Aeion Commerce + PayPal
The consumer-trust gateway. PayPal Express checkout (one-click for repeat PayPal users), Venmo support, Pay Later (PayPal's BNPL), Subscriptions API, webhook signature verification. Required in most B2C deployments — consumer brand recognition adds 10-15% checkout conversion uplift on PayPal-enabled funnels.
Setup
- Create a PayPal Business account + log in to
https://developer.paypal.com
PayPal Express Flow
PayPal Express is the "one-click for repeat PayPal users" pattern. The flow:
Venmo + Pay Later (PayPal BNPL)
PayPal's SDK can render Venmo + Pay Later buttons alongside the standard PayPal button — same provider configuration, different funding sources.
PayPal Subscriptions
PayPal Subscriptions API powers recurring revenue through Aeion's subscription engine.
Webhook Verification
PayPal's webhook verification uses signature headers (algorithm, certificate URL, and transmission ID) validated against PayPal's own verification API — Aeion handles this automatically in its standard webhook router. You only need to set the Webhook ID as the provider's Webhook Secret in the admin UI; Aeion rejects any event whose signature doesn't verify before it can touch order state.
Common Gotchas
- Sandbox ≠ Live — separate Client ID / Secret pairs. Aeion's environment setting selects which set of credentials to use. Don't accidentally ship sandbox keys to production.
FAQ
Both. Stripe for direct card processing; PayPal for the PayPal/Venmo audience. Most B2C deployments lift conversion 10-15% by offering both.
PayPal Express buttons trigger a popup (not a redirect). Customer authenticates in-popup; the storefront stays loaded behind it. Reduces abandonment compared to full-page redirect flows.
PayPal handles SCA on its side — Aeion doesn't pass 3DS metadata to PayPal (unlike Stripe). PayPal's risk engine decides when to challenge based on its own signals.
PayPal supports this on its side via its Multi-Party platform, but Aeion's PayPal adapter doesn't currently wrap that API — split-payment marketplace flows aren't implemented yet. See Marketplace use case for how Aeion handles marketplace splits with the providers that do support it.
Stripe for complex subscription needs (proration, mid-cycle changes, custom dunning). PayPal for simpler monthly/annual subs. Aeion's subscription engine handles both behind the same API.
Both supported. Partial refunds via a refund-amount parameter; full refunds via no amount. Every refund is recorded with a full audit trail.