Connect your Payment Services

Connect Stripe or PayPal to your TidyCal account to accept payments for bookings. Payment processing is available on all plans, including the Free Plan.

Payment Services Overview

TidyCal supports two payment processors. You can connect both and choose which one to use for each booking type individually.

Processor Connection Method Fees
Stripe (Recommended) OAuth (secure authorization) Stripe's standard processing fees (2.9% + $0.30)
PayPal Email address Standard PayPal fees

Plan availability: All plans (Free, Individual, and Agency) can accept payments for bookings.

Prerequisites

  • A Stripe account (for Stripe payments)
  • A PayPal account with a valid email address (for PayPal payments)

Connect with Stripe

Stripe is the recommended payment processor for TidyCal. The connection uses a secure OAuth flow through Stripe's authorization process.

Setup Steps

  1. Go to Integrations in the sidebar
  2. Click the Payments tab
  3. Click the "Connect with Stripe" button
  4. You will be redirected to Stripe's authorization page
  5. Authorize TidyCal to connect with your Stripe account (or create a new Stripe account)
  6. Once complete, you will be redirected back to TidyCal
  7. You will see "Stripe account connected" with a green checkmark

Stripe Fees

When you connect Stripe via OAuth, only Stripe's standard processing fees apply. TidyCal does not charge any additional platform fee on payments.

  • Stripe processing fee: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction (standard Stripe rate)
  • TidyCal fee: None

Disconnecting Stripe

To disconnect your Stripe account:

  1. Go to Integrations → Payments
  2. Click the "Disconnect Stripe" button (red outline button)

Disconnecting removes the payment connection but does not affect past transactions processed through Stripe. Any booking types using Stripe will no longer collect payments until you reconnect.

Legacy Stripe API Keys

If you previously connected Stripe using API keys, your connection still works. However, TidyCal has upgraded to OAuth for a more seamless experience. You will see a prompt: "We've upgraded our Stripe integration. Connect with OAuth for a more seamless experience."

Click "Upgrade Stripe connection" to switch to OAuth. You can also click "Disconnect" to remove the legacy API key connection first.

Note: New Stripe connections can only be made via OAuth. API key entry is no longer available for new users.

Connect PayPal

PayPal requires only your PayPal email address. No OAuth setup needed.

Setup Steps

  1. Go to Integrations in the sidebar
  2. Click the Payments tab
  3. Under PayPal, enter your email in the "PayPal email:" field
  4. Click "Save PayPal email"
  5. You will see a confirmation message: "PayPal email updated."

Clients will be able to pay via PayPal checkout (PayPal account or guest credit card) when you enable paid bookings.

Removing PayPal

To disconnect PayPal, clear the email field and click "Save PayPal email" with an empty value. The PayPal connection will be removed.

Enable Payments on a Booking Type

After connecting a payment processor, you need to enable payments on each booking type individually:

  1. Go to Booking types
  2. Edit the booking type you want to charge for
  3. Scroll to the pricing section and toggle "Charge for this booking type" ON
  4. Enter the price for the booking
  5. Select your preferred payment processor (Stripe or PayPal)
  6. Click "Update" (or "Create" if setting up a new booking type)

Note: You can use different payment processors for different booking types. For example, use Stripe for one booking type and PayPal for another.

If you have not connected the selected processor, you will see a warning: "Required: Connect your Stripe account." or "Required: Connect your PayPal account."

Currency Settings

The currency for payments is set in Settings → Preferences using a searchable dropdown. The selected currency applies to all booking types. TidyCal supports all currencies available through Stripe and PayPal.

What Your Client Sees

When a client selects a time for a paid booking type, they are prompted to complete payment via your connected provider. The booking is only confirmed after payment succeeds.

Viewing Payment History

Track your earnings and payment history from the Payments tab on the Integrations page. This shows all completed transactions, amounts, and booking details.

Troubleshooting

Stripe authorization not completing

  • Ensure you complete all steps in Stripe's authorization flow
  • Stripe may require identity verification — check your email for Stripe requests
  • Disable browser extensions that may block OAuth redirects (ad blockers, privacy extensions)
  • Try using a different browser or incognito/private mode
  • If the problem persists, contact support@tidycal.com

PayPal payments not going through

  • Verify the PayPal email address is correct and associated with an active PayPal Business account
  • The email must be 191 characters or fewer
  • Ensure the currency you set in TidyCal is supported by your PayPal account
  • Check that the booking type has payments enabled and PayPal selected as the processor

Clients do not see payment option

  • Confirm you have toggled on "Charge for this booking type" in the booking type settings
  • Verify a payment processor is connected on the Integrations → Payments page
  • Check that you selected a payment processor for the booking type

Client reports payment failed

  • Ask your client to try a different payment method or card
  • Check your Stripe or PayPal dashboard for declined transaction details
  • For Stripe, ensure your account is fully activated (not in test mode)
  • If the issue persists, contact support@tidycal.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Free Plan users accept payments?

Yes. Payment processing is available on all plans, including the Free Plan. Connect Stripe or PayPal and enable payments on any booking type.

Can I connect both Stripe and PayPal at the same time?

Yes. You can connect both payment processors and select which one to use for each booking type individually. However, each individual booking type can only use one payment processor at a time.

Does TidyCal charge a platform fee?

No. TidyCal charges zero platform fees on Stripe OAuth connections. You only pay Stripe's standard processing fees. PayPal payments go directly to your PayPal account with PayPal's standard fees.

I connected Stripe with API keys. Do I need to switch?

Your existing API key connection still works. However, TidyCal recommends upgrading to OAuth for a more seamless experience. Go to Integrations → Payments and click "Upgrade Stripe connection" to switch.

How do I issue refunds?

Refunds are processed through your payment processor's dashboard (Stripe Dashboard or PayPal). TidyCal does not process refunds directly. See Refunds for details.

What currencies are supported?

TidyCal supports all currencies available through Stripe and PayPal. Set your currency in Settings → Preferences.

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