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You can use most credit cards on PayPal – here's how to add a card and link it with your account to make purchases

paypal credit card
You can use a credit or debit card on PayPal by adding one to your account on the mobile app or website. Shutterstock
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In addition to connecting your bank account to PayPal, you can also use credit cards with the online payment service. 

You can use most major credit cards on PayPal, including Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, and more. 

If you prefer, you can also link debit cards with Visa or MasterCard logos to your PayPal account. You can add multiple cards to your account and use whichever one you prefer when making a purchase. 

Here's how to do it. 

How to add a credit card on PayPal in the mobile app

1. Start the PayPal app on your iPhone or Android phone.

2. Tap the Settings icon (shaped like a gear) in the upper right corner of the screen.

card 1
Start the process of adding a credit card by clicking the Settings icon at the top of the screen.  Dave Johnson/Business Insider

3. Tap "Banks and Cards."

4. Tap the plus at the top right corner of the screen.

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Use the plus sign to add new credit cards to your PayPal account.  Dave Johnson/Business Insider

5. Tap "Debit or credit card."

6. In the Link a card manually section, tap "Debit or credit card" and then follow the instructions to enter your credit card number.

How to add a credit card on PayPal using a web browser

1. Open the PayPal website in a browser and log in if necessary.

2. If you're not on the Wallet page, tap "Wallet" at the top of the screen.

3. Tap "Link a debit or credit card."

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You can add credit cards on the Wallet page of the PayPal website.  Dave Johnson/Business Insider

4. In the "Link a card manually" section, tap "Debit or credit card" and then follow the instructions to enter your credit card number.

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Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.