No, you don’t necessarily need a PayPal account to use the PayPal gateway for online transactions. PayPal provides two primary options for users to make payments:

1. PayPal Account:
   • If you have a PayPal account, you can log in and make payments using your linked bank account, credit card, or PayPal balance.
   • This option is suitable for users who prefer the convenience of using their PayPal account for online transactions.
2. Guest Checkout:
   • Many online merchants and websites that use PayPal as a payment gateway offer a “Guest Checkout” option.
   • With Guest Checkout, you can make a payment using your credit or debit card without creating a PayPal account.
   • You will provide your payment information directly without the need to log in or create a PayPal account.

When you proceed with an online purchase and choose PayPal as the payment method, you’ll typically be presented with the option to log in to your existing PayPal account or use the Guest Checkout feature.

It’s important to note that the availability of Guest Checkout may depend on the specific configuration of the merchant’s PayPal integration. Some merchants may choose to enable or disable the Guest Checkout option based on their preferences.

If you prefer not to use a PayPal account, look for and select the Guest Checkout option during the payment process. This allows you to complete the transaction using your credit or debit card without creating or logging into a PayPal account.