PayPal Key, and then click Agree & Get Your Key to finalize the process.
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Multiple Keys
Having multiple PayPal Keys can be a game-changer for your financial organization.
You can set up separate Keys for different types of purchases, like travel, food delivery, and everyday expenses, as mentioned in the example of having one Key for travel and one for food delivery.
This way, you can easily keep track of your spending and stay within your budget.
For instance, you could have one Key for travel-related purchases, which would automatically apply the relevant payment rules, such as no foreign transaction fees.
Having multiple Keys can also help you avoid overspending in certain categories, like food delivery, by setting limits on your Keys.
You can even set up one Key for charitable donations, so you can easily give back to your favorite causes without worrying about overspending in other categories.
Deleting Passkey
Deleting a passkey from PayPal is a relatively straightforward process. You'll need to remove it from both your PayPal account and your password manager.
To start, go to the Passkey Management page on PayPal and log in if prompted. From there, select the passkey you want to delete and click Remove This Passkey.
Once you've deleted the passkey from your PayPal account, you'll also need to remove it from your password manager. This could be iCloud Keychain or Google Password Manager, depending on what you're using.
To delete the passkey from your password manager, follow the instructions in the support documentation for that service.
Payment and Fees
You can set up simple payment rules in your PayPal Key account, allowing you to automatically charge the right card for specific merchants. For example, if you shop at a restaurant, your Citi Prestige Card will be charged at 5X.
There are no fees to sign up for and use a PayPal Key within the US. However, if you make a transaction with a non-US merchant, there is a 1.1% transaction fee.
You can also take advantage of various payment rules to charge the right card for specific merchants, such as:
- If merchant is classified as a restaurant then charge Citi Prestige Card (5X)
- If merchant is classified as a grocery store then charge Citi Premier Card (3X)
- If merchant is classified as a drug store then charge Freedom Unlimited Card (3X)
- If merchant is Amazon.com then charge Discover It Card (5X when Amazon is a 5X category)
- If merchant is Walmart.com then charge Freedom Flex Card (5X when Walmart.com is a 5X category)
Accepted Everywhere
PayPal Key is accepted everywhere Mastercards are accepted, which is a huge advantage. This means you can use it to pay for purchases even if the retailer doesn't accept PayPal directly.
With PayPal Key, you can use your Discover card or other credit cards that might not be accepted by some vendors. This is because PayPal Key presents as a Mastercard, giving you more payment options.
PayPal Key is linked to your PayPal account, so you don't need to add another card to your wallet. It's like a virtual debit card that uses the funds in your PayPal account to make purchases.
You can use PayPal Key to make purchases from any retailer that accepts MasterCard, without needing to have a separate card. This is convenient and flexible.
Payment Rules
Payment Rules can be a game-changer for PayPal users. PayPal Key allows you to set up simple rules to determine which card to use for a specific merchant.
These rules can be based on the merchant's classification, such as a restaurant or grocery store. For example, if a merchant is classified as a restaurant, you can specify that the Citi Prestige Card should be used, earning 5X points.
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You can also set up rules based on specific merchant websites, like Amazon.com or Walmart.com. For instance, if you're shopping on Amazon.com, you can choose to use the Discover It Card, which earns 5X points when Amazon is a 5X category.
Here are some examples of payment rules you can set up:
- Charge Citi Prestige Card (5X) if merchant is classified as a restaurant
- Charge Citi Premier Card (3X) if merchant is classified as a grocery store
- Charge Freedom Unlimited Card (3X) if merchant is classified as a drug store
- Charge Discover It Card (5X when Amazon is a 5X category) if merchant is Amazon.com
- Charge Freedom Flex Card (5X when Walmart.com is a 5X category) if merchant is Walmart.com
Limits and Pricing
There are no fees to sign up for and use a PayPal Key within the US, but a 1.1% transaction fee applies when making a transaction with a non-US merchant.
If you receive money from a PayPal account, you'll pay a fee that varies depending on the country. For example, in Canada, the fee is 2.9% of the transaction amount plus $0.30 CAD.
In the US, the fee is 3.7% of the transaction amount plus $0.30 USD. This fee structure applies to various countries, including Europe, Russia, Brazil, Mexico, and Singapore.
Here's a breakdown of the fees in different countries:
You can make as many calls to the PayPal API as you want, but it's recommended to avoid hitting the API too many times.
Cash Advance
Most purchases made with PayPal Key don't show up as cash advances and don't incur cash advance fees.
Paying for products, paying taxes, and paying bills by debit card are safe transactions that won't trigger cash advance fees.
I haven't encountered any cash advance fees yet, but some financial transactions may appear as a cash advance.
If you're concerned, you can call your credit card issuer to ask them to reduce your cash advance limit to $0.
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Earn Bonuses
Earning bonuses with PayPal Key is a game-changer. You can earn PayPal bonuses by linking your Chase Freedom Flex, Freedom Visa, or Discover It cards to PayPal Key and paying online with PayPal Key, which activates the card's 5% rewards.
These cards often offer PayPal as a quarterly 5% category, and Discover offered it in the third quarter of 2020, while Chase offered it in the fourth quarter. By taking advantage of this, you can earn extra rewards on your purchases.
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Even though charges are processed through PayPal, the original vendor's merchant category pushes through to your credit card, allowing you to continue earning card category bonuses. This means you can still earn rewards for purchases in specific categories, like travel or dining.
For example, the Altitude Reserve card offers 3X for travel purchases, and you can redeem points at 1.5 cents each to pay for travel purchases via Real Time Mobile Rewards. By linking PayPal Key to your Altitude Reserve card and using it to load money into your Uber account, you can trigger Real Time Rewards and earn 3X rewards on your travel purchases.
Card-linked merchant offers also work with PayPal Key, at least in some cases. We have a datapoint indicating that a Chase Offer (5% back at Estee Lauder) worked even though the purchase was made with PayPal Key.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does the PayPal key still exist?
No, PayPal Key is no longer available. It was discontinued to focus on other card products.
Where is my PayPal secret key?
To find your PayPal secret key, log into the PayPal Developer Dashboard and navigate to "Apps & Credentials" to view and copy your key. Your secret key is associated with a specific app, so select the relevant one to access it.
How do I get my PayPal security key?
To obtain your PayPal security key, log in to your account and navigate to the "Security Key" section under "Profile." Click "Get Security Key" to proceed with the activation process.
Sources
- https://frequentmiler.com/paypal-key-virtual-master-card/
- https://www.paypal.com/us/cshelp/article/what-is-a-passkey-and-how-do-i-use-it-to-log-in-to-my-paypal-account-help997
- https://medium.com/paypal-tech/unlocking-the-power-of-junodb-paypals-key-value-store-goes-open-source-ee85f935bdc1
- https://elfsight.com/blog/how-to-get-a-paypal-api-key-examples-integration-and-pricing/
- https://www.makeuseof.com/how-to-use-paypal-key/
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