PayPal Express Checkout Smart Payment Buttons Payment Gateway

The PayPal Express Checkout Smart Payment Buttons Payment Gateway will allow your attendees to pay for their event registrations using credit cards, debit cards, PayPal funds, Venmo, and more.

View quick links for this payment gateway –>

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Accept event payments with the PayPal Smart Payment Buttons payment gateway for Event Espresso

Installation

This payment gateway is a plugin for WordPress and can be installed through your WP dashboard (WP-admin).

Download the latest version of the PayPal Express Checkout Smart Payment Buttons payment gateway for Event Espresso 4 from your Event Espresso account page.

Then login to your WordPress dashboard (WP-admin) and go to Plugins. Next, click on Add New –> Upload and browse to the plugin on your computer. Then select the zip file and begin the upload process. Wait for the plugin to upload and then click on Activate.

Locate your Credentials for PayPal Express Checkout Smart Payment Buttons Payment Gateway

This extension uses the REST API from PayPal which can be found on developer.paypal.com.

Here are the steps to find your credentials for accepting payments:

1) Go to developer.paypal.com

2) Click on the button to Login into Dashboard and sign in using your PayPal.com account credentials

3) You’ll then see the My Apps & Credentials dashboard

4) Click on Live under My Apps & Credentials

5) Look for REST API Apps. Then click on the button to create a new app.

6) Type a name for the App (e.g., Event Espresso) and click the button to create the
app

7) You’ll now see your Live API credentials. Click the Show link under Secret.

8) Your Live API credentials will now be visible.

9) You are now ready to copy and paste the Client ID and the Secret into the payment methods page for PayPal Express Checkout Smart Payment Buttons within Event Espresso.

10) Open a new browser tab and log into your WordPress website.

11) From your WP dashboard, look at the Admin menus on the left of your screen and hover over Payment Methods under Event Espresso and then click on it. Then on the next screen, click on PayPal Express Checkout with Smart Buttons. Now click the button to activate it.

12) Copy your Client ID from your other browser tab with the PayPal screen and then paste it in in the field. Then do the same for the Secret by copying it and then pasting it in. Then save changes.

You’ll then be ready to accept payments on your site through PayPal Express Checkout Smart Payment Buttons.

Setup and Configuration

Will PayPal Express Checkout Smart Payment Buttons be the only payment method enabled or the only one you offer? Click here to learn how to make it selected by default during the registration checkout

An account with PayPal is needed to accept payments through the PayPal Express Checkout Smart Payment Buttons payment gateway.

A dedicated SSL certificate is recommended to secure your WordPress website.

Login to your WP-admin (WP Dashboard) and go to Event Espresso –> General Settings –> Payment Methods. Once on the Payment Methods screen, click on PayPal Express Checkout Smart Payment Buttons and click on the button to activate the payment method.

Below are the available fields and explanations for each field.

Name – This is the name of the payment method.
Description – This description is shown during registration checkout.
Admin-Only Name – This is a name of the payment method that will only be shown in the WP Dashboard (WP-admin).
Admin-Only Description – This description is used only in the WP Dashboard (WP-admin).
Debug Mode On? – Enables debugging for this payment method. It should be off (set to no) on a live/production site.
Open by Default? – This sets this payment method to be pre-selected on the registration checkout page.

You can offer multiple payment options to your attendees. However, if you have a single payment gateway enabled, then set it to Open by Default for a faster checkout experience for your attendees.

PayPal REST API App Client ID – This credential is needed to process payments and can be found in your developer.paypal.com account.
PayPal REST API App Secret – This credential is needed to process payments and can be found in your developer.paypal.com account.
Button shape – Choose the shape of the payment buttons.
Button size – Choose the size. Venmo requires the full-width option.
Usable From? – Select where this payment method should be available for use. This payment method cannot process payments through the WP-admin (WP Dashboard).
Order – The value (number) can be used to sort or arrange this payment option. A lower value means that it should appear first during registration checkout.
Update Settings – Click this button after making any changes to your payment method.
Deactivate Payment Method – Click this button to deactivate this payment method.

Usage

The PayPal Express Checkout Smart Payment Buttons payment gateway will let you accept payments through credit cards, debit cards, PayPal funds, Venmo, and PayPal Credit. These payment options are dynamically shown based on a buyer’s location, so they have flexibility in paying for their event registrations.

This is an onsite payment gateway through a modal window which means that attendees/registrants will remain on your website to complete their payment instead of being taken to a page on PayPal.com and then returned to your website.

Troubleshooting

I configured PayPal Express Checkout Smart Payment Buttons and payments are not being processed
Double-check your credentials to make sure that you are using the live credentials which are for production mode. Also, make sure that there is no extra spacing before or after the credentials in the payment methods page of Event Espresso.

How can I set up a recurring payment or subscription through PayPal Express Checkout Smart Payment Buttons?
Recurring or subscription payments are not currently supported in the PayPal Express Checkout Smart Payment Buttons Payment payment gateway.

When will Venmo appear?
Venmo will appear on mobile devices when an attendee has the Venmo mobile app installed and when merchant payments are enabled in the app. An attendee can enable merchant payments through the Venmo app –> Settings –> Connect Browsers and then connect the browser.

When I refund a payment, does it also refund through PayPal.com?
Refunds in Event Espresso 4 are currently a two-step process.
1) Apply the refund through the transactional details screen of Event Espresso in your WP-admin (WP dashboard).
2) Then login to your PayPal merchant account and process the refund.

Is an SSL certificate needed for PayPal Express Checkout Smart Payment Buttons?
A dedicated SSL certificate is recommended if you are accepting payments on your website.

Do I need to be PCI compliant?
Compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards ( PCI DSS) is required if you are processing, storing, or transmitting credit card data. Event Espresso recommends using a dedicated SSL certificate on your website.

View more information on PCI compliance from PayPal.