Square Payment Links: How to Create, Send & Customise (2026 Guide)

Square payment links let you accept payments without a website or checkout page. You create a link in your Square Dashboard, share it via email, SMS, or social media, and your customer pays through a Square-hosted checkout page. It is one of the simplest ways to collect payments online, especially if you already use Square for in-person sales.

This guide covers how Square payment links work, what they cost, how to set them up, and when you might need a more flexible alternative.

What Are Square Payment Links?

Square payment links are shareable URLs that direct customers to a hosted checkout page. When a customer clicks the link, they see an order summary and can pay by card, with no account or app required on their end.

Key features of Square payment links:

• No website needed: the checkout page is hosted by Square

• Shareable anywhere: email, SMS, WhatsApp, social media, QR codes

• Customisable items: add product name, description, image, and price

• Built-in tipping: optional tip collection at checkout

• Automatic receipts: customers receive email receipts after payment

• Real-time tracking: see payment status in your Square Dashboard

Square payment links work with Square's existing ecosystem: inventory, invoicing, and reporting all sync automatically.

How to Create a Square Payment Link

Creating a payment link in Square takes less than two minutes:

1. Log into Square Dashboard: go to Online Checkout → Payment Links

2. Click "Create a link": choose between a single item, multiple items, or a donation

3. Add item details: name, price, description, and optional image

4. Configure options: set quantity limits, add custom fields, enable tipping

5. Generate and share: copy the link or download a QR code

You can also create payment links directly from the Square Point of Sale app on mobile, which is useful for sending links on the go.

Square Payment Links Pricing

Square payment links use the same processing rates as Square Online:

There is no monthly subscription for payment links. You only pay per transaction. This makes Square attractive for low-volume sellers or businesses that use payment links occasionally alongside in-person sales.

When Square Payment Links Work Well

Square payment links are a strong fit in specific situations:

• You already use Square POS: everything stays in one ecosystem. Inventory, reporting, and customer data sync automatically.

• You sell a small number of items: services, appointments, or one-off products where a full e-commerce site is overkill.

• You need to collect payments in person and online: Square's unified dashboard shows both channels side by side.

• You are a sole trader or small team: no developer needed, no integration work, live in minutes.

Limitations of Square Payment Links

Square payment links have some constraints that matter as your business grows:

• Single gateway: you can only process through Square. If you want to use a different payment provider, or give your customers a choice, you cannot.

• Limited customisation: the checkout page uses Square's branding and layout. You can add your logo but cannot fully white-label the experience.

• No multi-currency support: links are priced in your account's home currency. International customers see the price in your currency and their bank handles conversion.

• No recurring payments via links: you cannot create subscription payment links. For recurring billing, you need Square Invoices or a separate subscription tool.

• Account stability risk: Square uses an aggregated model. High-volume or high-risk businesses occasionally face account holds or freezes, which affects all payment channels including links.

Square Payment Links vs Other Payment Link Providers

Here is how Square compares to other payment link options:

For more detail on how Shuttle payment links work with Square and other providers, see Payment Links for Square.

When You Need More Than Square Payment Links

Square payment links work well for small businesses that process exclusively through Square. But several scenarios push businesses toward more flexible alternatives:

• You want to use your existing payment provider: if you process through Worldpay, Adyen, or another PSP, Square payment links are not an option. You need payment links that connect to your gateway, not someone else's.

• You are a platform serving merchants: if your software serves businesses that each have their own payment providers, you need multi-PSP payment links that let each merchant use their own gateway.

• You need branded checkout: if your brand experience matters, a checkout page with someone else's branding creates friction. Branded payment links carry your logo, your message and your custom domain.

• You operate across multiple countries: Square operates in a limited number of markets. Businesses serving customers globally need payment links that work with local payment methods and acquirers in each market.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Square payment links free?

There is no monthly fee for using Square payment links. You pay standard Square processing rates per transaction: 2.5% in the UK for online transactions.

Can I customise the checkout page?

You can add your logo and change colours, but the checkout page is hosted by Square and uses their layout. Full white-label customisation is not available.

Do Square payment links expire?

By default, Square payment links do not expire. You can set a custom expiration if you want to create time-limited offers.

Can I use Square payment links internationally?

Square payment links work in the countries where Square operates (US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, France, Ireland, Spain). Customers outside those countries can still pay, but the price is in your local currency and they may incur conversion fees.

Can I track who opened my payment link?

Square does not provide open tracking. You can see when a payment is completed, but not how many people viewed the checkout page without paying.

Get Payment Links That Work With Any Compatible Provider

Square payment links are a solid starting point for businesses already in the Square ecosystem. But if you need payment links that work with a compatible payment provider, or with multiple providers across different markets, Shuttle payment links connect to 40+ PSPs through a single integration.

For platforms and software companies that serve merchants, Shuttle provides branded payment links, voice payments, and embedded checkout, all under your brand.

See how Shuttle payment links work · Book a discovery call