How to Find Recurring Payments in PayPal
Quick Answer
To find recurring payments in PayPal, log in to your PayPal account, go to Settings, open Payments, then select Subscriptions and saved businesses or Automatic Payments. From there, choose a merchant to view, update, or cancel the automatic payment. PayPal says automatic payments may also be called subscriptions, billing agreements, or recurring payments.
In the PayPal app, recurring payments may appear under Subscriptions, Linked Businesses, or Pay Bills, depending on your account and app layout.
Why PayPal Recurring Payments Can Be Confusing
PayPal recurring payments are not always labeled the way people expect.
You might be looking for:
A subscription
An automatic payment
A billing agreement
A saved business
A linked business
A preapproved payment
A recurring charge from a merchant
That is why you may not see a simple tab that says “all recurring payments.” PayPal often groups these under automatic payments or saved businesses.
This matters because canceling with the merchant and canceling the PayPal billing agreement are related, but not always the same thing. A merchant account may still exist even after you remove PayPal as a payment method.
Before You Start
Before changing anything, check three things:
The merchant name
Some PayPal charges show the company’s legal name instead of the app, product, or website name you recognize.The payment method
PayPal says many automatic payments can have a specific payment method assigned, which may override your general preferred PayPal payment method.Whether you want to cancel the subscription or just stop PayPal billing
Canceling an automatic payment in PayPal may stop that merchant from charging your PayPal account, but you may still need to cancel the actual subscription with the company.
Think of PayPal as the payment door. The subscription itself may still live inside the merchant’s account system.
How to Find Recurring Payments on the PayPal Website
Go to PayPal.com.
Log in to your account.
Click the Settings gear.
Select Payments.
Choose Subscriptions and saved businesses or Automatic Payments.
Review the list of merchants.
Select a merchant to view payment details.
From the merchant page, PayPal says you can cancel the automatic payment or change the backup payment method.
How to Find Recurring Payments in the PayPal App
Open the PayPal app.
Tap the Menu icon.
Look for Subscriptions, Linked Businesses, or Pay Bills.
Tap the merchant you want to review.
Check the payment method, status, and available options.
PayPal’s app wording can vary. If you do not see “Subscriptions,” check “Linked Businesses.” PayPal notes that some subscriptions may appear there instead.
How to Cancel a PayPal Recurring Payment
Once you find the merchant:
Select the merchant or business name.
Look for an option to cancel, unlink, or remove PayPal as the payment method.
Follow the prompts.
Confirm the cancellation.
Save a screenshot or confirmation email.
PayPal’s own guidance says that on the website, you can go to Settings → Payments → Automatic payments, select the merchant, and cancel or manage the payment method from there.
On the app, PayPal says you may be able to tap Menu → Subscriptions or Linked Businesses, choose the merchant, tap Account, then Unlink to remove PayPal as the payment method.
What If You Do Not See the Subscription?
If the recurring payment does not appear in PayPal, try these checks:
1. Search your PayPal activity
Look for recent payments to the merchant. A recurring charge may show in your account activity even if you do not immediately spot it under subscriptions.
2. Search your email
Search your inbox for:
“PayPal”
“receipt”
“subscription”
“automatic payment”
The merchant name
The amount charged
Receipts can help you identify whether PayPal, Apple, Google Play, Amazon, Roku, or the company directly is handling billing.
3. Check the merchant account
Log in to the service itself and look under:
Account
Billing
Membership
Plan
Subscription
Payment methods
Some companies require you to cancel inside their own account settings even if PayPal is the payment method.
4. Check Apple, Google Play, Amazon, or Roku
If you signed up inside an app, on a streaming device, or through an app store, PayPal may not be the subscription manager. The charge might be handled by a different billing provider.
5. Check whether the subscription is inactive
PayPal says newly added subscriptions may take a few hours to show in the app and may appear only after the first payment goes through.
Common Roadblocks
“I canceled in PayPal. Am I done?”
Maybe. Canceling the automatic payment in PayPal can stop that merchant from charging PayPal again, but it may not close your account with the merchant. Log in to the merchant’s website and confirm your subscription status there too.
“The merchant name does not look familiar.”
This is common. Billing names can differ from brand names. Search your email for the exact PayPal merchant name and payment amount.
“I deleted the app but PayPal still charged me.”
Deleting an app usually does not cancel a subscription. You need to cancel through the correct billing provider: PayPal, Apple, Google Play, Amazon, Roku, or the company directly.
“I changed my preferred PayPal card, but the subscription used another one.”
PayPal says automatic payments can have their own assigned payment method, separate from your general preferred payment method. Check the merchant’s automatic payment settings directly.
“I canceled the merchant account but PayPal still shows the business.”
That may be a saved billing agreement or linked business. If you no longer want that merchant to charge PayPal, remove or cancel the automatic payment in PayPal as well.
How to Confirm a PayPal Recurring Payment Is Canceled
After canceling, look for proof.
Check for:
A confirmation screen
A confirmation email from PayPal
The merchant no longer appearing under active automatic payments
The merchant account showing canceled, expired, or inactive
No future renewal date
A final billing date
Take a screenshot. It is boring, but useful-boring — the best kind of boring when money is involved.
What to Do If PayPal Charges You Again
If you are still charged after canceling:
Check who processed the charge
Confirm whether the charge came through PayPal or another billing provider.Review PayPal automatic payments again
Make sure the merchant is not still active under automatic payments, subscriptions, saved businesses, or linked businesses.Check the merchant account
The subscription may still be active with the company even if PayPal was removed.Contact the merchant
Ask them to confirm the subscription status and request a refund if the charge happened after cancellation.Contact PayPal support if PayPal processed the charge
PayPal can help review transaction activity and payment agreements.Save evidence
Keep screenshots, confirmation emails, dates, and support messages.Consider a dispute only after checking the basics
If the charge appears unauthorized or the merchant will not help, use PayPal’s dispute tools or contact your card provider when appropriate.
PayPal Recurring Payment Checklist
Use this mini audit when cleaning up PayPal billing:
Open PayPal settings.
Check Payments.
Review Automatic Payments.
Review Subscriptions and saved businesses.
Review Linked Businesses in the app.
Search PayPal activity for repeat charges.
Search email for PayPal receipts.
Cancel or unlink merchants you no longer use.
Confirm cancellation with the merchant too.
Save proof.
The Not-Subscribed Note
PayPal recurring payments are a classic billing detective problem. The subscription may not be hiding exactly, but it can be filed under names like automatic payment, saved business, billing agreement, or linked business. That label soup creates subscription sludge: extra confusion between you and the simple question, “Who is allowed to keep charging me?”
The safest move is to check both sides: PayPal and the merchant. PayPal controls whether that merchant can keep billing your PayPal account. The merchant controls whether your subscription, membership, or account plan is still active.
Cancel in both places when needed. Confirm in both places when possible. Future you deserves fewer mystery charges.