PayPal
PayPal Integration
PayPal integration — Track payments, subscriptions, and use PayPal as an affiliate payout method
Connect PayPal to Icodrip for dual-purpose tracking: capture incoming payments from customers and send payouts to affiliates. Icodrip listens for PayPal webhook events to track one-time payments, subscription billing, and refunds. Attribution works via referral cookies and customer email matching. PayPal also serves as a payout method — pay your affiliates directly to their PayPal email address. Supports PayPal Checkout, PayPal Subscriptions, PayPal Buttons, and PayPal Commerce Platform. Ideal for businesses with international affiliates who prefer PayPal over bank transfers.
Key features
Dual-purpose integration
PayPal serves two roles: track incoming payments from customers and send commission payouts to affiliates. One integration, two functions.
PayPal Checkout support
Works with PayPal Checkout, Smart Payment Buttons, PayPal Commerce Platform, and hosted payment pages. No checkout modifications needed.
International affiliate payouts
Pay affiliates in 200+ countries via their PayPal email. No bank account details needed — affiliates just provide their PayPal email during onboarding.
Subscription tracking
Track PayPal recurring billing subscriptions. Commissions are calculated on each renewal payment automatically.
Email-based attribution
When a PayPal payment is received, Icodrip matches the customer's PayPal email to stored referrals. Combined with cookie-based tracking for maximum coverage.
Automatic refund handling
PayPal refund events trigger automatic commission reversals. Partial refunds result in proportional adjustments to the affiliate's balance.
How it works
1
Create PayPal app
In the PayPal Developer Dashboard, create a REST API app. Copy the Client ID and Secret to Icodrip's integration settings.
2
Configure webhooks
Copy the webhook URL from Icodrip and add it in your PayPal app settings under Webhooks. Subscribe to payment and subscription events.
3
Enable PayPal payouts
Optionally enable PayPal as a payout method. Affiliates enter their PayPal email during onboarding and receive commissions directly to their PayPal account.
4
Test the integration
Use PayPal's sandbox environment to send a test payment. Verify the conversion appears in Icodrip with the correct attribution.
Events tracked
- PAYMENT.CAPTURE.COMPLETED — Successful one-time payments
- PAYMENT.CAPTURE.REFUNDED — Full or partial refunds
- BILLING.SUBSCRIPTION.CREATED — New subscription signups
- BILLING.SUBSCRIPTION.ACTIVATED — Subscription activated after approval
- BILLING.SUBSCRIPTION.CANCELLED — Subscription cancellations
- PAYMENT.SALE.COMPLETED — Recurring subscription payments
Use cases
International affiliate programs
PayPal operates in 200+ countries. Use it as a payout method for affiliates who don't have access to Stripe Connect or prefer PayPal.
Marketplace and multi-vendor stores
Track PayPal payments across multiple vendors or products. Each vendor can have its own affiliate program with separate commission structures.
Service-based businesses
Sell consulting, coaching, or services through PayPal invoices or checkout. Affiliates earn commissions on referred clients.
Integration examples
PayPal Smart Button with attribution
<!-- Standard PayPal Smart Buttons — no modifications needed -->
<div id="paypal-button-container"></div>
<script src="https://www.paypal.com/sdk/js?client-id=YOUR_CLIENT_ID">
</script>
<script>
paypal.Buttons({
createOrder: (data, actions) => {
return actions.order.create({
purchase_units: [{
amount: { value: '49.00' }
}]
});
}
}).render('#paypal-button-container');
</script>
<!-- Icodrip tracks the conversion via webhook — no SDK needed -->PayPal as affiliate payout method
Affiliate Payout Flow with PayPal:
1. Affiliate signs up and enters their PayPal email
2. They promote your product and generate conversions
3. Commissions accumulate in their Icodrip balance
4. When payout threshold is reached (e.g., $50):
→ Icodrip sends payment to their PayPal email
→ Affiliate receives funds in their PayPal account
→ Payout receipt generated for both partiesSetup takes less than 60 seconds.
No code changes required.
Frequently asked questions
Related Integrations
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Official Stripe App — Automatic affiliate tracking via OAuth & webhooks
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LemonSqueezy integration — Track digital product sales, subscriptions, and license keys with webhook-based attribution
Learn More
Start tracking with PayPal
Create your free account and connect PayPal in under a minute.