MCP server
PayPal MCP server
PayPal's official MCP server lets AI create and send invoices, manage orders, refunds, disputes, subscriptions, shipment tracking and transactions.
- Official server
- Payments and billing
At a glance
- Maintained by
- PayPal
- Tools exposed
- 10 listed below
- Reviewed
- September 24, 2026
Why it matters
What it does and why it matters
PayPal is used by many small businesses and freelancers for invoicing and online payments. Its official MCP server lets an assistant create, list and send invoices, create orders, issue refunds, list disputes, add shipment tracking, manage subscriptions and list transactions.
For small teams, invoicing by description, such as "invoice Harbor Group for 10 hours of design work", saves real time.
Refunds, subscription cancellations and invoices sent to customers all have real consequences. We use PayPal's sandbox while building, then live credentials with an approval step for refunds, cancellations and sends.
Use cases
Best business use cases
Transaction questions
Disputes
Shipment tracking
Subscriptions
Tools
Available tools
Tool names as published by the maintainer at review time. Versions change, so check the repository for the current list.
Read and write: Read and write for invoices, orders, refunds, disputes, catalog, subscriptions and shipment tracking.
-
create_invoiceCreates an invoice.
-
list_invoicesLists invoices.
-
send_invoiceSends an invoice to the payer.
-
create_orderCreates a payment order.
-
create_refundRefunds a captured payment.
-
list_disputesLists disputes.
-
create_shipment_trackingAdds shipment tracking to a transaction.
-
create_subscriptionCreates a subscription.
-
cancel_subscriptionCancels a subscription.
-
list_transactionsLists account transactions for reporting.
Workflows
Example workflows
Invoice a client
-
1
Describe the work and amount.
-
2
The assistant drafts the invoice.
-
3
You review it.
-
4
It sends the invoice.
-
5
It confirms the invoice number.
Weekly dispute check
-
1
Ask for open disputes.
-
2
The assistant lists them with deadlines.
-
3
It gathers order and tracking details.
-
4
It drafts responses.
-
5
A person submits them.
Prompts
Example prompts
“Create an invoice for Harbor Group: 10 hours of design at $80 per hour.”
“List open disputes and their response deadlines.”
“Show last week's transactions over $500.”
Setup
Installation and configuration
Examples for Claude Desktop and Claude Code. Replace the placeholder values with your own keys, and store secrets outside version control.
Claude Desktop: claude_desktop_config.json
{
"mcpServers": {
"paypal": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@paypal/mcp",
"--tools=all"
],
"env": {
"PAYPAL_ACCESS_TOKEN": "YOUR_PAYPAL_ACCESS_TOKEN",
"PAYPAL_ENVIRONMENT": "SANDBOX"
}
}
}
}Claude Code: terminal
claude mcp add --transport http paypal https://mcp.paypal.com/http- Hosted server: https://mcp.paypal.com/http (production), https://mcp.sandbox.paypal.com/http (sandbox); SSE at /sse.
- Local server: npx -y @paypal/mcp --tools=all.
- Needs: Local: PAYPAL_ACCESS_TOKEN from the OAuth2 client credentials flow. Remote: PayPal login consent, or client credentials as a Bearer header..
Security
Security considerations
-
Restricted keys
Use restricted keys or scoped sign-in that allow only the actions a workflow needs.
-
Test mode first
Build and test in sandbox or test mode before touching live money.
-
Approve money movement
Refunds, payouts, payments and deletions need a person to approve them.
-
Audit trail
Keep a record of invoices sent and refunds issued.
Related servers
Servers that pair well with it
Stripe
Stripe's official MCP server lets AI search and read Stripe data, make changes with confirmation for sensitive actions, run analytics and search docs.
Square
Square's official MCP server lets AI reach the whole Square API, from payments and customers to catalog, inventory and bookings, through one request tool.
Xero
Xero's official MCP server lets AI list and create contacts, invoices and payments, read bank transactions and pull reports such as profit and loss.
Keep exploring
Solutions and services that use it
Related services
View all related services- MCP integration Connect AI assistants to your CRM, files, databases and tools through Model Context Protocol servers, with safe permissions.
- Payment integration Stripe, PayPal and local gateways wired into your site or app, with receipts, refunds and reconciliation.
- Automation and Integrations CRM, payment and API integrations, MCP connections and workflows that stop people copying data by hand.
- Ecommerce websites Online stores with clean product catalogs, simple checkout and the integrations that keep orders moving.
- Billing and payments Checkout, invoices, subscriptions, refunds and the accounting exports your finance team needs.
- SaaS Product Development MVPs, subscription platforms, admin panels and multi-tenant products, planned to grow past the first launch.
Solutions
View all solutions- Invoice processing Read supplier invoices, match them to orders and push approved ones into accounting, with exceptions flagged for review.
- Automated reporting Reports that build themselves from your systems on schedule, with a plain-language summary of what changed.
- AI automation and integrations Connect the tools you already use so data moves once, correctly, and AI reads the parts that arrive as text or documents.
- Receipt capture and matching Snap a receipt, and the details are read, categorized and matched to the card transaction and the right project.
Industries
View all industries- Vacation rentals Booking websites, owner and guest portals, turnover scheduling and guest messaging for rental operators.
- Finance and accounting Client portals, document collection, invoice and receipt processing, and reporting for accounting firms and finance teams.
- Logistics and transportation Driver apps, order and shipment tracking, document processing and integrations for logistics and delivery companies.
- Property management Tenant portals, maintenance tracking, owner statements and inbox automation for property managers.
- Construction and facilities Job tracking, maintenance requests, inspections, quotes and proof-of-work photos for builders and facility teams.
- Home services Booking, dispatch, quotes, invoicing and reviews for plumbers, electricians, cleaners and other home service businesses.
Case studies
View all case studies- Facility management platform Every request, inspection and cost for every building now lives in one place, with a clear owner and status.
- Payroll system for an IT services company Payroll is calculated from recorded inputs, reviewed once and sent as payslips in a single batch, with every change logged.
- Tax filing service platform Clients upload documents and see where their case stands, and staff work from one queue with deadlines and reminders.
Guides and articles
View all guides and articles- How to measure the ROI of AI automation Measure the return on AI automation with a baseline, the right metrics and honest accounting of costs.
- How to connect AI to your database safely Let staff ask questions of your data in plain English without risking production systems or sensitive records.
- How to automate reporting with AI and MCP Build reports that assemble themselves from your systems through MCP, with a written summary people can trust.
- How to set up automated reporting Replace manual weekly and monthly reports with dashboards and summaries that update themselves.
Glossary terms
View all glossary terms- API integration An API integration connects two or more systems through their APIs so data and actions flow between them automatically.
- Workflow automation Workflow automation uses software to move work through a series of steps, such as routing, approvals and notifications, based on rules and events.
- Webhook A webhook is an automatic message one system sends to another's web address when something happens, such as a payment or a new order.
- AI agent An AI agent is software that uses a language model to plan steps, call tools and act toward a goal, instead of only answering one question.
- API An API, or application programming interface, is a defined way for one piece of software to request data or actions from another.
- Business process automation Business process automation uses software to run a multi-step business process, such as approvals or onboarding, from start to finish with less manual work.
FAQ
Questions people ask us
Have a question that is not here? Ask us directly.
Yes. It is maintained by PayPal.
Yes. Keep refunds behind approval.
Yes. Use the PayPal sandbox while building.