PayPal doesn't give you a single account number the way a bank does
PayPal doesn't issue an account number in the traditional sense. Instead, your account is identified by your email address or phone number, and when you need to receive money or link your account elsewhere, you use different identifiers depending on the situation. Understanding which number or code you actually need is the first step, because PayPal uses several different identifiers and they serve different purposes.
If someone tells you to find your "PayPal account number," they almost certainly mean one of three things: your Customer Account ID (a unique internal number PayPal assigns), your bank account routing and account numbers (if you've linked a bank), or your PayPal.Me link (a custom URL for receiving payments). Which one you need depends entirely on what you're trying to do.
Key Takeaways
- PayPal identifies your account by email or phone number, not by a single account number like a bank does.
- Your Customer Account ID is a unique number PayPal assigns; you can find it in Account Settings under the Personal Information section.
- If you're linking PayPal to another service, you usually need your email address or phone number, not a numeric account number.
- If you've linked a bank account to PayPal, your actual bank account and routing numbers are stored separately and visible only in your bank settings.
- For receiving payments from others, a PayPal.Me link or your email address works; you do not need to share any account number.
Finding your Customer Account ID in PayPal
Your Customer Account ID is a unique identifier PayPal assigns to your account. It's a long string of numbers and letters. To find it, log into your PayPal account on a web browser (the mobile app does not display this clearly), and go to Settings (the gear icon in the top right).
From Settings, select Personal Information on the left side. Scroll down until you see Customer Account ID. The number appears next to it. Copy it exactly as shown—it's case-sensitive and includes both numbers and letters. This ID is what PayPal uses internally to track your account, and some third-party services ask for it when you're linking your PayPal account to their platform.
You should not share this ID casually. It's not a secret in the way a password is, but it's not information you need to give out for normal transactions. If a service asks for it, verify that the service is legitimate before providing it.
When you actually need your email address instead
Most of the time when someone asks for your "PayPal account number," what they really need is your email address associated with your PayPal account. This is how PayPal identifies you for payments, transfers, and linking to other services. If you're sending money to someone or receiving money from someone, you give them your email address, not a number.
The same applies when you're linking PayPal to another platform—a marketplace, a payment processor, or a banking app. They ask for your PayPal email because that's how they communicate with PayPal's system on your behalf. Your email is the primary identifier PayPal uses, and it's far more useful than any account number for day-to-day transactions.
If you've set up a phone number as an alternative login method on your PayPal account, that phone number works the same way your email does for receiving payments and linking accounts. Either one will work; use whichever is more convenient.
Bank account and routing numbers linked to PayPal
If you've connected a bank account to PayPal so you can transfer money out or add funds, your actual bank account number and routing number are stored in your PayPal account. However, PayPal does not call these your "PayPal account number"—they're your bank's numbers, and they belong to your bank account, not your PayPal account.
To see which bank account is linked, go to Settings and select Wallet on the left. Under Linked Banks and Accounts, you'll see the bank name and the last four digits of the account number. PayPal masks the full account number for security. If you need the complete account and routing numbers for some reason, you get them from your bank, not from PayPal—log into your bank's website or app, or call your bank directly.
Never share your full bank account or routing number with anyone except your employer (for direct deposit) or a service you trust completely. PayPal itself does not need your full bank account number; it only needs the last four digits and the routing number, which it already has on file.
Creating a PayPal.Me link for receiving payments
If you want to make it straightforward for people to send you money, PayPal.Me is simpler than any account number. A PayPal.Me link is a custom URL that directs someone to a payment page with your name already filled in. You create it once, and then you can share the link instead of your email address or account details.
To set up your PayPal.Me link, go to Settings, select Personal Information, and scroll to PayPal.Me. Choose a username (it can be your name, a nickname, or anything available), and PayPal generates a link like paypal.me/yourname. You can share this link anywhere—on social media, in an email signature, on an invoice. When someone clicks it, they see a payment page where they can send you money without needing to know any account numbers or details.
This is the safest and simplest way to receive payments from people who aren't already in your PayPal contacts. It requires nothing from them except the link and the amount they want to send.
What to do if a service asks for a PayPal account number
If a website or app asks you to enter a "PayPal account number," stop and check what they actually need. Most legitimate services ask for your email address, not a numeric account number. If they're asking for a number, either they're poorly designed, they're asking for your Customer Account ID (which is fine if the service is legitimate), or they may not be legitimate at all.
Before you enter any information, verify the service is real. Check the URL to make sure you're on the actual website, not a lookalike. If you're unsure, contact PayPal directly through your account or call their customer service number (which you can find on the back of your PayPal debit card or on the official PayPal website). PayPal's support team can tell you whether a particular service legitimately needs your account information.
If a service is asking for your full bank account number or routing number and claiming it's a PayPal requirement, that's a red flag. PayPal does not ask for this information on behalf of third parties. Your bank account details stay between you and your bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my PayPal account number the same as my email address?
No. Your email address is how PayPal identifies you for payments and account access, but it's not a numeric account number. Your Customer Account ID is the actual numeric identifier, but most services don't ask for it—they ask for your email instead.
Can I change my PayPal account number?
Your Customer Account ID cannot be changed; PayPal assigns it when you create your account and it stays the same. You can change your email address or phone number associated with the account, but the underlying Customer Account ID remains fixed.
Do I need to share my account number to receive money?
No. To receive money, share your email address, phone number, or PayPal.Me link. You do not need to share any account number. The person sending money only needs one of these identifiers.
What if I forgot which email I used for PayPal?
Log into your PayPal account on any device where you're already signed in, then go to Settings and Personal Information. Your registered email address is displayed there. If you're locked out, use PayPal's account recovery tool on the login page to regain access.
Is it safe to share my Customer Account ID?
It's not dangerous in the way sharing a password would be, but it's not information you need to share for normal use. Only provide it if a legitimate service specifically asks for it and you've verified the service is real. When in doubt, use your email address instead.