Title: PayPal API Subscriptions
Author: zackdesign
Published: <strong>August 1, 2008</strong>
Last modified: February 23, 2026

---

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![](https://s.w.org/plugins/geopattern-icon/paypal-api-subscriptions.svg)

# PayPal API Subscriptions

 By [zackdesign](https://profiles.wordpress.org/zackdesign/)

[Download](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/paypal-api-subscriptions.1.2.0.zip)

 * [Details](https://twd.wordpress.org/plugins/paypal-api-subscriptions/#description)
 * [Reviews](https://twd.wordpress.org/plugins/paypal-api-subscriptions/#reviews)
 *  [Installation](https://twd.wordpress.org/plugins/paypal-api-subscriptions/#installation)
 * [Development](https://twd.wordpress.org/plugins/paypal-api-subscriptions/#developers)

 [Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/paypal-api-subscriptions/)

## Description

**This plugin is deprecated and should not be used for new installations.**

PayPal API Subscriptions was built in 2008 using the PayPal NVP (Name-Value Pair)
API v52.0, which PayPal has since discontinued in favour of their REST APIs. The
plugin also directly handles raw credit card numbers on your server, which creates
PCI compliance obligations that most WordPress sites cannot meet.

**Recommended alternatives:**

 * [WooCommerce + PayPal Payments](https://woocommerce.com/products/woocommerce-paypal-payments/)—
   modern PayPal integration with Smart Buttons (card data never touches your server)
 * [MemberPress](https://www.memberpress.com/) — full membership/subscription management
   with PayPal and Stripe
 * [Paid Memberships Pro](https://www.paidmembershipspro.com/) — free membership
   plugin with PayPal support

**What happens in v1.2.0:**

 * Existing `[ppsa]` shortcodes display a retirement message instead of subscription
   buttons
 * An admin notice reminds you to migrate
 * All PayPal API code, the credit card form, and bundled jQuery have been removed

## Installation

This plugin is deprecated. Please use one of the alternatives listed above.

## FAQ

### Why was this plugin deprecated?

Two reasons: (1) PayPal’s NVP API v52.0 is discontinued — all new integrations must
use the REST API. (2) The plugin handled raw credit card numbers on your server,
which is a PCI compliance risk. Modern payment integrations (PayPal Smart Buttons,
Stripe Elements) never let card data touch your server.

### I still have active subscribers

Your existing PayPal recurring payment profiles continue to work on PayPal’s side
regardless of this plugin. The profiles are managed by PayPal, not WordPress. You
can manage them from your PayPal merchant dashboard.

## Reviews

There are no reviews for this plugin.

## Contributors & Developers

“PayPal API Subscriptions” is open source software. The following people have contributed
to this plugin.

Contributors

 *   [ zackdesign ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/zackdesign/)

[Translate “PayPal API Subscriptions” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/paypal-api-subscriptions)

### Interested in development?

[Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/paypal-api-subscriptions/),
check out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/paypal-api-subscriptions/),
or subscribe to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/paypal-api-subscriptions/)
by [RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/paypal-api-subscriptions/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss).

## Changelog

#### 1.2.0

 * Deprecated: Plugin is now retired — displays admin notice and shortcode retirement
   message
 * Removed: PayPal NVP API integration (discontinued by PayPal)
 * Removed: Credit card form (PCI compliance risk)
 * Removed: paypal_api.php, form.php, bundled jQuery 1.2.6, images

#### 1.1.0

 * Security hardening: ABSPATH guards, input sanitization, output escaping, SSL 
   verification
 * PHP 8.x compatibility fixes
 * Capability checks on admin pages

#### 1.0

 * First release

## Meta

 *  Version **1.2.0**
 *  Last updated **1 month ago**
 *  Active installations **10+**
 *  WordPress version ** 4.0 or higher **
 *  Tested up to **6.9.4**
 *  PHP version ** 7.4 or higher **
 *  Language
 * [English (US)](https://wordpress.org/plugins/paypal-api-subscriptions/)
 * Tags
 * [Billing](https://twd.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/billing/)[deprecated](https://twd.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/deprecated/)
   [paypal](https://twd.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/paypal/)[recurring](https://twd.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/recurring/)
   [subscription](https://twd.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/subscription/)
 *  [Advanced View](https://twd.wordpress.org/plugins/paypal-api-subscriptions/advanced/)

## Ratings

 5 out of 5 stars.

 *  [  1 5-star review     ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/paypal-api-subscriptions/reviews/?filter=5)
 *  [  0 4-star reviews     ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/paypal-api-subscriptions/reviews/?filter=4)
 *  [  0 3-star reviews     ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/paypal-api-subscriptions/reviews/?filter=3)
 *  [  0 2-star reviews     ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/paypal-api-subscriptions/reviews/?filter=2)
 *  [  0 1-star reviews     ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/paypal-api-subscriptions/reviews/?filter=1)

[Add my review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/paypal-api-subscriptions/reviews/#new-post)

[See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/paypal-api-subscriptions/reviews/)

## Contributors

 *   [ zackdesign ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/zackdesign/)

## Support

Got something to say? Need help?

 [View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/paypal-api-subscriptions/)

## Donate

Would you like to support the advancement of this plugin?

 [ Donate to this plugin ](https://zackdesign.biz)