PayPal Recurring Payments Module
Help merchants display recurring payment info at checkout, increasing trust and conversions.
What Are Recurring Payments?
Merchants charge payers on a schedule or based on conditions. Common examples:
Subscriptions
Streaming, pet food delivery
Auto Billing
Utilities, phone bills
Auto Top-Up
Tolls, prepaid cards
Installments
Large purchase financing
Save First, Pay Later
Without Purchase
No immediate transaction. Save a payment method first, charge later. Ideal for free trials and postpaid.
Save During Purchase
With Purchase
Save the payment method during the first transaction. Use vault_id for future recurring charges.
Four Recurring Payment Types
PayPal defines four types based on amount, frequency, and duration:
| Type | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| π Subscription | Fixed | Fixed | Ongoing | $5.99/mo streaming |
| π Recurring | Variable | Fixed | Ongoing | Monthly utilities |
| β‘ Unscheduled | Fixed/Variable | Irregular | Ongoing | Prepaid top-up |
| π Installment | Fixed | Fixed | Fixed term | $999 / 12 mo |
Merchant Options
Three ways to pass recurring payment info:
β Pass usage_pattern + billing_plan.name + billing_cycles
Payer sees full plan details (amount, cycle, trial).
Best for: standard subscriptions, clear pricing
β οΈ Pass usage_pattern only
Payer sees the general recurring flow without plan details.
Best for: complex/usage-based pricing
β Pass neither
Payer sees standard non-recurring flow. Not recommended.