How to buy stocks with PayPal stock brokers in 2024

Find a stock broker that accepts PayPal. Learn how to buy stocks using PayPal with our step-by-step guide.
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Updated: Aug 17, 2023
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Trade your favourite markets with our top-rated broker, eToro.

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77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

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What you’ll learn

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  • How to find a stock broker that accepts PayPal, charges low fees, and keeps your money secure
  • How to buy stocks with PayPal for the first time
  • The pros and cons of buying stocks with PayPal

Where to buy stocks with PayPal

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The best stock broker that accepts PayPal is eToro .

Here are three more stock trading platforms where you can buy stocks with PayPal, ranked according to their trading fees, security features, and platform reliability.

1
Min. Deposit
$ 10
Best offer
User Score
10
Up to $240 bonus!
Deposit with ACA, Wire, Pay with my bank
Invest for dividends and get payout on stocks on Ex-Dividend day
Start Trading
Payment Methods:
Bank Transfer, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal, Wire Transfer
Full Regulations:
CySEC, FCA

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

2
Min. Deposit
$ 100
Best offer
User Score
9.8
Trade +2000 CFDs on Shares, Options, Commodities & more
Unlimited risk-free Demo Account
0 commissions & attractive spreads with up to 1:5 leverage
Start Trading
Payment Methods:
American Express, Apple Pay, Bank Transfer, Credit Card, Debit Card, Discover, Google Pay, Mastercard, PayPal, SEPA, Trustly, Visa, , skrill
Full Regulations:
ASIC, FCA, FSA, MAS, cysec-250-14-regulator, isa-regulator

Buy or sell stock CFDs with Plus500. 82% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

3
Min. Deposit
$ 500
Best offer
User Score
9.0
We offer one of the best execution speeds in the industry with low latency
Award-winning support in 14 languages
Trade with precision from 0.5 pips on EURUSD
Start Trading
Payment Methods:
Bank Transfer, Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal, Sofort, neteller, skrill
Full Regulations:
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 68% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

How to buy stock with PayPal

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It takes 10-15 minutes to set up a trading account with a broker that accepts PayPal. Follow this guide to learn how to invest with Paypal today.

Step 1. Sign up with eToro .

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eToro is the best stock broker that accepts PayPal as a payment method.

To buy stocks using PayPal you must first set up a trading account. To do this, enter some personal details, like your name, street address, and email, and provide a valid photo ID for verification.

1
Min. Deposit
$ 10
Best offer
User Score
10
Up to $240 bonus!
Deposit with ACA, Wire, Pay with my bank
Invest for dividends and get payout on stocks on Ex-Dividend day
Start Trading
Payment Methods:
Bank Transfer, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal, Wire Transfer
Full Regulations:
CySEC, FCA

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

Step 2. Go to the deposits or payments page on your PayPal investment app

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You will find this in the main menu or site navigation tab. It may be labelled ‘bank’ or ‘account’, each PayPal brokerage is different.

Step 3. Choose PayPal from the list of options

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Choose your payment method from the drop down menu. There may be a lot of options, so scroll down until you find PayPal.

Step 4. Enter the amount of money you want to deposit and confirm

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Decide how much you want to deposit and type that amount into the box. Bear in mind that there may be a fee for PayPal deposits.

Double check the details and then make the deposit. You may have to confirm the transaction with PayPal.

Step 5. Search for your favourite stock and place an order

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Each stock trades under a unique ticker symbol. For example, Apple stock trades as ‘AAPL’. Search for the stock you want to buy using its ticker and place your first trade.

Find broker & start trading

3 best stock apps that accept PayPal

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1. eToro. Best for beginners, copy-trading & demo-account

2900

No. assets

$10

Minimum deposit

Stocks

Platform type

Pros & Cons

Great for beginners, simple to set up and get started Zero commission stock trading Popular ‘CopyTrader’ function lets you follow top traders Excellent customer service, with live chat support provided Over 2,000 CFDs available to trade
Comparatively high fees for withdrawals and account inactivity Does not integrate with the MetaTrader platform High spreads on some assets

Overview

We love eToro because you can trade more than 3,000 stocks, commission free. When you buy stocks on eToro, you’re buying the underlying asset, which means you can earn dividends. Or you can trade fractional shares, which means you can invest in even the most expensive stock from just $10.

As well as being a broker that offers lots of investor protection, eToro offers a very social trading experience. You can easily see what’s trending on the stock market every day, browse the latest analyst opinion about every one of those stocks, and copy other people’s trade suggestions from your desktop or the eToro app.

The fees: Stock and ETF trades are commission free. Stock CFDs are charged a 0.15% spread and overnight fees can apply. You can deposit money for free but you have to pay $5 per withdrawal, and there’s a minimum withdrawal of $30. A $10 per month activity fee is charged if you don’t log in for a year.

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

2. Plus500. Best for international CFD trading*

4300

No. assets

$100

Minimum deposit

Stocks

Platform type

Pros & Cons

Can get a free demo account A great mobile platform Well regulated in multiple jurisdictions Wide variety of CFDs to trade Several good risk management tools
No support on trading information and education Website isn’t brilliantly designed to help users find answers to their questions No MetaTrader trading platform compatibility

Overview

We love Plus500 because it is one of the industry’s most transparent and reliable brokers. Its fees are clear and you’ll know exactly what you will be paying before you make a trade. Its technology driven platform gives access to CFDs on over 2000 stocks.

Plus500 has something for all types of stock trader, no matter what level of experience. Its zero commission and tight spreads make it a top choice for day traders and its trading academy is packed with educational content, perfect for beginners just starting.

For accurate instrument availability, visit plus500.com.

The fees: There are no commission fees on any trades with Plus500 and it makes it money through the Bid/Ask spread. Spread starts from 0.01% and varies depending on the instrument. Additional fees include overnight funding depending on trade size and guaranteed stop orders, which add a minimum of 10% to the spread. There is an inactivity charge of £10 per month for accounts not logged in for three months. 

*Based on a comparison of 60+ leading brokers and trading platforms.

Buy or sell stock CFDs with Plus500. 82% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

What is PayPal?

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PayPal is an online wallet that lets you transfer funds electronically. With over 300 million users worldwide, it’s one of the most popular ways to send money online. 

To use PayPal, all you need is an email address. You can sign up for a free PayPal account in just a few minutes. Once set up, you can connect it directly to your bank account or debit card. You can then use your PayPal account using your existing funds. 

When money is transferred to your PayPal wallet, you can send it to your bank, spend it online, or send it to other PayPal users. Several brokers also accept PayPal deposits, making investing in stocks, ETFs, and other securities easy using a dedicated e-wallet.

What stockbrokers accept PayPal?

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The brokers above are just some of the online brokers accepting PayPal right now. Here’s a look at a selection of the best online broker PayPal accounts. 

  • Saxo Bank – Danish online broker that supports PayPal deposits and withdrawals.
  • IG – Major UK online broker that lets clients fund accounts with PayPal.
  • AvaTrade – Ireland-based broker that allows PayPal accounts.
  • Plus500 – UK-based CFD online broker accepting PayPal account funding.
  • Capital.com – UK online broker supporting PayPal accounts for deposits and withdrawals.
  • TD Ameritrade – Accepts PayPal for funding new accounts and making deposits.
  • CMC Markets – Lets you deposit directly from your PayPal account balance.
  • Interactive Brokers – Supports PayPal as a deposit and withdrawal method.
  • E-Trade – Allows fast and secure PayPal payments into your E-Trade account.

Quick answers to key questions

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What is a PayPal stock broker?

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A trading platform where you can buy stocks, using PayPal as the means of funding your trading account. 

Stock trading apps that accept PayPal act as middlemen to complete stock trades, often charging a small fee for carrying out your orders.

Can you buy stocks with PayPal?

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Yes, by using PayPal to fund a trading account with a stock broker. 

To be clear, you can’t buy stocks on PayPal. However, you can invest with PayPal by using it to make a deposit on a trading platform. All these recommended trading platforms accept PayPal deposits. 

How much does it cost to buy stocks online with PayPal?

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Anywhere from £0 to £3, depending on the platform. Every PayPal broker is different, but there’s often a fee or commission that you have to pay each time you trade.

There aren’t normally any additional costs when you invest using PayPal. Many trading platforms offer free deposits for all popular payment methods, although you may have to pay a small fee when you withdraw money.

There are some services allow you to deposit via PayPal, buy stocks, then withdraw your money, all without charge, but this is quite rare.

Is it safe to buy stocks with PayPal?

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Yes, it is safe, as long as you use a regulated broker to invest through PayPal. We only recommend regulated stock brokers that accept PayPal, which are forced by law to keep your money secure and abide by various financial disclosure and transparency requirements.

If you aren’t sure about a platform, search for its company registration number with your local regulator. This way, you can find out if the PayPal broker is regulated by a reliable financial authority or not.

Do I need to provide ID when I invest using PayPal?

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Yes, if you’re using a regulated broker. Online stock brokers must follow KYC (Know Your Customer) guidelines, so you will have to provide a form of valid photo ID before you start buying stocks with PayPal.

Valid ID includes your passport or driving licence, so always have at least one of those to hand when you create an account. 

What is the minimum deposit with a PayPal broker?

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The minimum deposit will depend on the brokerage platform you use. Most brokers that accept PayPal have a minimum deposit requirement which can range from £10 – £50. There is no minimum deposit requirement when adding funds to your PayPal account. Most brokers that accept PayPal will also let you open an account for free, although when it comes to making a PayPay payment, you’ll have to meet the minimum deposit amount.

Pros and cons of buying stocks with PayPal

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Now that we’ve established how to buy stocks with PayPal, it’s time to explore the pros and cons of doing so. Use this quick summary to decide whether you should invest with PayPal now.

Pros

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  • Convenient. If you already use PayPal for everyday purchases, it’s a simple transition to start using your account for share trading.
  • Fast. You can usually buy stocks online with PayPal in a matter of minutes. That means if you already have PayPal, you can start trading stocks online right away.
  • Easy to use. Once you’ve linked your PayPal account to your broker account, the trading process is usually simple and straightforward.

Cons

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What to look for when you invest with PayPal

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Here are some important qualities to look for when comparing different stock trading apps that accept PayPal. You want to ensure that your PayPal brokerage provides a great service. Look for a trading platform with:

  • Low transaction fees. Most brokers won’t charge much per trade, but the differences between each platform can be important, as they add up over time. This is especially true if you’re making trades regularly. For this reason, make sure you’re choosing a broker that offers competitive fees.
  • Great customer service. The broker you choose should offer fast, helpful, responsive customer service. If you can find a reputable platform that offers helpful customer service around the clock, even better. 
  • Speed. In order to take advantage of market fluctuations, you should look for a trading platform that will execute your stock purchases quickly and efficiently. Ideally, you should be able to buy stocks online with PayPal in no more than a few minutes. 
  • Ease of use. The best platforms make trading simple and straightforward, so you can focus on making decisions on which stocks to trade rather than figuring out how to use the platform.
  • A strong reputation. You want to make sure you’re using a platform you can trust, so check it’s been operational for a while and has a history of good user reviews.

Should I use a PayPal stock broker?

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Using PayPal with a stockbroker has many advantages that can optimise your investing experience. PayPal offers an easy and fast way to make deposits and withdrawals between your stock account, bank account, or debit card. 

When using PayPal with a stock broker, funds are transferred instantaneously. This could help you to capitalise quickly on trading opportunities. 

PayPal also lets you make online payments for stock purchases without disclosing sensitive bank account details, which is an added benefit for security-conscious investors. However, PayPal deposits are often lower compared to bank wire transfers. Some online brokers may also charge a fee for withdrawals through PayPal.

Find your broker

FAQs

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Does eToro accept PayPal?
What is PayPal?
What are stocks?
What’s the difference between stocks and shares?
What other payment methods can I use when buying stocks?
How do I pick stocks?
What stocks can I buy with PayPal?
Are there limits to how many stocks I can buy with PayPal?
How can I keep up with the stock market?
What’s the best way for a beginner to learn about online trading?
What’s the biggest factor to watch out for when trading stocks?
How much should I venture on online trading as a beginner investor?
What’s another tip that beginner investors should follow?
Can I bet on a stock to go down in price too?
Will a PayPal stock broker let me trade with leverage?
Can you use paypal with Robinhood?
Can you link paypal to Pepperstone?
Does Cash App accept paypal?
Is buying stocks with paypal safe?
Does interactive brokers accept paypal?
Does revolut accept paypal?
OK, I’m ready to choose a broker


Sources & references
Risk disclaimer
James Knight
Editor of Education
James is the Editor of Education for Invezz, where he covers topics from across the financial world, from the stock market, to cryptocurrency, to macroeconomic markets.... read more.