Best Payment Link Providers for Business (2026)

Why Payment Links Are Replacing Invoices

Payment links are the fastest way to collect money from a customer without building a checkout page, mailing an invoice, or setting up a card terminal.

You create a link. You send it via SMS, email, WhatsApp, or embed it on a webpage. The customer clicks, enters their card details on a hosted checkout page, and pays. The money lands in your account within 1-3 business days.

For businesses that collect payments outside of a traditional e-commerce checkout, payment links have become the default. Professional services firms send them after consultations. Property managers collect rent and deposits. Field service companies close payments after completing jobs. B2B companies attach them to invoices to accelerate collection.

The question is no longer whether to use payment links. It's which provider to use and what trade-offs matter for your business.

What to Look For in a Payment Link Provider

Before comparing specific providers, here's what actually matters when choosing one. These are the criteria that separate a provider that works for a sole trader from one that works for a business with a team.

Branding

Does the checkout page show your brand or the provider's? When a customer clicks a link from your business and lands on a page that says "Stripe" or "GoCardless," there's a trust gap. Branded (white-label) checkout pages maintain the customer relationship and convert better.

PSP Flexibility

Are you locked into one payment processor? Most payment link providers are also the payment processor. Stripe Payment Links only process through Stripe. GoCardless links only process through GoCardless. If your business already has a preferred gateway (Worldpay, Adyen, or a regional processor), most payment link providers force you to add a second PSP relationship or switch entirely.

Team Features

Can multiple people on your team create and send links? For a sole trader, single-user access is fine. For a business with a sales team, finance team, or multiple offices, you need multi-user access with visibility into who sent what and which payments are outstanding.

Channels

How can you deliver the link? Email-only is limiting. The best providers support SMS, email, WhatsApp, QR codes, and embedding links in existing workflows or CRM tools.

Payment Methods

Does the checkout page support cards, bank transfers, digital wallets, and local payment methods? Offering more ways to pay increases completion rates.

Pricing

Transaction fees matter, but so do monthly costs, per-user fees, and hidden charges for features like SMS delivery or recurring payments.

Payment Link Providers Compared

Stripe Payment Links

Stripe Payment Links let you create a hosted checkout page without code. You generate a link from the Stripe Dashboard, share it, and payments process through Stripe.

Strengths:

• No monthly fee. Transaction-based pricing only (2.9% + 30c US / 1.4% + 20p UK)

• Supports cards, wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay), and bank debits

• Connects to the full Stripe ecosystem (subscriptions, invoicing, Connect)

• QR codes included

Limitations:

• Only works with Stripe as the processor. If you already use Worldpay, Adyen, or another gateway, you need a second PSP relationship

• Checkout page is Stripe-branded by default. Custom branding requires Stripe Checkout (developer integration)

• No built-in SMS or WhatsApp delivery. You copy a URL and send it yourself

• Single-user focus. No team dashboard for managing who sent which link

Best for: Developer-led businesses already using Stripe who need simple one-off payment collection.

GoCardless

GoCardless is primarily a Direct Debit provider but offers payment links for one-off and recurring bank-to-bank payments.

Strengths:

• Low transaction fees for Direct Debit (1% + 20p, capped at £4)

• Strong for recurring payments and subscriptions

• Open Banking support for instant bank-to-bank payments

• Good for UK and European businesses

Limitations:

• Does not support card payments on payment links. Bank transfers only

• Checkout page is GoCardless-branded

• Limited to GoCardless as the processor

• No SMS or WhatsApp delivery built in

Best for: Businesses collecting recurring payments via bank transfer (memberships, subscriptions, rent).

Square

Square offers payment links through its Point of Sale and Invoicing products.

Strengths:

• No monthly fee on the basic plan

• Clean checkout experience

• Supports cards and digital wallets

• Integrates with Square POS for businesses with physical and remote sales

Limitations:

• Only processes through Square

• Checkout is Square-branded

• Limited to Square's supported countries and currencies

• Team features are basic compared to dedicated payment link tools

Best for: Small retail or service businesses already using Square POS.

PayPal.me / PayPal Payment Links

PayPal offers shareable payment links through PayPal.me and its invoicing tools.

Strengths:

• Massive consumer recognition. Customers trust PayPal

• Supports 200+ markets and 25+ currencies

• Buyer protection increases customer confidence

• No monthly fee (transaction fees of 2.9% + fixed fee)

Limitations:

• Checkout requires the customer to have or create a PayPal account (guest checkout exists but is buried)

• PayPal-branded only. No white-label option

• Funds land in PayPal balance, not directly in your bank account (requires withdrawal)

• Limited team and reporting features

Best for: Freelancers and international sellers whose customers already use PayPal.

Adyen Pay by Link

Adyen offers payment links as part of its enterprise payment platform.

Strengths:

• Supports 250+ payment methods globally (cards, wallets, local methods)

• Strong customisation options for the checkout page

• Enterprise-grade reporting and reconciliation

• Multi-currency with intelligent routing

Limitations:

• Enterprise pricing. Not accessible for small or mid-market businesses

• Requires Adyen as the processor

• Implementation needs developer involvement

• Minimum processing volume requirements

Best for: Enterprise businesses already on the Adyen platform.

Checkout.com Pay by Link

Checkout.com provides payment links through its enterprise payment infrastructure.

Strengths:

• Global coverage with local acquiring in key markets

• Customisable checkout pages

• Strong API and reporting

• Competitive interchange++ pricing for high-volume merchants

Limitations:

• Enterprise-focused. Not designed for SMEs

• Only processes through Checkout.com

• Requires technical setup

• Pricing is custom and opaque

Best for: High-volume businesses already processing through Checkout.com.

Shuttle Links Checkout

Shuttle takes a different approach. Instead of being both the payment link provider and the processor, Shuttle is the payment link layer that works with your existing PSP. You connect your Stripe, Worldpay, Adyen, Braintree, or any of 40+ supported gateways. Then you create and send branded payment links that process through your chosen gateway.

Strengths:

• Works with 40+ payment gateways. Keep your existing PSP relationship

• Fully white-label. The checkout page carries your brand, not Shuttle's

• Multi-channel delivery: SMS, email, WhatsApp, QR codes

• Built for teams ($49/user/mo). Multi-user dashboard with link tracking, payment status, and team activity

• PCI DSS Level 1 compliant. Zero PCI scope for your business

• Supports cards, bank transfers, and digital wallets through connected PSPs

Limitations:

• Monthly per-user pricing. Not free for low-volume use

• Requires connecting at least one payment gateway (not a standalone processor)

• Not designed for consumer-facing marketplaces or e-commerce checkout

Best for: Mid-market businesses with teams that need branded payment links, already have a PSP relationship, and want multi-channel delivery without switching processors.

Comparison Table

How to Choose the Right Provider

You're a sole trader or freelancer

Go with what's simplest. If you already use Stripe, use Stripe Payment Links. If your clients prefer bank transfer, look at GoCardless. If you sell in person and remotely, Square works well. Don't pay for team features you don't need.

You're a business with a small team (5-20 people)

Team features matter now. You need visibility into which links were sent, by whom, and whether they've been paid. You also need branded checkout pages because your customers expect a professional payment experience. Stripe's free tier might still work, but you'll feel the limitations around branding and team workflows quickly.

You're a mid-market business with an existing PSP

This is where PSP flexibility becomes the deciding factor. If you process through Worldpay and your payment link provider only works with Stripe, you now have two PSP relationships to manage, two reconciliation streams, and two sets of transaction fees. Shuttle is built for this exact scenario. You connect your existing gateway and get branded payment links without adding a second processor.

You process high volume and need enterprise features

Adyen and Checkout.com are built for this, but only if you're already on their platform. If you need payment links across multiple PSPs or channels (voice, SMS, chat), you need a payment layer approach rather than a single-PSP link tool.

FAQ

What is a payment link? A payment link is a URL that takes a customer to a hosted checkout page where they can enter payment details and pay. The business creates the link, sends it to the customer (via SMS, email, WhatsApp, or any channel), and the customer pays on a secure page without needing to visit a website or download an app.

Are payment links secure? Yes. Reputable payment link providers host the checkout page on PCI-compliant infrastructure. The customer's card data is captured on a secure page and never touches your systems. This is significantly more secure than taking card details over the phone or via email.

Can I send payment links via SMS? Some providers support SMS delivery natively (Shuttle). Most others (Stripe, Square, GoCardless, PayPal) generate a URL that you then copy and send via whatever channel you choose. This means you handle the SMS delivery yourself, which may require a separate SMS provider.

Do I need a website to use payment links? No. That's the point. Payment links are hosted checkout pages. The customer clicks the link and lands on a page hosted by the payment provider. You don't need a website, e-commerce platform, or developer to start collecting payments.

Can I use payment links with my existing payment processor? With most providers, no. Stripe Payment Links only work with Stripe. GoCardless links only work with GoCardless. Shuttle is the exception: it connects to 40+ payment gateways, so you can create branded payment links that process through your existing Worldpay, Adyen, Braintree, or other PSP account.

What do payment links cost? Costs vary. Stripe and Square charge per-transaction fees with no monthly cost. GoCardless charges per Direct Debit. Shuttle charges $49/user/month. Enterprise providers like Adyen and Checkout.com have custom pricing. The right comparison isn't just the fee per transaction but the total cost including monthly fees, team user fees, and the operational cost of managing multiple PSP relationships.

Related Reading

• Payment Links Glossary — what payment links are and how they work

• How to Take Payments Online — the complete guide for service businesses

• Prommt Alternatives — comparing Prommt with Shuttle and other payment link providers

• Payment Links for Stripe — using Stripe's native payment links

• Payment Links for Hotels — industry-specific guide for hospitality

• Payment Collection for Professional Services

• Payment Links for Property Management

• How B2B Service Companies Collect Payments Faster