How to Add PayPal Buy Now Pay Later to Your Shopify Store

In the ever-evolving world of e-commerce, offering flexible payment options can significantly boost sales and customer satisfaction. One such option that has gained popularity is PayPal’s Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) feature. This blog post will guide you through the process of adding PayPal BNPL to your Shopify store, addressing common challenges and providing practical solutions.

Understanding PayPal Buy Now Pay Later

What is PayPal Buy Now Pay Later?

PayPal Buy Now Pay Later is a financing option that allows customers to split their purchases into smaller, more manageable payments. This feature can help increase conversion rates and average order values by making larger purchases more accessible to customers.

Benefits for Shopify Store Owners

Implementing PayPal BNPL can provide several advantages:

1. Increased sales: Customers are more likely to complete purchases when offered flexible payment options.
2. Competitive edge: Offering BNPL can set your store apart from competitors.
3. Lower fees: Compared to some other BNPL providers, PayPal often charges lower fees to merchants.

Customer Advantages

Customers benefit from:

1. Interest-free payments: When paid in full within the specified period, usually 6 months for purchases over $99.
2. Flexible repayment: Ability to spread costs over time without immediate financial strain.
3. Familiar platform: Many customers already trust and use PayPal.

Implementing PayPal Buy Now Pay Later on Shopify

Current Integration Limitations

It’s important to note that as of now, Shopify does not offer native integration for PayPal’s Buy Now Pay Later feature in the checkout process. This limitation has led to some confusion and frustration among store owners looking to implement this payment option.

Adding PayPal BNPL Messaging to Your Store

While full checkout integration isn’t available, you can still add PayPal BNPL messaging to your product pages and cart. This informs customers about the availability of this payment option before they reach the checkout.

Step 1: Generate the PayPal SDK Code

1. Visit the PayPal messaging customization page: https://www.paypal.com/ppcredit/messaging/customize
2. Customize the messaging appearance to match your store’s design.
3. Click “Get Code” to receive your unique script.

Step 2: Add the Script to Your Theme

1. In your Shopify admin, go to “Online Store” > “Themes”.
2. Click “Actions” > “Edit code” for your current theme.
3. Locate the theme.liquid file.
4. Within the “ tags, paste the generated PayPal SDK script.

Example:

<script src="https://www.paypal.com/sdk/js?client-id=YOUR_CLIENT_ID&components=messages" data-namespace="PayPalSDK"></script>

Step 3: Add the Messaging to Product Pages

1. In the theme editor, find the product-template.liquid file (the exact name may vary depending on your theme).
2. Locate the section where you want to display the PayPal messaging (usually near the price).
3. Add the following code, adjusting as needed:

<div data-pp-message data-pp-style-layout="text" data-pp-style-logo-type="primary" data-pp-style-text-color="black" data-pp-amount="{{ product.selected_or_first_available_variant.price | money_without_currency | remove: ',' | divided_by: 100.00 }}"></div>

Step 4: Add Messaging to the Cart Page

1. Find the cart-template.liquid file in your theme editor.
2. Locate an appropriate spot to display the PayPal messaging.
3. Add the following code:

<div data-pp-message data-pp-style-layout="text" data-pp-style-logo-type="primary" data-pp-style-text-color="black" data-pp-amount="{{ cart.total_price | money_without_currency | remove: ',' | divided_by: 100 }}"></div>

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Messaging Not Displaying

If the PayPal BNPL messaging isn’t appearing:

1. Ensure your client ID is correct in the SDK script.
2. Check that the price calculations in the data-pp-amount attribute are correct.
3. Verify that there are no JavaScript errors in your browser console.

Price Updates with Variants

To ensure the BNPL messaging updates when product variants are selected:

1. Use JavaScript to listen for variant changes.
2. Update the data-pp-amount attribute dynamically when a new variant is selected.

Best Practices for PayPal BNPL Implementation

Strategic Placement

Place BNPL messaging strategically:

1. Near product prices on product pages.
2. In the cart summary.
3. On collection pages for higher-priced items.

Clear Communication

Ensure customers understand the BNPL option:

1. Provide clear explanations of how PayPal BNPL works.
2. Include FAQs about the payment process.
3. Highlight the benefits, such as interest-free periods.

Mobile Optimization

With increasing mobile shopping:

1. Test BNPL messaging on various mobile devices.
2. Ensure the messaging is responsive and easily readable on smaller screens.
3. Consider using PayPal’s mobile-optimized messaging options.

Future Developments and Alternatives

Potential Shopify Integration

While full integration isn’t currently available, keep an eye on Shopify updates. As BNPL options become more popular, Shopify may introduce native support for PayPal’s Buy Now Pay Later in the future.

Alternative BNPL Options

If PayPal BNPL doesn’t meet your needs, consider exploring other options that may have better Shopify integration:

1. Shop Pay Installments (available in certain regions)
2. Afterpay
3. Klarna

However, note that these alternatives may have different fee structures and integration processes.

By implementing PayPal Buy Now Pay Later messaging on your Shopify store, you can inform customers about this flexible payment option, potentially increasing conversions and average order value. While the current solution isn’t perfect due to limitations in checkout integration, it still provides value by setting expectations for payment flexibility early in the customer journey.

Remember to stay updated with Shopify and PayPal announcements for any improvements or changes to the integration process. As e-commerce continues to evolve, offering diverse payment options like Buy Now Pay Later can give your store a competitive edge in the market.