PayPal vs Recurly

The OG of online payments: everyone uses it, but nobody loves the fees meets subscription billing that doesn't make you want to pull your hair out when you need to handle a prorated refund. Here's our take.

PayPal

Nice Pick

The OG of online payments: everyone uses it, but nobody loves the fees.

Pros

• Near-universal acceptance for online transactions
• Built-in fraud protection and buyer/seller safeguards
• Easy integration with most e-commerce platforms

Cons

• Transaction fees can eat into profits, especially for small businesses
• Account freezes and disputes can be a nightmare to resolve

Recurly

Subscription billing that doesn't make you want to pull your hair out when you need to handle a prorated refund.

Pros

• Handles complex subscription logic like upgrades, downgrades, and pauses without custom code
• Built-in dunning management to automatically retry failed payments and reduce churn
• Strong API with webhooks for real-time subscription events and easy integration
• Supports multiple currencies and tax compliance (VAT, GST) out of the box

Cons

• Pricing is steep for small startups, with setup fees and percentage-based transaction cuts
• Reporting can feel limited compared to pulling raw data into your own analytics

The Verdict

Use PayPal if: You want near-universal acceptance for online transactions and can live with transaction fees can eat into profits, especially for small businesses.

Use Recurly if: You prioritize handles complex subscription logic like upgrades, downgrades, and pauses without custom code over what PayPal offers.

The Bottom Line

PayPal wins

The OG of online payments: everyone uses it, but nobody loves the fees.