People love to shop at Amazon and love to pay via PayPal. You can’t combine your two favorite online shopping experiences because Amazon doesn’t accept PayPal directly at checkout.
There are some loopholes that will allow you to make Amazon shopping using PayPal. Learn about the four ways you can use your PayPal account to spend on Amazon.
How to Use PayPal on Amazon
Amazon is a great place to shop if you like shopping. There are ways to get around PayPal payments if you don’t have PayPal. These are just a few of the options available.
PayPal Cash Card
PayPal Cash Card is a debit card that allows you to make payments from your PayPal balance. This card allows you to shop online or in stores as long as the merchant accepts Mastercard payments. When you apply for the PayPal cash card, your regular PayPal account is transformed into a Cash Plus account. This account offers a few more features.
PayPal Key
It’s much easier to get a PayPal Key than to request a PayPal Cash Card. You don’t need to wait for a physical card to arrive by mail. A virtual card number will be issued to you that can be used online, provided the merchant accepts Mastercard. The downside is that PayPal Key isn’t yet available for all PayPal account holders.
Logging in to your account will allow you to check if the PayPal Key option appears. Sign up to receive your virtual card details, including the card number, expiration, and security code, which you can use when shopping on Amazon.
PayPal Credit Cards
PayPal offers two cobranded credit cards, the PayPal Cashback Mastercard as well as the PayPal Extras Mastercard. These cards are only available to PayPal account holders. They can be used online and in stores just like any other credit card. You are not actually using your PayPal balance for purchases.
Also read: Top 10 NFC Payment Apps For Secure Transaction
Amazon Gift Cards
You can purchase Amazon gift cards at any retailer that accepts PayPal, and then load the gift card value into your Amazon Account. It’s almost like using PayPal to purchase on Amazon, but in a more circular way. You can purchase an Amazon gift card online at BestBuy.com using your PayPal credit. To get it the next day, choose the “pick-up in-store” option. The gift card can be redeemed on Amazon, and you can spend it as you wish.
Venmo
Venmo can be used to pay Amazon on its website and in its app. Venmo is owned and managed by PayPal. However, Venmo cannot be transferred directly from your PayPal balance to Venmo. You can link both services to one checking account and transfer funds via that account.
Which option is best?
While each option above allows you to use PayPal to shop on Amazon, PayPal Key is a good option if you have it.
PayPal Key
This is the easiest workaround because it takes only a few clicks. You can shop anywhere you like and pay with your PayPal balance.
Pros
- As a substitute for your PayPal balance, you’ll receive a virtual card number.
- There is no credit application.
Cons
- PayPal Key is not available to everyone
How to get a PayPal Credit card
You are not actually paying with your PayPal balance. Instead, you’re opening a new credit line.
Pros
- This card gives you rewards, so you can get cash back on Amazon purchases (and others).
Cons
- Not everyone is able to open a new credit line.
- You might be eligible for other rewards cards that are more in line with your spending habits.
- Your PayPal balance is not what you are actually using to pay.
PayPal Cash Card
PayPal Cash Card is a debit card that can be drawn from your PayPal account. It can be used at brick-and-mortar stores like Amazon, or other retailers that don’t offer PayPal as a payment option.
Pros
- Applying for and using a PayPal Cash card is easy and quick.
- There is no credit check.
Cons
- PayPal charges fees for reloading cash and withdrawing from ATMs that are not in the network.
