PayPal is making a push into the creator economy with the launch of PayPal Links, a new feature that integrates with Canva and allows users to design content and accept payments in one place.
The move targets a persistent friction point for creators: getting paid. Many still spend significant time and money building standalone websites or storefronts just to process transactions.
By embedding payments into Canva’s design tools, PayPal is aiming to remove that barrier. The integration will give Canva’s 265 million monthly global users the ability to create, share, and monetize content without leaving the platform.
“This is a home run for PayPal,” said Don Apgar, Director of Merchant Payments at Javelin Strategy & Research. “What they’ve done with Canva is a great example of the power of embedded payments and shines a bright light on the path to growth that all successful payments companies are following.”
The Growth Opportunity
This growth opportunity has attracted many leading payments firms to build infrastructure for the gig and creator economies. For example, PayPal recently introduced functionality allowing YouTube creators to receive payouts in its PYUSD stablecoin, which marked both a milestone for digital assets and a win for the company.
These partnerships also reflect a broader trend—the convergence of e-commerce and social media into social commerce. TikTok Shop has emerged as a pioneer in this space, largely due to its ability to integrate influencer demos and product videos with payments, creating an end-to-end user experience.
Ditching the Website
This convergence shows no sign of slowing. According to Statista, global social commerce sales are projected to surpass $1 trillion by 2028. This surging market makes it increasingly imperative for creators to embed payments into their content.
While e-commerce may be the primary focus of PayPal’s’ Canva integration, the company notes that PayPal Links also enables creators to bypass the need for a standalone website altogether. Creators can embed payment links, QR codes, and PayPal checkout functionality directly into their Canva designs, allowing them to accept payments via social media, email, or even in person.
This optionality—along with increased support for payment types—should be a welcome addition for creators who often struggle to meet consumers’ high expectations around payments.
