Shopify Payments, PayPal and Square: What Their Policies Say About Research Peptides

What does PayPal's policy say?

PayPal's Acceptable Use Policy (last updated October 29, 2022) says the service may not be used for transactions involving "narcotics, steroids, certain controlled substances or other products that present a risk to consumer safety."

The same page lists activities that need PayPal's pre-approval, including "the sale of any product(s) requiring a prescription or prescription dispensing services." Neither line names peptides. PayPal decides whether a store falls inside them.

What does Square's policy say?

Square's Payment Terms (last updated July 30, 2026) list business types Square does not support. Two can reach a peptide store: "internet/mail order/telephone order pharmacies or pharmacy referral services" and "high-risk products and services."

Square's help center (read Oct 31, 2026) says card-not-present payments are not allowed for prescription-required items, and that "sellers who operate mainly online with prescription-required products may be deactivated immediately." The Payment Terms also say Square may require a "Reserve for any reason related to your use of the Services."

What does Shopify Payments' policy say?

The Shopify Payments terms (read Oct 31, 2026) say prohibited and restricted business types "are provided by each Payment Processor in your Designated Country." Shopify's Payment Processor List (read Oct 31, 2026) names Stripe, Inc. and PayPal, Inc. for the United States, with a link to each one's own list.

So a US store on Shopify Payments is held to the Stripe and PayPal lines. See does Stripe allow peptides? for what Stripe's list says.

Can a Shopify store use a different card processor?

Yes. Shopify's help center (read Oct 31, 2026) says merchants can "choose from over 100 credit card payment providers" and can use a third-party provider "as your sole credit card processor." It also says third-party transaction fees apply to transactions through third-party gateways, and that US stores whose sales tax is managed by Shopify must switch it to self-directed first.

ResearchPay accounts work with WooCommerce and Shopify.

What does this mean for a research peptide store?

Mainstream platforms write broad policies and keep the final call. A store can be reviewed at any time. A merchant account underwritten for research-use-only sales is reviewed on what the store actually sells.

Underwriters look at the website first. Use the RUO website checklist before applying anywhere. For pricing, public ranges are B2B 4 to 6% and B2C 6 to 9.5%, subject to underwriting.

What should I read next?

• Does Stripe allow peptides?
• Best peptide payment processors in 2026: a sourced comparison
• How to vet a high-risk payment broker
• Peptide merchant account frozen? What to do in the first 72 hours

Sources

1. Acceptable Use Policy, PayPal, last updated Oct 29, 2022, read Oct 31, 2026.
2. Payment Terms, Square, last updated July 30, 2026, read Oct 31, 2026.
3. Restricted products for card-not-present transactions, Square Support, read Oct 31, 2026.
4. Shopify Payments Terms of Service, Shopify, read Oct 31, 2026.
5. Payment Processor List, Shopify, read Oct 31, 2026.
6. Third-party payment providers, Shopify Help Center, read Oct 31, 2026.