How to Add a Recurring Donation Button with PayPal on Hostinger WordPress
Updated 2026-06-17 · Hosting Reviews
Why Hostinger is the Right Choice for Your Nonprofit Website
When a nonprofit wants to get online, the first decision is hosting. Hostinger offers shared, cloud, and VPS plans that start as low as $3–$15 per month, with a free SSL certificate and a one‑click WordPress installer. The performance is solid, and the control panel is intuitive for beginners. If you’re a charity, club, or community group, you’ll appreciate the low cost, reliable uptime, and the ability to scale when your donation page grows.
Step 1: Get Domain, Hosting, and WordPress Ready
1. Choose a domain that reflects your cause—something memorable and easy to spell. Hostinger’s domain search lets you find a name for $10–$15 a year. 2. Select a hosting plan. For most nonprofits, the shared plan ($3–$5/month) is enough, but if you expect high traffic or want more resources, consider the cloud tier ($8–$12/month). Both include unlimited bandwidth and one‑click WordPress.
3. Install WordPress through Hostinger’s hPanel. It takes less than a minute, and you’ll get a fresh install with automatic updates.
Step 2: Pick a Donation‑Friendly Theme and Plugins
Choose a lightweight theme like Twenty Twenty‑Three or a free nonprofit theme from the WordPress repository. Install the GiveWP plugin or Charitable—both support PayPal recurring donations. Keep plugins to a minimum; too many can slow your site.
Step 3: Create a Donation Page with Recurring Options
1. In the WordPress dashboard, go to Pages > Add New and title it “Donate”. 2. Use the GiveWP block or Charitable shortcode to insert a donation form. Configure the form to include a “Recurring” checkbox and set the frequency (weekly, monthly, yearly). PayPal will handle the subscription logic. 3. Add a clear call‑to‑action, such as “Support Our Mission Every Month.”
Step 4: Configure PayPal for Recurring Donations
1. Sign up for a PayPal Business account if you don’t have one. 2. In the plugin settings, enter your PayPal email and API credentials. The plugin will generate a PayPal button that includes the recurring option. 3. Test the button in sandbox mode to ensure the subscription is processed correctly. 4. Switch to live mode once you’re confident.
Step 5: Secure, Speed, and Launch
Hostinger gives you a free Let’s Encrypt SSL; enable it in hPanel under SSL. Use a caching plugin like WP Super Cache to keep load times under two seconds. Once everything looks good, publish the page and add it to your menu.
Cost Breakdown and What to Expect
- Domain registration: $10–$15/year.
- Shared hosting: $3–$5/month (introductory), renewal $5–$7/month.
- Cloud hosting: $8–$12/month (introductory), renewal $10–$15/month.
- GiveWP plugin: free core, add‑ons start at $50/year.
- PayPal fees: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, plus recurring fee.
These ranges keep a nonprofit’s budget tight while providing the scalability and support needed for a growing donation base.
FAQ
How do I keep my donation page secure?
Enable the free SSL from Hostinger, keep WordPress and plugins updated, and use a security plugin like Wordfence to block spam and brute‑force attacks.
Can I add multiple donation amounts?
Yes. In the GiveWP or Charitable settings, create a form with preset amounts (e.g., $10, $25, $50) and a “Recurring” option for each.
What if my site gets a lot of traffic?
Start on the shared plan and monitor traffic. If you hit the resource limits, upgrade to the cloud tier; Hostinger’s migration process is straightforward and free.