Short answer: PayPal is available in many countries, its business QR code is free to set up, and QR transactions cost 2.29% + $0.09 in the US, less than TipIns. PayPal describes QR payments as made in the PayPal app, so customers without PayPal may not be able to tip in person. TipIns opens a plain web page that takes any card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, and adds team splits.
Side by side
| TipIns | PayPal | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A tipping app for workers and performers: a personal QR code and tip page, with tips paid to your bank. | PayPal is a digital wallet and payments company with personal accounts for sending money and business accounts for accepting payments, including a free QR code. |
| Cost of taking a tip | No monthly fee. A 10% platform fee plus card processing (2.9% + $0.30 in the US) per tip, added on top for the person tipping by default, so you receive the full tip. | Personal: receiving a friends and family payment is free in the US. Business: QR code payments 2.29% + $0.09; goods and services payments 2.99%; online checkout 3.49% + $0.49. International payments cost more. |
| What the person tipping needs | No app or account. They scan with the phone camera and pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay in the browser. | PayPal says customers scan the business QR code with their phone camera or the PayPal app and pay through the PayPal app. Its help pages do not say whether someone without PayPal can pay by card from an in-person QR code. |
| QR code | Yes: a personal QR code and link, plus printable signs. | Yes. Free, reusable QR code created in a PayPal business account; PayPal says customers can enter any amount and add a tip. |
| Where it works | 41 countries, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and most of Europe. | PayPal operates in many countries including the UK and Australia, each with its own fee page. The QR code page and fees above are for PayPal US. |
| Getting the money to your bank | Weekly payout every Friday, free; it usually arrives 24 to 48 hours later. Instant payout: 2% plus a small fixed fee, from 14 days after joining. | Standard transfer to a bank or eligible debit card: free. Instant transfer: 1.75% for personal accounts (minimum $0.25, maximum $25) and 1.5% for business accounts (minimum $0.50). |
| Sharing tips with a team | Yes. A group has one QR code and splits each tip equally or by set percentages, with optional active shifts. | None found for the QR code. |
| Rules that matter for tips | Built for tips. Stripe checks your identity before you can receive tips. | Friends and family payments are not covered by PayPal Purchase Protection; eligible goods and services payments are. The user agreement says you must not send a personal payment when paying for goods or services. Since 28 Jul 2022, US business accounts cannot receive friends and family payments from US senders. |
PayPal figures are from PayPal's own pages, checked on 20 October 2026; they are US figures unless the row says otherwise. Fees change, so check before you decide.
When PayPal is the better choice
PayPal is available in many countries, its business QR code is free to set up, and QR transactions cost 2.29% + $0.09 in the US, less than TipIns.
When TipIns fits better
PayPal describes QR payments as made in the PayPal app, so customers without PayPal may not be able to tip in person. TipIns opens a plain web page that takes any card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, and adds team splits.
Using both
Nothing stops you showing two codes. Many workers keep a payment app for regulars and a TipIns code for everyone else. The QR tip jar maker turns any payment link into a printable code.
Sources
- PayPal Merchant Fees (US)
- PayPal Consumer Fees (US)
- PayPal QR Codes for Business
- PayPal help: friends and family vs goods and services
- PayPal help: friends and family payments to business accounts
Common questions
Is TipIns cheaper than PayPal?
PayPal is available in many countries, its business QR code is free to set up, and QR transactions cost 2.29% + $0.09 in the US, less than TipIns.
Does the customer need PayPal to tip me?
PayPal says customers scan the business QR code with their phone camera or the PayPal app and pay through the PayPal app. Its help pages do not say whether someone without PayPal can pay by card from an in-person QR code.
Does the customer need an app to tip with TipIns?
No app or account. They scan with the phone camera and pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay in the browser.
App Store
Google Play