Why PayPal does not work if product has selling plan?

[Dzonotonas]

Hello,

A store using Shopify Payments encounters an error when a customer tries to buy a product with a selling plan using PayPal. Why?

Product can be easily sold via PayPal if it does not have a selling plan.

[Kudosi-Tracy]

Hello @Dzonotonas, 

This issue happens because PayPal does not support subscription-based transactions (selling plans) through Shopify Payments.

Why?

• Shopify Payments processes subscriptions/selling plans directly.
• PayPal, when used as an alternative payment method, does not support these types of recurring transactions.
• Shopify requires customers to use a payment method that supports subscriptions (like credit cards via Shopify Payments).

Solution:

1. Ensure PayPal isn't the only payment method enabled.
2. Guide customers to use a credit/debit card via Shopify Payments.
3. Consider using a subscription app (like Recharge or Bold Subscriptions) that handles PayPal subscriptions separately.

If PayPal is critical for your store, you might need to reconsider your selling plan setup.

Best,
Tracy from Kudosi Reviews

[Dzonotonas]

But why on some store does work PayPal with selling plan? E.g: https://yannodji.com/products/heritage-noire

You can add this product to cart, and successfully access PayPal

[Kudosi-Tracy]

Hi @Dzonotonas, some stores can use PayPal with selling plans (subscriptions) because they likely have a different payment setup. Here are a few possible reasons why it works for them but not for your store:

1. Third-Party Subscription App – They might be using a subscription app that processes payments outside Shopify's native checkout, allowing PayPal transactions.
2. Legacy PayPal Integration – If their store was set up before Shopify made changes to PayPal’s compatibility with selling plans, they might still have access.
3. PayPal Reference Transactions – Some merchants have special PayPal accounts that support "Reference Transactions," allowing recurring payments, but this requires approval from PayPal.
4. Mixed Checkout Option – Some stores allow one-time purchases alongside subscriptions, letting customers check out with PayPal for the one-time product while handling subscriptions separately.

If you’re trying to enable PayPal for selling plans, check which subscription app you're using and whether PayPal Reference Transactions are enabled.

[Dzonotonas]

To clarify, I'm looking solution not for subscriptions, but for preorders (one-time purchase)