PayPal Friends & Family Fee Calculator
Find out when PayPal F&F is truly free — and when it costs you.
F&F is for personal payments only. Using it for business transactions violates PayPal's Terms of Service. Use Goods & Services for business.
How PayPal Friends & Family Works
PayPal Friends & Family (F&F) is designed for personal payments between friends and family, not for business transactions. The fee structure is very different from PayPal Goods & Services.
Domestic (same country): Completely free when the sender funds the payment from their bank account or PayPal balance. If the sender uses a debit or credit card, they pay an additional fee of approximately 2.9% + $0.30 on top of the amount.
International transfers: The sender pays 5% of the amount, with a minimum fee of $0.99 and a maximum of $4.99. If currency conversion is involved, the receiver also loses approximately 3% due to the conversion spread.
Important: Do Not Use F&F for Business
Using PayPal Friends & Family for business transactions (selling goods or services) violates PayPal's Terms of Service. Both buyer and seller lose all purchase protection. Sellers who accept F&F for services risk account suspension and frozen funds. Always use Goods & Services for business payments.
F&F vs Goods & Services: $100 Payment
| Method | Fee (Domestic) | Buyer Protection | Seller Protection |
|---|---|---|---|
| F&F (bank/balance) | $0.00 | None | None |
| F&F (card) | ~$3.19 (sender pays) | None | None |
| Goods & Services | $3.98 (seller pays) | Yes | Yes |
G&S fee based on standard PayPal US rate of 3.49% + $0.49.
FAQ
Is PayPal Friends & Family always free?
No. Domestic F&F is free only when funded by a bank account or PayPal balance. International transfers always have a fee of 5% (min $0.99, max $4.99), and using a debit/credit card domestically adds ~2.9% + $0.30.
Can I use PayPal F&F to receive payment for work?
No. Using F&F to receive payment for goods or services violates PayPal's Terms of Service. You lose all seller protection, and your account may be suspended or funds frozen.
What's the PayPal F&F international fee?
5% of the amount sent, with a minimum fee of $0.99 and a maximum of $4.99. This means sending $100 internationally costs $4.99 in F&F fees.
Does PayPal F&F have a fee when using a credit card?
Yes. The sender pays approximately 2.9% + $0.30 on top of the amount when funding the F&F payment with a debit or credit card. The receiver still gets the full amount.