PayPal and Knack: Set up Secure, Online Payments 

Setting up online payments should feel empowering, not risky or confusing. Yet for many small business owners, trying to integrate PayPal into their payment systems feels like wandering through a maze of documentation, complex account credentials, and annoying roadblocks. 

If you’ve ever worried about webhooks, tokens, IPNs, or breaking something that could cause failed transactions, you’re not alone. 

This is why we’ve made PayPal integrations easier than ever before. In this article, we’ll show you how to set up PayPal Express Checkout in Knack without risking a single penny—all while being able to test it safely before going live.

Why PayPal Integrations Feel Intimidating (But Shouldn’t Be)

For operations teams rolling out payment systems, PayPal integrations can feel like a pain. You’re responsible for connecting payments securely, but one wrong setting could mean failed transactions or confused customers. The technical terminology quickly becomes a barrier. Or worst of all, there’s no obvious safe space to test without feeling like you’re risking real money.

That’s exactly why Knack built our PayPal integration with safety and simplicity in mind. It’s a simple, secure way to turn your forms into fully functional checkout experiences in minutes, all while letting you test the setup safely before going live.

Real-World Scenario: Building a Payment System that Works

Let’s say you manage logistics for a regional food delivery service. You’re building a meal ordering form where customers can select menu items, choose extras, and then pay online. You don’t want to risk misconfigured payments, but you also need to launch the order system this week.

Your mission is clear: set up PayPal Express checkout, test it safely, and go live with confidence. Here’s exactly how to make this happen using Knack’s no-code platform.

Step-by-Step: Creating Your Payment-Enabled App

Setting Up Your Foundation

Start by accessing your main Knack dashboard and locating the “create a new app” section. Click “start with a template.” This approach saves significant time when your primary focus is payment integration rather than building from scratch.

In the search field, type “purchase orders” and select the template that appears. Click “create app” and then “let’s get started” to continue. The system will generate a complete app structure with three main sections: tables, users, and pages.

Templates are game-changers when you’re focused on specific integrations like PayPal. They provide a solid foundation without the overhead of custom development.

Personalizing Your App

In the upper left corner, you’ll find the app name field. Change it to something specific to your business, for example, we’ll use “Meal Ordering Form.” This keeps everything organized as you work.

Enabling Ecommerce and Adding PayPal

Here’s where the magic happens. To the right of the app name field, click the arrow to access the dropdown menu. Select “ecommerce” from the list, and you’ll see an ecommerce window pop up. Click “enable.”

Next, in the processor section, click “add processors.” This opens up all the payment options available in Knack. Select “PayPal” from the list.

This is the moment where most people start to worry about credentials and complex setup. But here’s what you need to know: you can retrieve these credentials from your PayPal sandbox business account settings. 

Knack provides detailed help documentation that guides you through exactly where to find this information.

The key insight here is pattern recognition. Once you understand how to match the credential fields in Knack with the corresponding information in your PayPal account, the process becomes straightforward. It’s really not that complicated once you get the hang of it.

Adding Payment Functionality to Your Form

Navigate to the “pages” section in the left sidebar. Select “admin order logins” and click “Add purchase order” from the dropdown. At the top of the page, you’ll see a “plus add view” button. Click it to open all the different view types you can add to your form.

In the left sidebar, scroll down to find the “ecommerce” section and select “payment method.” Here’s the crucial part for safe testing: tick the box for “use test mode of your payment processors” option, then click “next.”

This is your safety net. Everything you do from here will be in test mode, so no real money will move anywhere. It’s a complete sandbox environment that mimics real transactions without any financial risk.

The Moment of Truth: Testing Your System

After configuring your payment checkout flow, save the form and publish the app. Open the live form and use PayPal sandbox buyer credentials to simulate a test purchase.

What you’ll see is remarkable: the complete PayPal flow, all the confirmation screens, transaction processing—everything working exactly like real transactions without moving any actual money. The result is a fully functional payment system that processes test transactions identically to live ones.

You can check your Knack dashboard to confirm the order record is saved and the payment is logged. This gives you complete confidence that when you switch to live mode, everything will work perfectly.

What Makes This Approach Different

What’s truly impressive about Knack’s PayPal integration is how it handles the entire payment lifecycle seamlessly. Your customers get a professional checkout experience, PayPal processes payments securely, and all transaction data flows back into your Knack database automatically.

You’ve essentially created a complete ecommerce solution without writing a single line of code. The system is secure, professional, and ready to handle real transactions the moment you switch out of test mode.

Beyond Simple Payments: Building for Growth

This PayPal integration goes beyond processing payments. It creates a foundation that can grow with your business. Unlike standalone payment processors that operate in isolation, Knack’s integrated approach means your payment data connects directly to your customer records, order history, and business analytics.

When a customer makes a purchase, that transaction becomes part of their complete profile in your system. You can track purchase patterns, send follow-up communications, and build customer relationships— all from the same platform that processes their payments.

Making the Switch from Manual to Automated

Many small businesses start with manual payment processing: invoices sent via email, checks in the mail, or awkward phone calls to collect payment information. This approach works initially, but it doesn’t scale and creates unnecessary friction for customers.

Knack’s PayPal integration eliminates that friction entirely. Customers can complete their entire transaction in one seamless flow, from selecting products or services to making payment. The experience feels professional and trustworthy, which builds confidence in your business.

Ready to Set up Your Online Payments with PayPal?

If you’re tired of manual payment processes that slow down your business and frustrate customers, it’s time to consider a platform that’s built for operational efficiency. Knack’s no-code approach means you can have a professional payment system running in hours, not weeks.

Ready to see the difference? Sign up for a free trial and test out Knack’s PayPal integration with your own data. You might be surprised at how quickly you can build a payment system that actually works the way your business does.