Description
The PayPal Express Checkout with Smart Buttons addon enables PayPal Express checkout with Smart Payment Buttons within Event Espresso, displaying dynamic PayPal, credit card, Pay Later, and local wallet buttons on the registration payment screen. Targeted at paid event organizers, it processes charges via the PayPal API without taking the participant off the site, returning the transaction status directly to the attendee record in the panel.
Key Features
- Smart Payment Buttons from PayPal
Renders dynamic PayPal, credit card, and Pay Later buttons in the registration payment step. - Overlay Checkout on the Site
Opens the PayPal flow in a popup, keeping the participant on the event page. - Automatic Status Return
Updates the attendee record in Event Espresso according to the PayPal API response. - Guest Credit Card Support
Allows card payment without requiring the buyer to have a PayPal account. - Gateway Panel Configuration
Includes API credentials and sandbox mode directly in the base plugin payment methods screen.
Benefits of PayPal Express Checkout with Smart Buttons
- Reduced Checkout Abandonment
Popup flow reduces redirect friction and keeps focus on the registration. - More Payment Options Displayed
Dynamic buttons automatically show the available methods for each visitor. - Simplified Reconciliation
Transaction status returns to the panel without manual checks in PayPal. - International Reach
Accepts payments from participants in multiple countries covered by the PayPal network.
Who Is It For?
- Paid event organizers already using Event Espresso who want to charge via PayPal with a modern flow.
- Course, workshop, and conference producers needing to accept cards without pushing participants to a PayPal account.
- Event promoters with an international audience who depend on PayPal’s geographic coverage.
For those already running registrations on Event Espresso, this gateway modernizes payment processing by replacing the classic PayPal Express redirect with a popup experience via Smart Buttons. The result is a faster checkout, more visible payment methods, and fewer drop-offs between ticket selection and purchase confirmation.
Frequently asked questions
Is Event Espresso PayPal Express Checkout with Smart Buttons GPL-licensed?
Yes. Event Espresso PayPal Express Checkout with Smart Buttons is distributed under the GPL (GNU General Public License). You may legally use, modify and redistribute it on as many sites as you want.
Can I use Event Espresso PayPal Express Checkout with Smart Buttons on multiple sites?
Yes. You can install Event Espresso PayPal Express Checkout with Smart Buttons on as many sites as you want. Only automatic updates through Ultrapack Auto Updater have a limit: from 3 to 80 sites, depending on the plan.
How much does Event Espresso PayPal Express Checkout with Smart Buttons cost at Ultrapack?
Event Espresso PayPal Express Checkout with Smart Buttons costs US$2.99 as a single purchase, and it is also included in the subscription plans starting at US$12/mo (VIP I).
Does Event Espresso PayPal Express Checkout with Smart Buttons include updates?
Yes. The current version of Event Espresso PayPal Express Checkout with Smart Buttons is 1.0.8.p, published at Ultrapack on Jul 13, 2023. Subscribers update straight from the WordPress dashboard with UAU (Ultrapack Auto Updater).
Is Event Espresso PayPal Express Checkout with Smart Buttons scanned before publication?
Yes. Every version of Event Espresso PayPal Express Checkout with Smart Buttons goes through a malware scan (ClamAV and YARA rules, at UltraHub) before it is published.
How to install
Automatic updates: this item is updated by the Ultrapack Auto Updater. With it installed, the new version shows up in your dashboard like any other WordPress update (how to set it up).
This item is an add-on for the Event Espresso plugin. Installed on its own it throws no error, but it does not work either.
- Install and activate the Event Espresso plugin before this one.
- Download the file
eea-paypal-smart-buttons.zip. - In the WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin.
- Select the file
eea-paypal-smart-buttons.zip, click Install Now and then Activate.
- Both stay active at the same time. Deactivating the Event Espresso plugin turns this add-on off with it.
- An add-on settings usually show up inside the main plugin screens, not in a menu of their own. If you find nothing new in the dashboard after activating, look there before opening a ticket.
Stuck on a step? Open a ticket telling us which one you stopped at.

UAU Ready