Introduction
The term “host bars PayPal” can be interpreted as the family of PayPal-hosted payment UI elements that appear as embedded buttons or bars on merchant sites — 호빠 PayPal Smart Payment Buttons, PayPal hosted/embedded card fields (Hosted Fields), and related Checkout integrations. These components let merchants accept PayPal, cards, Venmo, Pay Later and other payment options while offloading sensitive payment handling to PayPal or Braintree.
What exactly are the main PayPal “hosted” elements?
1. Smart Payment Buttons (Checkout Buttons)
Smart Payment Buttons are JavaScript-driven buttons you drop into a page. PayPal chooses and presents the most relevant payment options (PayPal, Pay Later, Venmo, local methods) to the buyer and handles the payment flow via the PayPal JavaScript SDK. They are the quickest route to a branded, high-converting checkout. PayPal Developer
2. Hosted Fields (Braintree / PayPal Hosted Card Fields)
Hosted Fields are small, secure iframes that host card-number, expiry and CVV fields while letting you style the surrounding layout. Because the iframe content is served by PayPal/Braintree, merchants reduce PCI scope (SAQ A) and still retain visual control of the checkout page. Use Hosted Fields when you need card-entry UI that matches your site but want PayPal to handle the sensitive data. PayPal Developer
3. Classic “Buttons” & Hosted Checkout Flows
PayPal also supports simpler “button” flows (payment links, Buy Now / Pay Now behaviors and Payment Standard). Note that older button types have been superseded by Checkout/Smart Buttons for new integrations — PayPal’s modern Checkout is the recommended path. PayPalPayPal Developer
Why these “hosted” elements matter (brief opinionated view)
Payment buttons and hosted fields are not mere UI widgets — they are strategic assets. PayPal’s checkout buttons generate a disproportionate share of its branded business value and remain a critical conversion lever for merchants. That makes choosing the right integration an important commercial decision, not merely a technical one. Given current market dynamics, I recommend Smart Payment Buttons for most merchants that want speed and conversion, and Hosted Fields only when you need PCI-reducing iframes plus a custom-styled card form. Financial TimesPayPal Developer
Step-by-step: How to pick and integrate the right PayPal “host bar” (practical checklist)
A. Decide which solution fits your needs
- If you want the fastest, highest-conversion integration with PayPal/alternative methods visible automatically → Smart Payment Buttons. PayPal Developer
- If you must accept card numbers on-site but want to minimize PCI scope and keep custom styling → Hosted Fields (Braintree). PayPal Developer
- If you need a simple link or hosted checkout page with minimal development → use PayPal’s buttons/Payment Links, but prefer Checkout for new work.