Disclosure: This article contains referral links. If you sign up through them I may receive a small reward from PayPal at no extra cost to you.
PayPal has been around for decades, but recently it has quietly introduced something much more interesting in the UK — a debit card and loyalty rewards programme that lets you earn points from everyday spending.
Most people already use PayPal to pay for things online. But if you combine the PayPal Debit Card with the PayPal+ rewards programme, you can start earning points and bonuses simply from spending money you were going to spend anyway.
In this guide I’ll explain:
- What the PayPal Debit Card is
- How PayPal+ rewards work
- How many points you can earn
- Whether the PayPal debit card is actually worth using
- Ways to maximise your PayPal rewards
If you don’t already have PayPal, you can create an account here:
What Is the PayPal Debit Card?
The PayPal Debit Card is a physical or digital payment card that connects directly to your PayPal account.
It allows you to spend your PayPal balance anywhere Mastercard is accepted, including:
- Supermarkets
- Online shops
- Restaurants
- Contactless payments
- Apple Pay or Google Pay
When you pay using the card, the money is taken from your PayPal balance first, with your linked bank account used as backup if needed.
For people who already use PayPal regularly, the debit card essentially turns PayPal into a full everyday spending wallet.
What Is PayPal+ Rewards?
PayPal+ is the company’s loyalty programme available to UK users.
It rewards you with points whenever you use PayPal to make purchases or spend using the PayPal Debit Card.
You can earn points for things such as:
- Paying online using PayPal
- Paying in shops using the PayPal debit card
- Sending money internationally
- Completing certain promotions
The points can later be used for PayPal credit at checkout or discounts with retailers.
How Many Points Do You Earn?
The amount of points you earn depends on how you pay.
Typical earning rates include:
Using PayPal checkout online
1 point for every £10 spent
Using the PayPal Debit Card
10 points for every £10 spent
That means the debit card earns 10 times more points than standard PayPal payments.
How Much Are PayPal Points Worth?
PayPal points convert into spending credit.
Typically:
1,000 points = £10
So for example:
| Points | Value |
|---|---|
| 1,000 | £10 |
| 10,000 | £100 |
| 25,000 | £250 |
Points can be redeemed directly when paying with PayPal at checkout.
PayPal Rewards Tiers
PayPal+ also has tier levels which unlock additional perks.
Blue Tier
Everyone starts here.
You can earn standard PayPal points and access occasional offers.
Gold Tier
Unlocked after earning around 25,000 points.
Possible benefits include:
- extra reward value
- monthly bonuses
- subscription discounts
Some estimates suggest Gold benefits can be worth up to £270 per year.
Black Tier
Unlocked at around 50,000 points.
This tier can include:
- higher reward values
- premium offers
- additional bonuses
Perks can be worth hundreds of pounds annually depending on spending.
Example: How Much Could You Earn?
Let’s say you spend £1,000 per month using the PayPal Debit Card.
Because the card earns 10 points per £10 spent, that would generate roughly:
1,000 points per month
Which equals approximately:
£10 per month in rewards
That’s around £120 per year from spending you would already be doing anyway.
How To Maximise PayPal Rewards
The real trick with PayPal is stacking rewards.
You can combine PayPal with:
- cashback credit cards
- cashback websites
- retailer loyalty schemes
For example:
- Visit a cashback website like TopCashback
- Click through to the retailer
- Pay using PayPal
- Earn PayPal points plus cashback
This method allows you to earn multiple rewards from one purchase.
PayPal Referral Bonuses
Another way people earn money with PayPal is through the referral programme.
PayPal sometimes offers promotions where both you and the person you invite may receive a bonus after they sign up and complete a qualifying purchase.
If you don’t already have PayPal you can create an account here:
Is the PayPal Debit Card Worth It?
For many people, the PayPal debit card is simply an easy way to earn rewards without changing spending habits.
Benefits include:
- earning points from everyday purchases
- using PayPal balance in shops
- stacking rewards with cashback sites
- redeeming points at checkout
If you already use PayPal regularly, the debit card can be a simple way to earn extra value from purchases you were already making.
Final Thoughts
PayPal is no longer just a payment platform.
With the introduction of PayPal+ rewards and the PayPal Debit Card, it is gradually turning into a loyalty and rewards ecosystem.
For people who shop online frequently or already use PayPal regularly, it can be an easy way to turn everyday spending into points, discounts and occasional bonuses.
If you want to try it yourself, you can sign up here:
Create your PayPal account here
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