Payment in online business is not just about money, but also about trust, pace and comfort. At this point, PayPal begins to develop its effect, at least up to a certain point.
Because while the digital wallet appears almost unrivaled in smaller amounts, it loses attraction for more expensive purchases. If you are now wondering why this is the case, end up in the middle of the area of tension from human intuition, security needs and digital pace.
Habits, trust and amounts – PayPal scores with small sums
With a market share of around 28.5 percent, PayPal remains the most used payment method in German online trade in 2024. This top position is the result of many years of presence, technical reliability and a wide user base, but the balance of power changes. The classic invoice purchase, often smiled at as old -fashioned, slowly but constantly follows and now reaches 26.7 percent market share.
The turning point is not due to the technology, but with the purchase value. Small amounts up to around 25 euros are paid almost 50 percent via PayPal and also PayPal deposit For service providers in gambling, they are very popular in the area of these amounts.
The process is quick, familiar and smooth. Even with a value of 100 euros, PayPal remains in one place with 40 percent. At 21 percent, the invoice is clearly behind it. However, as soon as the purchase price goes towards four digits, the picture changes. Only around 20 percent of buyers then use PayPal. Instead, a good 32 percent rely on the purchase of invoice.
The explanation for this can be attributed to a simple principle, because the higher the sum, the greater the need for security and control. The invoice is perceived as particularly risk -free, since it is only paid when the goods have arrived. Nobody has to advance, nobody has the feeling that they blindly trust a possibly unknown dealer.
PayPal remains a solid option due to buyer protection and simple operation, but with high sums it obviously is no longer sufficient. Trust arises not only from security promises, but through comprehensible control. If you spend a lot of money, you don’t want to enter into a digital bet, even if it is well secured.
Dealers report: Missing payment methods ensure abortions
It is not enough to offer one or two payment options. A large part of the abortions in online trading arises exactly if the preferred method is not available. Studies show that in such cases almost half of the users stop the purchase process and a not inconsiderable part does not return or change directly to the competition.
This effect does not arise out of convenience, it arises from expectation. Anyone shopping online expects certain standards. This includes selection, speed and trust. If a usual payment option is missing, the shop seems incomplete, in the worst case even dubious. Traders who offer four or more payment methods record better conversion rates. Not only because there is more choice, but because the shop also exudes a higher level of professionalism and customer orientation.
The demographic factor also plays a role. Younger target groups favor wallets such as Apple Pay, Google Pay or PayPal, older users fall back on account or direct debit much more often. The difference is particularly evident in mobile purchases. If you are traveling with your smartphone, you want to pay with just a few clicks and do not cumbersome to type an IBAN. A slim checkout that immediately presents known payment methods makes the decisive difference and not only for the conclusion, but also for the return.
Comfort costs – fees and integration from a dealer perspective?
Depending on the volume of sales, PayPal demands about 1.5 to 1.9 percent of the amount, plus a small fixed amount per transaction. In comparison, classic bank transfers or prepayment work almost free of charge, because they cause fees of less than 0.5 percent.
Modern providers such as Klarna or other invoice purchase services also charge as high fees as PayPal, especially if you secure the risk of payment. According to current EU guidelines, retailers may not pass these costs to their customers. So the investment remains completely in your own book.
Nevertheless, many shop operators consciously choose the integration of PayPal. The reason lies in the higher probability of graduationbecause users who see PayPal as an option rarely break off, buy more impulsively and are more open to additional products in the shopping cart. The fees therefore pay off in the form of additional sales.
Technical integration is no longer an obstacle. Commonized interfaces offer common shop solutions such as Shopify or WooCommerce. Even smaller providers can easily integrate PayPal. The decision to offer this option is therefore less technical than a strategic question and who only looks at the fees overlooks the larger picture.
The following video shows what options PayPal offers for the operators of online shops:
In this way, trust, comfort and speed shape the payment process
The checkout is at the end of every purchase and it is precisely at this moment that a visit to the shop leads to a successful completion or ends in nothing. This step is not just a formality, but an emotionally charged moment at which several factors meet.
Security is at the top of the list. Around 54 percent of those surveyed find the purchase of invoice particularly certain, PayPal comes in second place at 35 percent. This impression plays a crucial role, especially with high -priced products or unknown shops.
At the same time, the desire for comfort increases steadily. Long Ibans, tan lists or credit card numbers now work like relics from the past. Wallets such as PayPal, Apple Pay or Google Pay rely on speed, simplicity and intuitive operation. Once set up, payments run in a matter of seconds and that is exactly what more and more users expect.
The pace also affects the behavior. Patience is low, especially in the mobile context. A checkout that runs over several pages has a daunting. Users jump off as soon as they get the feeling of losing too much time or having to enter too much data.
A well -designed payment process that shows familiar logos and is clearly structured can overcome this hurdle. Anyone who invests at this point will not only win purchases, but also to trust in the long term.
Clear patterns in user behavior – current data on the payment habits
The current market shares show a clear hierarchy, PayPal is at the forefront of 28.5 percentclosely followed by purchase of invoice with 26.7 percent. This is followed by direct debit with almost 19 percent, credit card with a good 10 percent and the prepayment, which is now less than 6 percent. If you do not count sales, but the number of transactions, an even clearer picture is created. More than half of all payments in German e-commerce are now running through digital services such as PayPal, Klarna or Amazon Pay. The trend clearly points towards e-payment.
Age and end device also affect behavior. Younger users, especially from the age group between the ages of 18 and 34, rely on mobile number methods much more often. Apple Pay or Google Pay have long been part of everyday life. Older buyers, on the other hand, prefer to stay with the invoice and direct debit, because this is proven, familiar and controllable.
In addition, desktop and mobile users differ in their payment behavior. While there is more patience on the desktop and classic number types dominate, it is primarily about speed and simplicity. Wallets are particularly well represented there.
The development of recent years illustrates this shift. While PayPal is slightly stagnated or even loses something, the importance of buying an invoice continues to increase. Apparently, control is more important for many than comfort, especially when the value of the goods increases.
Selection as a strategy – which payment methods in online trade should not be missing
In today’s e-commerce landscape, the checkout is one of the most sensitive moments of the entire purchase process and this is exactly why payment methods should not be reduced for cost reasons, but should be selected with consideration. PayPal is part of the basic equipment. The awareness is high, the use is simply, the mobile applicability unbeatable. If you do not offer this option, potentially lose a considerable part of the buyers.
At the same time, the invoice purchase should also be available. This option is often preferred, especially for larger shopping baskets. It conveys a feeling of security and control that even the best digital solution cannot replace. Direct debit and credit card remain important additions because they are also considered a reliable classic. Anyone who also integrates mobile wallets such as Apple Pay or Google Pay also serves the younger target groups enthusiastic about technology.
The most important facts about the use of PayPal at a glance:
- PayPal market share (2024): 28.5 %
- Invoice purchase (2024): 26.7 %
- Payment behavior according to the value of the goods: up to € 25: 48 % PayPal, € 100: 40 % PayPal, 21 % invoice, from € 1,000: 20 % PayPal, 32 % invoice
- Security feeling: 54 % consider bill to be very secure, 35 % PayPal
- Deport of purchase in the absence of payment methods: 50 %
- No alternative reaction: 11 %
- Conversion boost: from 4 payment methods measurably higher
- PayPal fees dealer: 1.5–1.9 %
- Transfer/prepayment: under 0.5 %
- Reference to fees: prohibited (PSD2)
- Transactional share E-Payment: 51 %
The ideal selection consists of three to five payment methods and this is enough diversity without confusing. It is worth visually highlighting the most important options in the checkout. Anyone who sorts cleverly and knows the needs of their target group not only optimizes the conversion, but also builds trust.
In the end, not only the product decides, but often the payment process whether purchasing is really completed. Anyone who understands this dynamic can start in the right place and turn visitors satisfied customers.
07/17/2025
