Table of contents

What you need to know before adding Venmo to WordPressChoose a plugin that supports Venmo through PayPalSet up Venmo using GiveWP (for donation sites)Set up Venmo using Gravity Forms (for payment or service forms)Set up Venmo in WooCommerce (for ecommerce stores)Customize the Venmo button’s appearance and placementCommon troubleshooting tipsIs Venmo safe and compliant for business use?Promote Venmo as a payment option to increase conversionsGetting StartedAdditional Resources

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How to set up a Venmo button on WordPress

If your audience prefers mobile payments, adding a Venmo button to your WordPress site can make checkout or donations faster and easier. The good news is you don’t need a separate Venmo integration. Venmo works through PayPal Checkout, and several popular WordPress plugins already support it.

Let’s walk through how to add Venmo using GiveWP, Gravity Forms, and WooCommerce—plus how to troubleshoot issues and promote Venmo to your site visitors.

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What you need to know before adding Venmo to WordPress

Before you dive into setup, it’s helpful to understand how Venmo works with WordPress.

You can’t directly embed a standalone Venmo button with a link. Instead, Venmo is an optional payment method that appears within PayPal smart buttons. These buttons are powered by PayPal Checkout and show up in supported plugins like GiveWP, Gravity Forms, and WooCommerce.

Venmo will only show up as an option if:

The plugin uses PayPal Checkout with smart buttons
The user is browsing on a mobile device (Venmo doesn’t show on desktop)
The user has the Venmo app installed and is logged in

You’ll need a PayPal Business account to enable smart buttons and offer Venmo as a payment method.

Choose a plugin that supports Venmo through PayPal

Venmo works on WordPress when you use a plugin that integrates with PayPal Checkout and supports smart payment buttons. These buttons automatically include Venmo for eligible users.

Here are three solid options depending on your site’s purpose:

GiveWP: Best for nonprofits and creators who need donation forms
Gravity Forms: Great for custom payment or registration forms
WooCommerce: Ideal for ecommerce stores selling products or services

Each of these plugins connects to PayPal Checkout and can display the Venmo button when conditions are right. Let’s go through the setup steps for each.

Set up Venmo using GiveWP (for donation sites)

GiveWP makes it easy to collect donations and supports PayPal smart buttons. Here’s how to set it up so that Venmo appears on your donation forms.

Install and activate GiveWP. From your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins → Add New. Search for “GiveWP” and click Install Now, then Activate.
Connect your PayPal Business account. In the left-hand menu, go to Donations → Settings → Payment Gateways. Choose “PayPal Donations” and click “Connect with PayPal.” You’ll be redirected to log into your PayPal Business account. Authorize the connection and return to your site.
Enable smart payment buttons and Venmo. After connecting PayPal, you’ll see additional settings under PayPal Donations. Make sure “Enable PayPal Smart Donations” is checked. Venmo will be automatically included in the list of smart button options, along with PayPal, credit/debit, and others.
Create a donation form. Go to Donations → Add Form. Give your form a name and choose your display options. In the “Payment Options” section, make sure “PayPal Donations” is selected. Click “Publish” to save your form.
Add the donation form to a page. Edit the page where you want the donation button to appear. Use the “Give Form” block to insert your donation form, or paste the shortcode found in the form editor.
Preview and test on mobile. Visit the page using a mobile device with the Venmo app installed. You should see a “Pay with Venmo” button along with PayPal and other options.

Set up Venmo using Gravity Forms (for payment or service forms)

If you need to build a custom payment form for services, events, or subscriptions, Gravity Forms can help. You’ll need the PayPal Checkout Add-On to enable Venmo.

Install and activate Gravity Forms. Gravity Forms is a premium plugin. Purchase a license at gravityforms.com, then download and install it via Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin. Activate it once installed.
Install the PayPal Checkout Add-On. In your WordPress dashboard, go to Forms → Add-Ons. Locate “PayPal Checkout Add-On” and click Install → Activate.
Connect your PayPal Business account. Go to Forms → Settings → PayPal Checkout. Click “Connect with PayPal” and log in with your PayPal Business credentials.
Once connected, scroll down and make sure “Display Other Payment Buttons” is enabled. This option allows Venmo to appear if a user is eligible.
Create your form and add a PayPal field. Go to Forms → New Form and build your form as usual. Add a “Product” or “Total” field for the payment amount. Then drag in the “PayPal Checkout” field from the payment section.
Publish the form on a page. Use the “Add Form” block in the page editor or copy the form’s shortcode into a page or post.
Test the form on mobile. Visit the page on a mobile device. If the Venmo app is installed and logged in, the Venmo button should appear alongside PayPal and other payment options.

Set up Venmo in WooCommerce (for ecommerce stores)

WooCommerce supports Venmo through the PayPal Payments plugin. This method is ideal for online stores with physical or digital products.

Install and activate WooCommerce PayPal Payments. Go to Plugins → Add New and search for “WooCommerce PayPal Payments.” Click Install → Activate.
Connect your PayPal Business account. In the WordPress admin menu, go to WooCommerce → Settings → Payments → PayPal. Click “Connect your PayPal account” and follow the prompts.
Enable PayPal smart buttons. Once connected, scroll down to “PayPal Button Settings.” Make sure “Enable PayPal Smart Buttons” is checked. Under “Alternative Payment Methods,” confirm that “Venmo” is selected.
Configure your checkout settings. Still in the PayPal plugin settings, choose where the buttons appear—on the product page, cart page, or checkout page. Save your changes.
Verify the Venmo button on mobile. On a smartphone, go through your store’s checkout process. If the Venmo app is installed and you’re logged in, the Venmo button should be visible.
Add a Venmo notice for your customers. Since the Venmo button only shows on mobile, it helps to add a short message near your checkout area: “Pay with Venmo available on mobile!”

Customize the Venmo button’s appearance and placement

Most plugins don’t offer direct control over the Venmo button itself, since it’s controlled by PayPal. But you can customize the surrounding form or button placement using these methods:

Use the plugin’s built-in style settings to adjust form layout and spacing.
Add custom CSS if you want to change margins, padding, or background color.
Reorder buttons or form fields to prioritize PayPal/Venmo above other options.
Add icons or images next to your payment buttons for extra visibility.

Common troubleshooting tips

If the Venmo button isn’t showing up, here are some things to check:

Are you on desktop? Venmo only works on mobile browsers with the Venmo app installed.
Is your PayPal account connected properly? Go back to plugin settings and reconnect.
Are PayPal smart buttons enabled? Double-check that PayPal Checkout and smart buttons are turned on
Are you using a personal PayPal account? You must use a PayPal Business account to enable smart buttons
Are there plugin conflicts? Disable other payment plugins one by one to test compatibility issues

Is Venmo safe and compliant for business use?

Yes! Accepting Venmo through PayPal is secure and supported by business compliance features.

Payments are processed through PayPal’s gateway, with fraud protection and encryption.
You don’t need to handle Venmo user data directly—PayPal manages everything.
For selling goods or services, Venmo recommends enabling the “tag a purchase” option in your PayPal settings.
Always use HTTPS for secure transactions and keep your plugins updated.

Promote Venmo as a payment option to increase conversions

Just adding a Venmo button isn’t always enough. Let users know it’s available! Here are a few ways to promote your Venmo option:

Add a small Venmo icon or badge to your product, donation, or checkout pages.
Mention “Venmo accepted” in your calls to action.
Use banners or pop-ups to inform mobile users about payment options.
Add Venmo messaging to your email campaigns or social media posts.

Next steps for setting up a Venmo button on WordPress

Offering Venmo on your WordPress site makes mobile payments easier for your users and helps reduce checkout friction. Whether you’re running a store, collecting donations, or offering services, you can set it up quickly using GiveWP, Gravity Forms, or WooCommerce with PayPal smart buttons.

Start by choosing the plugin that fits your use case best, then follow the steps above to connect PayPal and enable Venmo.

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