---
title: "Payment Link Meaning: How Pay by Link Works for Invoices"
description: "A payment link is a web address that opens a secure page where a customer can pay you by card or bank. See how pay by link works on invoices and reminders."
url: https://www.paidnice.com/dictionary/payment-link
---

# Payment Link

## What is a payment link?

**A payment link is a web address that opens a secure payment page, where a customer can pay a set amount by card, bank transfer, direct debit or wallet without the seller needing a website or checkout.** The seller creates the link, sends it by email, text or chat, and the customer clicks and pays. Taking payments this way is often called pay by link.

For invoices, a payment link turns "please pay by bank transfer to the account below" into one click. The customer does not need to copy bank details or type a reference. The payment provider handles the card or bank details, and the seller sees the payment arrive against the right invoice.

Key takeaways

**One click to pay.**The customer opens the link and pays on a hosted page, with no account or login.

**No website needed.**The payment provider hosts the page, so you can take payments from an email or a text.

**Faster invoice payments.**Fewer steps for the customer means fewer reasons to leave the invoice for later.

## How pay by link works

- You connect a payment provider such as Stripe, PayPal or your bank's service.
- You create a link for an amount, or your invoicing software creates one for each invoice.
- You send the link on the invoice, in a reminder email, by SMS or in a chat.
- The customer clicks, chooses how to pay, and confirms.
- The provider takes the payment and tells your accounting system, which marks the invoice paid.

## Types of payment link

| Type | What it is | Best for |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Invoice link | Tied to one invoice and its amount due | B2B invoices and reminders |
| Fixed amount link | Same amount every time someone uses it | Deposits, set fees, simple products |
| Open amount link | The customer types in how much to pay | Donations, part payments, tips |
| Reusable link | One link shared many times, for example on a website or QR code | Small sellers without a checkout |

## Payment link vs payment gateway vs customer portal

A [payment gateway](https://www.paidnice.com/dictionary/payment-gateway) is the service that processes the card or bank payment behind the scenes. A payment link is one way to send a customer to that gateway. A [customer payment portal](https://www.paidnice.com/customer-payment-portal) goes further: the customer sees all their open invoices in one place, pays one or several, and can download copies.

## Are payment links safe?

Payment links from a known provider are safe for the customer, because card and bank details go to the provider and never to the seller. The risk is fake links in phishing emails. Send links from a domain your customers know, put the invoice number and amount in the message, and tell customers which provider you use, so a genuine link is easy to recognize.

Frequently asked questions
What is a payment link?A payment link is a web address that opens a secure page where a customer can pay you a set amount by card, bank transfer or wallet. You send it by email, SMS or chat, and the customer pays in a few clicks.
What does pay by link mean?Pay by link means taking a payment by sending the customer a link instead of asking them to visit a checkout or enter bank details. The customer clicks the link and pays on a page hosted by the payment provider.
Can I add a payment link to an invoice?Yes. Most invoicing and accounting software can add a pay now link to each invoice, and reminder emails can carry the same link so the customer can pay straight from the reminder.
Do payment links cost money?The link itself is usually free. The payment provider charges its normal processing fee on each payment, which depends on the method, such as card or bank debit.
Can a customer pay part of an invoice through a payment link?Only if your provider and settings allow part payments. Many invoice links are set to the full amount due by default.

## Payment links in your reminders

A payment link works best when it is in front of the customer at the moment they decide to pay, which is usually when a reminder arrives. Paidnice puts a Pay Now link in reminder emails, SMS reminders, statements and the customer portal, through Stripe, Pinch, Cloud Depot or a [custom payment link](https://www.paidnice.com/blog/new-custom-payment-links) such as PayPal. It works with invoices in Xero and QuickBooks Online.

Keep reading

ProductCustomer payment portalLet customers see and pay every open invoice in one place.
DictionaryPayment gatewayThe service that processes the payment behind the link.
DictionaryRemit paymentWhat "please remit payment" means on an invoice.

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