Paypal MCP Server

What paypal-mcp-server does

The paypal-mcp-server MCP server connects an MCP host to PayPal APIs through the @paypal/mcp package. Its tools cover operational tasks across several PayPal areas rather than only payment capture. Agents can create, inspect, send, remind on, cancel, and generate QR codes for invoices. They can also create and retrieve orders, pay authorized orders, issue refunds, and inspect refund details.

Dispute tools list open disputes, retrieve an individual dispute, and accept a dispute claim. Shipment tools create and retrieve tracking records. Catalog tools manage products, while subscription tools handle plans and subscriptions, including updates and cancellation. A transaction-listing tool provides filtered or paginated transaction results.

How it works

The paypal-mcp-server MCP server is launched as a command-line process with npx and communicates with an MCP host such as Claude Desktop, Cursor, or Cline. The host configuration starts npx -y @paypal/mcp --tools=all; credentials are supplied through environment variables or, for the access token, through the command-line configuration described in the project documentation.

Each exposed function maps to a PayPal operation. Listing functions can accept pagination and filtering where supported. Actions that change PayPal data include creating invoices, sending invoices, paying orders, creating refunds, accepting dispute claims, updating products or plans, and cancelling invoices or subscriptions.

Setup and configuration

Install Node.js 18 or newer, then provide a PayPal access token. The documented environment variables are PAYPAL_ACCESS_TOKEN and PAYPAL_ENVIRONMENT. Set the environment value to SANDBOX for testing or PRODUCTION for live use; sandbox is the default when no environment value is supplied.

A minimal MCP host entry uses the following structure:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "paypal": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@paypal/mcp", "--tools=all"],
      "env": {
        "PAYPAL_ACCESS_TOKEN": "YOUR_PAYPAL_ACCESS_TOKEN",
        "PAYPAL_ENVIRONMENT": "SANDBOX"
      }
    }
  }
}

Generate the token from PayPal credentials using a PayPal Developer account for sandbox access or a PayPal Business account for production access. PayPal access tokens expire, so deployments should account for token renewal. Restart the MCP host after changing its configuration.

Tools and capabilities

The paypal-mcp-server MCP server provides the following capability groups:

• Invoices: create, list, retrieve, send, remind, cancel, and generate QR codes.
• Payments: create and retrieve orders, pay authorized orders, and create or retrieve refunds.
• Disputes: list open disputes, inspect a dispute, and accept a claim.
• Shipment tracking: create and retrieve tracking records.
• Catalog: create, list, inspect, and update products.
• Subscriptions: create, list, inspect, update, and cancel plans or subscriptions.
• Reporting: list transactions with optional pagination and filtering.

Tool access is enabled with --tools=all in the documented launch command.

Limitations and notes

The server requires a valid PayPal access token and the correct environment selection. Sandbox and production use different PayPal contexts, and actions performed in production can affect real PayPal data. The documentation states that generated AI content may be inaccurate or incomplete; results should therefore be independently verified before relying on them.