Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them
–Visits
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

Head-to-head · Frictionless Checkout Software

PayPal Payments vs Shopify

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 1 check side by side
Higher score PayPal Payments #2 in Frictionless Checkout Software 9.1/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 6 features Visit PayPal
Shopify #4 in Frictionless Checkout Software 8.8/10 3-day trial Free trial✓ 0 of 6 features Visit Shopify

PayPal Payments leads on 1 check, Shopify on 0, and 0 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 1 yes/no, price and count check where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scorePayPal Payments · 9.1/10
  • Free planonly PayPal Payments
  • Free trialonly Shopify

PayPal Payments scores higher on our rubric for frictionless checkout software: 9.1 against 8.8 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #4.

PayPal Payments offers free plan; Shopify doesn't.

PayPal Payments is the better fit for merchants prioritizing broad payment acceptance. Shopify is the better fit for merchants seeking an integrated commerce platform.

  • PayPal Payments fits best

    Merchants prioritizing broad payment acceptance

  • Shopify fits best

    Merchants seeking an integrated commerce platform

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature PayPal Payments 9.1/10 Visit ↗ Shopify 8.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.1 8.8
Ranking #2 in Frictionless Checkout Software #4 in Frictionless Checkout Software
Best for Merchants prioritizing broad payment acceptance Merchants seeking an integrated commerce platform
Pricing model Free plan + paid Paid
Starting price Free plan $29/mo
Free plan ✓ (best) —
Free trial — 3 days
Deployment Cloud, Mobile Cloud, Browser extension
Platforms Web, iOS, Android Web
Features PayPal Payments 0/6 · Shopify 0/6
Embedded checkout Not checked yet Not checked yet
One-click checkout Not checked yet Not checked yet
Guest checkout Not checked yet Not checked yet
Digital wallets Not checked yet Not checked yet
Multi-currency checkout Not checked yet Not checked yet
Subscription payments Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Accepts PayPal, Venmo, cards, wallets, bank transfers and more
  • Supports hosted checkout, links, buttons, recurring and marketplace payments
  • REST APIs and web, server-side, Android and iOS SDKs are available
  • Combines checkout and payment processing with inventory and fulfillment tools.
  • Supports online, social, marketplace, and in-person sales channels.
  • Includes abandoned-checkout recovery and Shopify App Store extensibility.
Cons
  • Transaction pricing varies by payment method, currency, geography and integration
  • Payment methods and availability vary by geography and integration method
  • Optional monthly services and product fees appear in the general fee schedule
  • Checkout is part of a broader paid commerce platform, not a standalone tool.
  • Published plan pricing varies by plan and billing cadence.
  • Transaction-fee treatment varies by country, payment provider, and plan.
Our verdict

PayPal Payments gives businesses tools for accepting online and in-person transactions through PayPal, Venmo in the United States, cards, digital wallets, bank transfers, vouchers, buy-now-pay-later options and cryptocurrency. It supports…

Read the review →

Shopify brings storefront creation, checkout, payment processing, inventory, fulfillment, marketing, analytics, and point-of-sale selling into a hosted commerce platform. Its broad scope suits entrepreneurs, retailers, small teams, and…

Read the review →
  1. PayPal PaymentsFrictionless Checkout Software 9.1Free plan
  2. ShopifyFrictionless Checkout Software 8.83-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • PayPal Payments — where it wins

    • Accepts PayPal, Venmo, cards, wallets, bank transfers and more
    • Supports hosted checkout, links, buttons, recurring and marketplace payments
    • REST APIs and web, server-side, Android and iOS SDKs are available

    Where it doesn't

    • Transaction pricing varies by payment method, currency, geography and integration
    • Payment methods and availability vary by geography and integration method
    • Optional monthly services and product fees appear in the general fee schedule

  • Shopify — where it wins

    • Combines checkout and payment processing with inventory and fulfillment tools.
    • Supports online, social, marketplace, and in-person sales channels.
    • Includes abandoned-checkout recovery and Shopify App Store extensibility.

    Where it doesn't

    • Checkout is part of a broader paid commerce platform, not a standalone tool.
    • Published plan pricing varies by plan and billing cadence.
    • Transaction-fee treatment varies by country, payment provider, and plan.
  • PayPal Payments9.1/10 · Free plan

    A broad checkout toolkit for merchants that need many payment methods and channels.

    Visit PayPalFull verdict →
  • Shopify8.8/10 · 3-day trial

    An integrated commerce suite that combines checkout with store, inventory, fulfillment, and sales channels.

    Visit ShopifyFull verdict →

More comparisons

All frictionless checkout software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update