Payment Link

What a payment link is

A payment link is a URL you send to a customer so they can pay online. You create it with an amount and order details, then share it by email, text message, or QR code. The customer opens the link in a browser and enters payment information on a hosted checkout page.

You can use a link to collect payment for an invoice, deposit, phone order, or sale arranged by email. It provides an online payment option without requiring you to build a checkout page or have the customer at your counter. Payment links are a payment method, not a separate kind of card.

A payment link changes how you collect payment, not the underlying processing price.

How payment links work

You create a link for a specific order, share it, and receive a payment notification after the customer completes checkout. When the customer pays by card, the transaction is card-not-present because the card is not physically presented to you. Available payment methods depend on the setup behind the link.

Links have controls that matter when a customer pays late or uses an old request. In one documented gateway configuration, a link expires after 3 months by default and allows up to 25 payment attempts. The merchant can set different limits in that configuration. A completed, deleted, expired, or overused link no longer accepts payment.

What payment links mean for your costs

There is no single standard payment-link fee in the available pricing information. Your cost comes from the payment-processing pricing attached to the transaction, along with any separate service charges in your arrangement. When a customer pays by card, compare the transaction’s card-not-present pricing with the pricing for sales at your counter.

A link does not make the processor’s markup disappear. On an interchange-plus statement, compare the card type and transaction details with the markup and other fees charged on that sale. On a bundled statement, the link payment may be included in a combined rate, so the statement alone might not identify it as a payment-link transaction.

Where payment links go wrong

A stale link can collect the wrong amount or remain available after you have taken payment another way. Set an expiry and attempt limit when your system offers those controls, and delete or invalidate a link when the order is canceled or paid offline. A duplicate payment can mean refund work and a dissatisfied customer.

A successful checkout notification helps you know when to fulfill an order. Configure payment notifications, such as webhooks when available, and match each payment to its order ID. That gives you a record to reconcile against deposits and helps prevent an unpaid order from being treated as paid.

What you can actually change

1. 01
   Compare the pricing. Review card-not-present processing costs against your in-person pricing. Separate the processor markup from pass-through costs where your statement itemizes them.
2. 02
   Set link limits. Use an expiry date and attempt limit where available. Remove links for canceled orders or payments collected another way.
3. 03
   Track each payment. Use a unique order reference and enable payment notifications. Match successful payments to orders before fulfillment and to deposits during reconciliation.

Frequently asked questions