PayPal's bulk-payment service is now called PayPal Payouts (formerly Mass Pay). How it works depends on account eligibility, payout method, recipient location and currency.
In this guide, we've explained how PayPal Payouts work, what the published fees and limits are, and how the bulk-payment features differ from those of Wise Business.
Note: Provider features, fees, eligibility checks, protections and timelines mentioned in this article may vary by customer, business type, application outcome, payment route and country. Check PayPal's current UK fees and terms, and the price shown before confirming a payout.
Wise services and features are not available in all regions, and country and product restrictions apply. Visit wise.com to check availability. For fee details and terms for your region, visit the Wise Business pricing page.
Key takeaways
How do PayPal bulk payments work?
On PayPal, if you have an approved PayPal Business account, you can send multiple payments to eligible recipients using an email address, mobile number or PayPal ID. PayPal supports Payouts Web, API and SFTP file transfer, but access isn't automatic: the account needs PayPal's permission and must meet its eligibility requirements.
For a Payouts Web mass payment, you upload a tab- or comma-delimited file containing recipient details, amount and currency. PayPal's Help guidance says each file must use one currency and the balance used to fund the batch must be in that currency.
The recipient must have an eligible PayPal account to receive a payout under PayPal's UK Payouts terms. If they do not have one when you send the instructions, they may be able to claim the payment by opening an account where permitted. PayPal returns an unclaimed payment after 30 days, less any applicable fees.
How much do PayPal bulk payments cost?
According to PayPal's UK fee schedule, each payout costs 2% of the payment amount, subject to a maximum fee cap for that payment. For GBP payouts, the cap is £10 for a domestic payout and £60 for an international payout. These are per-payment caps, not one cap for the whole batch.
PayPal lists no monthly or setup fee for Payouts, but the per-payment charge still applies. If a payout involves currency conversion, conversion charges may also affect the total. PayPal's domestic or international category depends on the sender's and recipient's PayPal markets, subject to its market-grouping rules. Check the fee and amount the recipient will get for the actual route before submitting the batch.
Pricing context: The 2% rate and GBP caps above are PayPal's published UK fees, not a quote for a particular payout or batch. Caps vary by payment currency, and currency conversion may add to the total. See PayPal's current UK fee schedule and confirm the applicable charge before sending. Checked on 19 October 2026.
What are the PayPal Payouts limits?
For Payouts Web, PayPal's Help page sets a maximum of 5,000 individual payments in one mass payment, subject to server and system availability. If processing is slow, PayPal recommends splitting the file into smaller batches.
Each payment still has its own amount limit, and PayPal's UK Payouts page states a maximum of £50,000 (or local-currency equivalent) for an existing PayPal account holder and £15,000 for a new account holder.
Send international bulk payments with Wise Business
PayPal Payouts is for bulk-payments to PayPal accounts. If you want to bulk-pay multiple business accounts that are outside of PayPal, you can upload a CSV file for up to 1,000 payouts at once with Wise Business batch payments.
Explore Wise Business batch payments
Wise services and features are not available in all regions, and country and product restrictions apply. Visit wise.com to check availability. For fee details and terms for your region, visit the Wise Business pricing page.
FAQs
What is Mass Pay on PayPal?
Mass Pay is the former name for PayPal Payouts, as PayPal's terms confirm. The current service lets eligible PayPal Business accounts send payments to multiple eligible PayPal recipients in one batch.
Does a recipient need a PayPal account to receive a payout?
The recipient needs an eligible PayPal account to receive the payout under PayPal's UK terms. If they don't already have one, PayPal's terms say they may be able to claim the payment by opening an account, where permitted; unclaimed funds are returned after 30 days, less any applicable fees.
Can I use PayPal Payouts to pay employees' salaries?
No, not under PayPal's current UK Payouts terms, which exclude payroll. Use a payroll provider for salary calculations, deductions and reporting, and check that any other payment method is permitted for your intended use.
Sources:
- PayPal Payouts — PayPal UK
- How do I send a Payouts mass payment? — PayPal GB Help
- PayPal Merchant Fees — PayPal UK
- PayPal Payouts Terms and Conditions
Sources last checked on 19 October 2026
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
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