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Checkout.com vs PayPal
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For a business registered in
Onboards businesses in United States
Checkout.com
AvailablePayPal
AvailableAccept payments
Checkout.com
Enterprise acquiring plus local methods such as mada, Bancontact and iDEAL.PayPal
PayPal wallet, cards and (in the US) Venmo at checkout, with buyer and seller protection.Pay people abroad
Checkout.com
Card payouts and bank payouts to recipients in supported countries.PayPal
Mass payouts to PayPal and Venmo accounts worldwide. Bank payouts go through Hyperwallet.Multi-currency account
Checkout.com
Not offeredPayPal
Hold balances in 20+ currencies inside a PayPal business account.Business cards
Checkout.com
Card issuing for businesses and platforms.PayPal
PayPal Business Debit Mastercard.Stablecoins
Checkout.com
Stablecoin settlement has been offered to some merchants.PayPal
US businesses can accept crypto through Pay with Crypto and hold PayPal USD (PYUSD).Yield on idle cash
Checkout.com
Not offeredPayPal
US businesses holding PayPal USD (PYUSD) in their PayPal balance can opt in to rewards of around 3.7–4% a year, funded from the stablecoin’s reserve interest. Not available in New York.Yield on idle cash
A return on money you are not using. How safe it is depends on where the return comes from, not on how high the rate is.
Where the return comes from
Checkout.com
No yield offeredPayPal
Moderate riskStablecoin rewardsIs the money protected?
Checkout.com
–PayPal
Stablecoins are not bank deposits and are not insured. The reward is a promotion funded by the issuer’s reserve interest; it can be changed or stopped, and US law bars issuers from paying interest directly.Does the rate change?
Checkout.com
–PayPal
Set by the provider; tends to follow US Treasury rates.Last seen: Around 3.7–4% a year (2026)Platform & marketplace
Run payments for other businesses: sign them up, take a cut, pay them out.
Sub-accounts for your users
Checkout.com
YesIntegrated Platforms onboards sub-entities with full or light checks.PayPal
YesPayPal Complete Payments onboards sellers into their own PayPal business accounts. Braintree Marketplace creates sub-merchants, but only for US businesses.Split payments and platform fees
Checkout.com
YesSplit payments between the platform and sub-entities.PayPal
YesPlatform fees on seller payments; Braintree Marketplace splits each transaction and can hold funds in escrow.Embeddable UI
Checkout.com
Not confirmedPayment UI components exist (Flow, Frames); embeddable onboarding components not confirmed.PayPal
PartlySeller onboarding is a PayPal-hosted flow.Pay out to your users
Checkout.com
YesPayouts to sub-entities’ bank accounts or debit cards (card payouts on demand through Visa Direct and Mastercard).PayPal
YesPayouts API to PayPal and Venmo accounts; Hyperwallet for bank, card and cash payouts.Embedded finance for your users
Give your users financial products under your brand.
Accounts that hold money
Checkout.com
PartlySub-entity currency account balances, used to fund card spend. Not full bank accounts.PayPal
NoSellers hold their own PayPal accounts; platforms cannot create accounts that hold money for users.Cards for your users
Checkout.com
YesPlatforms can issue cards to the businesses or individuals under each sub-entity.Announced, not yet live: Card issuing in the UAEPayPal
NoNo card issuing for platform users.Financing for your users
Checkout.com
Not confirmedNot found in public materials.PayPal
NoPayPal’s business loans are offered directly by PayPal, not through platforms.Consumer apps
Build for individuals, not just businesses, the way Bridge allows.
End users can be individuals
Checkout.com
PartlyCardholders under a sub-entity can be individuals, and consumer vs commercial is a card program setting.PayPal
PartlyYou can pay individuals’ PayPal and Venmo accounts, but not build wallets or accounts for your own users.Consumer wallets or accounts
Checkout.com
NoBalances belong to sub-entities, not consumers.PayPal
NoConsumers use PayPal’s own wallet.Consumer cards
Checkout.com
PartlyConsumer card products can be configured for platform programs.PayPal
NoNot offered to platforms.Stablecoins
Dollar-backed tokens as a payment and treasury rail.
Accept stablecoins
Checkout.com
Not confirmedNot confirmed in public materials.PayPal
PartlyPay with Crypto lets US merchants accept crypto, settled in dollars.Hold stablecoin balances
Checkout.com
PartlyStablecoin settlement has been offered to some merchants.PayPal
PartlyUS accounts can hold PayPal USD (PYUSD).Pay out in stablecoins
Checkout.com
Not confirmedNot confirmed in public materials.PayPal
Not confirmedNot confirmed for platform payouts.Issue your own stablecoin
Checkout.com
NoNo stablecoin product found in public materials.PayPal
NoPYUSD is PayPal’s own coin; you cannot issue one.Regulatory risk in United States
Checkout.com
Low riskPayPal
Low riskAI agents
Build with AI tools, and let AI agents shop and pay.
Official MCP server
Checkout.com
YesOfficial MCP server in beta: payment status, refunds, voids, payment links and the docs, for tools like Claude Code and Cursor.PayPal
YesAgent tooling for its APIs, and backing WebMCP so agents can use merchants’ existing storefronts.Checkout for AI agents
Checkout.com
YesSupports the Agentic Commerce Protocol, Google’s AP2 and Mastercard Agent Pay.PayPal
YesAdopted the Agentic Commerce Protocol for Instant Checkout in ChatGPT, rolling out in 2026, so PayPal merchants can sell in ChatGPT without their own integration.Cards for AI agents
Checkout.com
Not confirmedNot found in public materials.PayPal
Not confirmedNot found in public materials.Working with them
How easy it is to get started.
Self-serve signup
Checkout.com
NoSales-led onboarding.PayPal
YesSign up online.Published pricing
Checkout.com
NoPricing is negotiated.PayPal
YesMerchant fees are published by country.Public API and sandbox
Checkout.com
YesPublic API and sandbox.PayPal
YesPublic REST API and sandbox.Coming soon
Announced but not launched. These are plans, not products you can sign up for today: timing often slips, and some never ship.
Announced, not yet live
Checkout.com
PayPal
In short
Countries onboarded
Checkout.com
37 of 170PayPal
59 of 170Designed for
Checkout.com
Enterprises selling into the Gulf and Europe that need local acquiring, including mada in Saudi Arabia.PayPal
Selling to customers who already pay with PayPal, including cross-border buyers.Limitations
Checkout.com
Onboarding goes through Checkout.com’s sales team, and the service is aimed at larger merchants.PayPal
PayPal’s terms allow it to hold payments or set reserves, for example on new accounts or after a sudden rise in sales.| Checkout.com Payment processor | PayPal Payment processor | |
|---|---|---|
| Onboards businesses in United States | Available | Available |
| Accept payments | Enterprise acquiring plus local methods such as mada, Bancontact and iDEAL. | PayPal wallet, cards and (in the US) Venmo at checkout, with buyer and seller protection. |
| Pay people abroad | Card payouts and bank payouts to recipients in supported countries. | Mass payouts to PayPal and Venmo accounts worldwide. Bank payouts go through Hyperwallet. |
| Multi-currency account | Not offered | Hold balances in 20+ currencies inside a PayPal business account. |
| Business cards | Card issuing for businesses and platforms. | PayPal Business Debit Mastercard. |
| Stablecoins | Stablecoin settlement has been offered to some merchants. | US businesses can accept crypto through Pay with Crypto and hold PayPal USD (PYUSD). |
| Yield on idle cash | Not offered | US businesses holding PayPal USD (PYUSD) in their PayPal balance can opt in to rewards of around 3.7–4% a year, funded from the stablecoin’s reserve interest. Not available in New York. |
| Yield on idle cashA return on money you are not using. How safe it is depends on where the return comes from, not on how high the rate is. | ||
| Where the return comes from | No yield offered | Moderate riskStablecoin rewards |
| Is the money protected? | – | Stablecoins are not bank deposits and are not insured. The reward is a promotion funded by the issuer’s reserve interest; it can be changed or stopped, and US law bars issuers from paying interest directly. |
| Does the rate change? | – | Set by the provider; tends to follow US Treasury rates.Last seen: Around 3.7–4% a year (2026) |
| Platform & marketplaceRun payments for other businesses: sign them up, take a cut, pay them out. | ||
| Sub-accounts for your users | YesIntegrated Platforms onboards sub-entities with full or light checks. | YesPayPal Complete Payments onboards sellers into their own PayPal business accounts. Braintree Marketplace creates sub-merchants, but only for US businesses. |
| Split payments and platform fees | YesSplit payments between the platform and sub-entities. | YesPlatform fees on seller payments; Braintree Marketplace splits each transaction and can hold funds in escrow. |
| Embeddable UI | Not confirmedPayment UI components exist (Flow, Frames); embeddable onboarding components not confirmed. | PartlySeller onboarding is a PayPal-hosted flow. |
| Pay out to your users | YesPayouts to sub-entities’ bank accounts or debit cards (card payouts on demand through Visa Direct and Mastercard). | YesPayouts API to PayPal and Venmo accounts; Hyperwallet for bank, card and cash payouts. |
| Embedded finance for your usersGive your users financial products under your brand. | ||
| Accounts that hold money | PartlySub-entity currency account balances, used to fund card spend. Not full bank accounts. | NoSellers hold their own PayPal accounts; platforms cannot create accounts that hold money for users. |
| Cards for your users | YesPlatforms can issue cards to the businesses or individuals under each sub-entity.Announced, not yet live: Card issuing in the UAE | NoNo card issuing for platform users. |
| Financing for your users | Not confirmedNot found in public materials. | NoPayPal’s business loans are offered directly by PayPal, not through platforms. |
| Consumer appsBuild for individuals, not just businesses, the way Bridge allows. | ||
| End users can be individuals | PartlyCardholders under a sub-entity can be individuals, and consumer vs commercial is a card program setting. | PartlyYou can pay individuals’ PayPal and Venmo accounts, but not build wallets or accounts for your own users. |
| Consumer wallets or accounts | NoBalances belong to sub-entities, not consumers. | NoConsumers use PayPal’s own wallet. |
| Consumer cards | PartlyConsumer card products can be configured for platform programs. | NoNot offered to platforms. |
| StablecoinsDollar-backed tokens as a payment and treasury rail. | ||
| Accept stablecoins | Not confirmedNot confirmed in public materials. | PartlyPay with Crypto lets US merchants accept crypto, settled in dollars. |
| Hold stablecoin balances | PartlyStablecoin settlement has been offered to some merchants. | PartlyUS accounts can hold PayPal USD (PYUSD). |
| Pay out in stablecoins | Not confirmedNot confirmed in public materials. | Not confirmedNot confirmed for platform payouts. |
| Issue your own stablecoin | NoNo stablecoin product found in public materials. | NoPYUSD is PayPal’s own coin; you cannot issue one. |
| Regulatory risk in United States | Low risk | Low risk |
| AI agentsBuild with AI tools, and let AI agents shop and pay. | ||
| Official MCP server | YesOfficial MCP server in beta: payment status, refunds, voids, payment links and the docs, for tools like Claude Code and Cursor. | YesAgent tooling for its APIs, and backing WebMCP so agents can use merchants’ existing storefronts. |
| Checkout for AI agents | YesSupports the Agentic Commerce Protocol, Google’s AP2 and Mastercard Agent Pay. | YesAdopted the Agentic Commerce Protocol for Instant Checkout in ChatGPT, rolling out in 2026, so PayPal merchants can sell in ChatGPT without their own integration. |
| Cards for AI agents | Not confirmedNot found in public materials. | Not confirmedNot found in public materials. |
| Working with themHow easy it is to get started. | ||
| Self-serve signup | NoSales-led onboarding. | YesSign up online. |
| Published pricing | NoPricing is negotiated. | YesMerchant fees are published by country. |
| Public API and sandbox | YesPublic API and sandbox. | YesPublic REST API and sandbox. |
| Coming soonAnnounced but not launched. These are plans, not products you can sign up for today: timing often slips, and some never ship. | ||
| Announced, not yet live | Awaiting approvalIts own US acquiring bankExpected by the end of 2026 · Includes United States Awaiting approvalCard issuing in the UAENo date given Details and sources → | Awaiting approvalPayPal Bank in the USNo date given · Includes United States Details and sources → |
| In short | ||
| Countries onboarded | 37 of 170 | 59 of 170 |
| Designed for | Enterprises selling into the Gulf and Europe that need local acquiring, including mada in Saudi Arabia. | Selling to customers who already pay with PayPal, including cross-border buyers. |
| Limitations | Onboarding goes through Checkout.com’s sales team, and the service is aimed at larger merchants. | PayPal’s terms allow it to hold payments or set reserves, for example on new accounts or after a sudden rise in sales. |
Common questions
Is Checkout.com or PayPal available in more countries?
PayPal. Of the 170 countries we track, Checkout.com onboards businesses in 37 (and 1 more with limits) and PayPal in 59 (and 3 more with limits). Both serve businesses in 38. Only PayPal: Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Israel, Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and 12 more.
What do Checkout.com and PayPal offer?
Accept payments: Checkout.com yes, PayPal yes. Pay people abroad: Checkout.com yes, PayPal yes. Multi-currency account: Checkout.com no, PayPal yes. Business cards: Checkout.com yes, PayPal yes. Stablecoins: Checkout.com yes, PayPal yes. Yield on idle cash: Checkout.com no, PayPal yes.
How do Checkout.com and PayPal differ for platforms and embedded finance?
Embeddable UI: Checkout.com not confirmed, PayPal partly. Accounts that hold money: Checkout.com partly, PayPal no. Cards for your users: Checkout.com yes, PayPal no. Financing for your users: Checkout.com not confirmed, PayPal no. Consumer cards: Checkout.com partly, PayPal no. Accept stablecoins: Checkout.com not confirmed, PayPal partly.
Who is Checkout.com designed for?
Enterprises selling into the Gulf and Europe that need local acquiring, including mada in Saudi Arabia. Limitations: Onboarding goes through Checkout.com’s sales team, and the service is aimed at larger merchants.
Who is PayPal designed for?
Selling to customers who already pay with PayPal, including cross-border buyers. Limitations: PayPal’s terms allow it to hold payments or set reserves, for example on new accounts or after a sudden rise in sales.
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