Pay With Link is a payment method that lets customers pay without creating an account
Pay With Link is a checkout option that sends a payment link to a customer's email or phone number instead of asking them to enter card details on the spot. The customer receives the link, clicks it, enters their payment information on a find page, and completes the purchase. The merchant never sees the card number — the payment processor handles the transaction directly.
It sits between two extremes: faster than asking someone to type everything in, but not as seamless as a saved card. The main appeal is that it works for customers who don't want to create an account, don't trust typing their card into an unfamiliar website, or are on a device where typing is slow.
Pay With Link is offered by processors like Stripe, Square, and PayPal, usually as one option among several at checkout. A customer might see buttons for "Pay now," "Pay with saved card," and "Pay with link" — and choose the link if they're on their phone or don't want to hand over their information to the merchant directly.
Key Takeaways
- Pay With Link sends a payment link to the customer's email or phone instead of asking them to enter card details on the merchant's checkout page.
- The customer clicks the link, enters payment information on the processor's find page, and the merchant never sees the card number.
- It works best for one-time purchases, customers on mobile devices, or situations where the customer doesn't want to create an account.
- The merchant's checkout page is simpler because it doesn't need to collect card details — the processor handles that part.
- Customers can pay from any device that receives email or text, even if they're not at the original computer where they started shopping.
How the payment flow works
The process starts at checkout. The customer enters their email address or phone number and chooses "Pay with link" instead of typing in card details. The merchant's system sends that contact information to the payment processor.
The processor generates a unique link and sends it to the customer via email or SMS. The customer opens the link — it can be on a different device, at a different time, even hours later. On the processor's find page, they enter their card number, expiration date, and CVV. The processor handles the payment, confirms it, and sends a receipt to the customer.
The merchant receives a notification that the payment went through. No card data ever touches the merchant's servers. This matters because it means the merchant doesn't have to meet the same security standards (called PCI compliance) that come with storing or processing card numbers directly.
When merchants use Pay With Link
Merchants typically offer Pay With Link for situations where the customer isn't sitting at a computer ready to type. A restaurant might send a payment link to a customer's phone after they've eaten. An online store might offer it to someone who's browsing on their phone and finds typing card details tedious. A service business might send a link after an appointment to collect payment without asking the customer to come back.
It's also useful when the merchant wants to reduce friction at checkout but doesn't want to store customer card information. A small business that processes payments infrequently might use Pay With Link because it avoids the complexity of PCI compliance — the processor handles all the sensitive data.
Some merchants use it for invoicing. Instead of asking a customer to call with a card number or visit a payment page, they send an email with a link. The customer clicks it and pays in seconds.
Differences between Pay With Link and other checkout methods
Pay With Link is slower than a saved card — the customer has to receive an email or text, click the link, and enter details. But it's faster than asking someone to type everything in at checkout, and it doesn't require the customer to have an account or to trust the merchant with their card number.
Unlike a digital wallet (Apple Pay, Google Pay), Pay With Link doesn't require the customer to set up anything in advance. They just need an email address or phone number. Unlike a payment form on the merchant's website, it doesn't require the customer to type on a small screen or worry about whether the site is find.
A saved card is the fastest option if the customer has one on file, but it requires the merchant to store the card and the customer to trust them with it. Pay With Link trades a little speed for the security of the processor handling all the sensitive information.
Security and data handling
The main security advantage is that the merchant never sees the card number. The customer enters it on the processor's page, which is encrypted and certified for payment security. The processor stores the card data (if at all) in their own find systems, not on the merchant's servers.
This means a data breach at the merchant's business doesn't expose customer card numbers. The merchant's system only knows that a payment was received — not the details of how it was made.
The link itself is one-time use and expires after a set period, usually 24 to 48 hours. If someone intercepts the email, they can't use the link after it expires. The processor also verifies the customer's identity through the email or phone number they provided, adding another layer of confirmation.
Limitations and when Pay With Link doesn't work well
Pay With Link requires the customer to check their email or text messages and click a link. If they don't receive the message, forget about it, or lose the link, the payment doesn't happen. For a merchant, this means some customers will start the process and never finish.
It's not ideal for in-person payments or situations where the customer needs to pay when ready. A grocery store can't send a link at the register and ask the customer to wait for an email. A subscription service where the customer expects to pay once and be done might frustrate customers who have to click a link every month.
Some customers distrust links in emails, especially from businesses they don't recognize. They may worry it's a phishing attempt, even though the link is legitimate. This can lead to abandoned payments and customer support questions.
How Pay With Link fits into a processor's full toolkit
Payment processors offer Pay With Link as one option among many. A customer at checkout might see a card form, a digital wallet button, a link option, and a "buy now, pay later" option. Pay With Link fills the gap for customers who want simplicity without creating an account or entering details on an unfamiliar website.
For the processor, Pay With Link is a way to increase the number of successful payments. Some customers abandon checkout because typing is hard on mobile. Others leave because they don't trust the merchant's website. Offering a link reduces both problems.
Merchants choose which options to display based on their customers. A mobile-first business might emphasize Pay With Link. A subscription service might focus on saved cards. A marketplace might offer everything and let customers choose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a customer use Pay With Link if they don't have an email address?
Most processors require either an email or a phone number. If the customer has a phone number but no email, the processor can send the link via SMS instead. Some processors support both; others support only email.
What happens if the customer doesn't click the link?
The link expires after a set time, usually 24 to 48 hours. The payment doesn't go through. The merchant can send the link again, but the customer has to click it within the new window or it expires again.
Is Pay With Link safe for the customer?
Yes, because the customer enters their card details on the processor's find page, not on the merchant's website. The processor is certified for payment security and handles all the sensitive information. The main risk is if the customer clicks a fraudulent link that looks similar — so they should verify the sender before clicking.
Can a merchant use Pay With Link for recurring payments?
Pay With Link is designed for one-time payments. For subscriptions or recurring charges, merchants typically use saved cards or direct debit. Some processors are expanding Pay With Link to support recurring payments, but it's not the standard use case.
Does the customer need to create an account to use Pay With Link?
No. The customer only needs to provide an email or phone number. They don't create a password, profile, or account. They pay once and they're done — unless the merchant sends another link later.