PayPal vs Skrill
Torn between PayPal and Skrill? The comparison below is built from the same test data we use across the rest of the site.
Both issue on Mastercard; both ask for ID + proof.
PayPal is the more cost-effective option for everyday spending and travel thanks to its free virtual cards, no monthly fee. Skrill is the better fit for power users who need ad spend.
The head to head
| Field | PayPal | Skrill |
|---|---|---|
| Card network | Mastercard | Mastercard |
| Card type | Fintech Wallet | Prepaid Mastercard (e-wallet, Paysafe) |
| KYC | ID + proof | ID + proof |
| Card issuance fee | Free | €10 new card; virtual first free, subsequent €2.50 |
| Monthly fee | Free | €0 (annual fee €10) |
| Top-up fee | Not disclosed by issuer | Not disclosed by issuer |
| FX fee | Cross-border ~2.5-4% | 3.99% (non-VIP) down to 1.99% (Diamond VIP) |
| Crypto funding | Yes (US region partial) | Yes (wallet crypto on-ramp; Paysafe CASP, not direct card funding) |
| AI tool support | — | — |
| Risk level | Low | Low-Medium (FCA/Paysafe-regulated e-money) |
| Our rating | 7.1 | 5.7 |
| User reviews | 124 | 503 |
| Best for | Streaming · App Store / Play | Ad spend · App Store / Play |
A green left edge marks the side that holds the advantage on that row, where the data gives one.
Side by side
- PayPal costs less to keep open, so it is the one to reach for if you are watching your budget.
- PayPal edged Skrill on our composite rating across fees, risk and merchant tests.
- PayPal carries the lower risk flag in our file, which some users prefer for a primary card.
Two cards, one decision
Both cards clear the same checkouts in our tests, so the call comes down to cost. PayPal is cheaper on issuance (free) and top-ups (no top-up fee), while Skrill is worth the premium only for ad-platform billing.
Questions people ask
That depends on what you spend on. PayPal scores 7.1/10 against Skrill's 5.7/10 in our tests, but the two split on fees, KYC and crypto funding. Read the table above, then match it to the checkouts you actually run.
PayPal works out cheaper: no virtual card issuance fee, free account maintenance. Skrill adds about $10.9 per virtual card, a 3.99% FX fee.
PayPal asks for ID + proof at signup; Skrill asks for ID + proof. If a light sign-up is the priority, the one with the lower KYC label is the faster route.
Both show up in 62 of the same test scenarios, including OnlyFans, Fansly, Patreon. They overlap on a good share of checkouts, so the choice between them matters most on those pages. Where one is accepted and the other is not usually comes down to the billing country and 3-D Secure handling.
Where both show up
PayPal and Skrill both landed in our top picks for 62 checkouts. Grouped by category so you can jump straight to the one you actually pay for:
🛍️ Cross-border Shopping 15
🌐 Cloud & VPS 15
🎮 Gaming 15
🧳 Travel & Productivity 10
📺 Streaming & Entertainment 7
Their BIN ranges
Cards issued in 🇺🇸 US · 🇪🇺 Europe (EEA) — the country guides group every range we track from there.
What our charge log shows
Every count here is a real charge attempt we placed on that range, renewals included, with the gateway response recorded. Weeks tracked is how long the range has been in the programme: