PayPal+ Review (UK): Is It Actually Worth It in 2026?

PayPal+ is a free rewards programme that lets you earn points on everyday spending.

On paper, it sounds great:

• Earn points when you spend
• Get up to 1%–10% back
• Unlock extra perks worth hundreds a year

But here’s the reality:

👉 PayPal+ can be useful, but it’s not always the best way to earn cashback.

In many cases, you’ll do better with discounted gift cards.
In others, PayPal+ absolutely wins.

Here’s how it really works.

What Is PayPal+?

PayPal+ is a free loyalty scheme built into your PayPal account.

There’s:

• No cost to join
• No subscription fee
• No credit check

You simply opt in via the PayPal app and start earning points.

You’ll begin on the Blue tier, with the option to move up to:

• Gold
• Black

…depending on how many points you earn.

You can earn points through the usual PayPal checkout, by adding a PayPal card to your digital wallet or by ordering a free, physical PayPal card.

How Do You Earn Points?

There are a few ways to earn, but they’re not equal.

Standard earning rates:

• PayPal checkout → 1 point per £10 spent
• PayPal debit card → 10 points per £10 (≈ 1% back)
• PayPal Credit / Pay in 3 → 1 point per £10
• Sending money abroad → 1 point per £10

👉 You can earn fractional points (e.g. £1 = 1 point on debit card)

The Bit Most People Miss

Not all PayPal spending earns the same.

• PayPal checkout: 0.1% return (basically nothing)
• PayPal debit card: 1% return (actually competitive)

👉 If you’re not using the debit card, PayPal+ is very weak.

What Are PayPal Points Worth?

This depends on your tier:

• Blue: 100 points = £1 (1%)
• Gold: 100 points = £1.20 (1.2%)
• Black: 100 points = £1.30 (1.3%)

👉 Grocery, dining and takeaway redemptions can reach 1.5% value

PayPal Debit Card Explained

This is what makes PayPal+ worth considering.

• Earns 1% cashback on most spending
• No FX fees abroad
• No monthly cashback cap
• Works anywhere Mastercard is accepted

👉 Without this, the scheme isn’t worth bothering with.

Boosted Offers (Where PayPal+ Can Be Excellent)

This is where PayPal+ actually becomes competitive.

You might see offers like:

• B&Q
• Iceland
• Deliveroo
• John Lewis
• Ocado
• Just Eat

With boosts like:

👉 10 points per £1 spent

Example:

• Spend £50 → earn 500 points
• Worth roughly £5–£7.50

👉 That’s 10%–15% back

⚠️ But:

• Offers change regularly
• Must be activated
• Not always available

Can You Beat PayPal+? (Yes, Often)

Here’s the bit most people miss.

👉 You can often beat standard PayPal+ rewards using discounted gift cards.

Apps like:

• EverUp
• JamDoughnut

regularly offer 3%–5% cashback (or more) on brands like:

• Just Eat
• John Lewis
• Iceland
• Deliveroo

Example:

• PayPal debit card → £100 spend = ~£1 back
• Gift card (5%) → £100 spend = £5 back

👉 That’s significantly better. Check out my post on the best discount gift card apps to find out more.

Alternatively, take a look at my review of the best cashback apps.

When PayPal+ Beats Gift Cards

This is where it flips.

If you get a strong boosted offer, for example:

👉 10 points per £1 spent

Then PayPal+ becomes one of the best options available.

Example (Just Eat):

• PayPal+ boosted offer → 10%–15% back
• Gift cards → 3%–5% back

👉 In this case, PayPal+ clearly wins

The Simple Rule

If PayPal+ is offering boosted rates (like 10 points per £1), use it.
If not, you’re usually better off with discounted gift cards.

PayPal+ Tiers (Do They Matter?)

Blue (default)

• 1% value

Gold (25,000 points/year)

• 1.2% value
• Monthly bonuses
• Subscription cashback

Black (50,000 points/year)

• 1.3% value
• Bigger bonuses

Reality check:

• Gold = achievable if you route spending through PayPal
• Black = unrealistic for most people

Extra Perks

PayPal promotes:
👉 “Up to £480 a year in rewards”

That comes from:

• Monthly bonuses
• Subscription cashback
• Tier perks

👉 You’ll only hit this if you actively optimise everything.

Most people won’t.

Stacking With Other Cards

One of the better features:

👉 You can double dip

• Pay via PayPal
• Still earn your credit card rewards

⚠️ Downsides:

• You may lose Section 75 protection
• PayPal checkout earnings are tiny anyway

PayPal+ vs Gift Cards vs Cashback Cards

Want to make a bit more? Check out the best cashback and reward bank accounts.

Quick Takeaways

👉 Best for simplicity → PayPal+ debit card
👉 Best for maximum savings → Gift cards
👉 Best for big spending → Reward credit cards
👉 Best for high returns → PayPal+ boosted offers

Pros and Cons

✅ Pros

✔ Free to join
✔ ~1% cashback with debit card
✔ Boosted offers can be excellent
✔ Can stack with other rewards
✔ No FX fees abroad

❌ Cons

✖ Poor standard earning rates
✖ Value depends heavily on usage
✖ Tiers require high spending
✖ Section 75 protection can be lost
✖ PayPal balance not FSCS protected

Is PayPal+ Worth It?

Yes, but only if you use it properly.

👉 Worth it if:

• You already use PayPal
• You get the debit card
• You use boosted offers

👉 Not worth it if:

• You only use PayPal checkout
• You’re chasing maximum cashback

Bottom Line

PayPal+ is free, so there’s no downside to joining.

But:

👉 It’s not the best option most of the time.

Use it for:

• Easy 1% cashback
• Boosted offers (this is where it shines)
• Stacking rewards

And remember:

👉 Gift cards usually win, unless PayPal+ is boosted.

FAQ