This document explains how to connect PayPal as a payment gateway for Sublium Subscriptions using WooCommerce. It covers plugin installation, activation, gateway enablement, PayPal credential setup, webhook creation, and test order validation.
Prerequisite: Ensure you have an active PayPal account, Sublium plugin installed, WooCommerce set up with at least one product, and SSL enabled on your site.
How to Connect PayPal Payment With Sublium Subscriptions
Follow the steps below to connect PayPal payment with Sublium Subscriptions:
Note: The connection process automatically installs and configures the Stripe Gateway for WooCommerce by FunnelKit. You don’t need to install it separately.
Step 1: Install and Activate the PayPal Gateway
Navigate to Sublium Subscriptions ⇒ Payment Gateways, then click Install next to PayPal.
Next, hit Activate.
Step 2: Enable PayPal payment in WooCommerce
To connect, hit the “Connect” button.
It will take you to WooCommerce ⇒ Settings ⇒ PayPal. Switch to the Payments and hit Enable next PayPal.
Next, switch to the PayPal tab and add Live Client ID, Live Secret Key, and Payer ID.
Note: To learn how to generate your PayPal API keys, refer to PayPal Developer Documentation.
Next, under the General Integration Configuration, set Soft Descriptor, Invoice Prefix, Subtotal Mismatch Behavior, and Subtotal Mismatch Line Name.
Step 3: Create Webhook
Hit the button “Create Webhook” to start creating the webhook.
After creating the webhook, make sure to hit Save Changes.
Step 4: Set the design settings
Now move to the PayPal tab and enable PayPal to accept payments, customize how it appears on checkout using a title and description, and choose the Transaction Type, either Capture or Authorize, to control when funds are collected after payment authorization.
Use PayPal Button Design settings to customize the PayPal button’s label, color (Gold recommended), shape, height (default 40px), and language to match your store’s design and customer preferences.
Use Express Checkout Settings to enable or disable PayPal Express Checkout and choose where the PayPal button appears, such as the Checkout page, Cart page, Product page, or FunnelKit Slide Cart, and configure the subscription mode as needed.
Additionally, you can use Product Sync Cron to automatically sync subscription products with PayPal on a scheduled basis, set the sync frequency (daily by default), or manually sync products whenever needed.
Make sure to hit Save Changes.
This is how you can connect Sublium Subscriptions to the PayPal Payment Gateway.
PayPal Gateway Limitations
In PayPal Subscription Mode, admins are unable to modify subscription details or pricing because payment tokens are stored on PayPal’s servers. This restriction can be mistaken for an error, but it is a mode limitation.
Details:
- Vaulting Mode:
- Payment tokens are stored on the admin’s website.
- Admin has full control over subscriptions, including pricing and item changes.
- No restrictions on subscription modifications.
- Subscription Mode:
- Payment tokens are stored on PayPal’s official servers.
- Admin cannot modify subscription data or pricing.
- Attempts to change subscription items or pricing will be blocked.
Here is a quick comparison between the two modes:
| Feature | Vaulting Mode | Subscription Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Token storage | Merchant website | PayPal servers |
| Subscription control | Website controlled | PayPal controlled |
| Modify pricing | Allowed | Not allowed |
| Modify subscription items | Allowed | Not allowed |
Note: If you want to use Vaulting mode, it must be enabled in your PayPal account. Contact PayPal Support to enable it. Once enabled, go to PayPal Settings → Express Checkout Settings, set Subscription Mode to PayPal Vaulting, and save changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happens if a PayPal subscription webhook fails?
In PayPal Subscription mode, if the successful webhook is not received for any reason, we have implemented a fallback mechanism. The system will fetch the latest subscription details directly from the PayPal API. If a new payment is detected, a corresponding renewal order will be created for the Sublium subscription. After that, all other processes will continue to function as expected.
- Can I switch my payment method for a subscription?
We allow switching payment methods between FunnelKit Stripe, Square, or PayPal.
- What happens to the original subscription when the upgrade is performed?
For Stripe & Square, the original subscription is modified, and the upgraded product is added; however, PayPal doesn’t allow modifying the subscription, so the original is canceled, and a new one is created. So you will see a canceled and active subscription in your account section.
