PayPal Donations Module
Free PayPal donations module for SPChat: PayPal Checkout buttons, custom preset amounts, monthly donation goals, and anonymous donations.
The PayPal Donations Module allows your chat users to support your community or web radio station directly via an elegant modal dialog using PayPal Checkout. Upon a successful donation, a status message is automatically posted to the chat room.
[!TIP] Free Module: This module is 100% free of charge and included in the SPChat module catalog without any extra licensing fees.
Core Features Overview
- PayPal REST API Integration: Direct processing using official PayPal Checkout buttons inside the chat.
- Multi-Currency Support: Accepts EUR (€), USD ($), GBP (£), and CHF (CHF).
- Preset & Custom Amounts: Configure comma-separated preset amounts (e.g.
2, 5, 10, 20) and optionally allow custom amounts. - Monthly Donation Goal: Progress bar in the modal dialog to track monthly financial targets (e.g., server hosting costs).
- Optional Anonymity: Donors can choose to remain anonymous before sending a donation. Anonymous donations omit the username from both the chat notification and the donor list.
- Privacy-Friendly Donor List: Displays only the chat usernames of monthly supporters (when not donated anonymously) without exposing individual donation amounts.
- Chat Status Broadcast: Send automated notifications either to the donor’s current room or globally across all chat rooms.
Prerequisites
- A valid PayPal Business or Personal account.
- Access to the PayPal Developer Portal to generate REST API App credentials (
Client IDandClient Secret). - An active SPChat installation running version 1.0.0 or higher.
Step-by-Step Configuration Guide
Step 1: Generate PayPal REST Credentials
- Log in to the PayPal Developer Dashboard.
- Navigate to Apps & Credentials.
- Create a new REST App (e.g., named
SPChat Donations). - Copy your Client ID and Client Secret.
Step 2: Enable Module in SPChat
- Open your SPChat Admin Panel and click on Modules.
- Locate PayPal Donations and click Install.
- Once installed, open settings and toggle Enable PayPal Donations.
Step 3: Configure API Credentials
| Field | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| PayPal Client ID | REST Client ID from Developer Portal | AXXXXXXXXXXXXXX... |
| PayPal Client Secret | Client Secret (used server-side for validation) | •••••••••••••••• |
| Environment / Mode | Sandbox (Testing) or Live (Real Payments) | Live |
| Currency | Primary currency for incoming donations | EUR |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Are sensitive financial credentials stored in SPChat?
No. All transactions are securely processed directly on PayPal Checkout servers. SPChat never stores credit card details or banking credentials.
How can I test the donation flow before going live?
Set the environment mode to Sandbox (Testing) in the module configuration. You can test the complete checkout flow using PayPal sandbox buyer accounts without moving real money.
Can I donate anonymously or are names and amounts public?
Donors can choose the anonymous donation checkbox in the modal. When checked, no name appears in chat or in the donor list. For non-anonymous donations, only usernames are shown in the monthly donor list. Exact donation amounts remain confidential and are only included anonymously in the progress bar calculation.
Still unsure? Test the chat yourself.
The live demo shows the interface and chat flow without installation. Join the waitlist for your own chat.