Payment Links and QR Codes: How to Collect Payments Without a Website

Payment links and QR codes explained for UK businesses: Stripe, PayPal, SumUp, Square costs, use cases, and when each method makes sense.

Payment links and QR codes let you collect card payments without building a website or integrating a payment gateway. You generate a link or code from your payment provider, share it with your customer, and they pay through a hosted checkout page.

We cover how payment links and QR codes work, what they cost, which providers offer them, and the scenarios where each method is the right tool — including where a full gateway integration makes more sense.

What Payment Links Are and How They Work

A payment link is a URL that points to a hosted checkout page managed by your payment provider. Your customer clicks the link, enters their card details on the provider’s secure page, and the payment is processed. You receive the funds and a confirmation notification.

Card data never touches your system. The hosted checkout is maintained by Stripe, PayPal, SumUp, or whichever provider generated the link. This means PCI scope is minimal — equivalent to SAQ A, the simplest self-assessment level.

Payment links are not a different type of transaction. The same card interchange, scheme fees, and processor margin apply as on any card payment. The only difference is the delivery mechanism — a URL instead of a terminal or embedded checkout form.

We find payment links most useful for businesses that bill clients remotely: consultants sending invoices, tradespeople collecting deposits, freelancers receiving one-off payments. They remove the need for clients to initiate a bank transfer or for you to be physically present with a card reader.

Payment link vs payment gateway: what is the difference?
A payment gateway is an integration built into your website or checkout — your customer pays without leaving your site. A payment link redirects your customer to a hosted page owned by the provider. Payment links require no code or integration; gateways give more control over the checkout experience and work better for high-volume or repeat-purchase businesses.

Payment Link Providers and Costs

Stripe generates payment links from its dashboard at 1.5% + 20p for UK card transactions — the same rate as standard Stripe processing, with no additional link fee. You can set a fixed price, allow the customer to enter their own amount, and add a product image and description.

PayPal payment links (via PayPal.me or PayPal’s payment link tool) charge 1.2%–2.99% depending on your account tier and transaction type. PayPal links are useful when your customers are already PayPal users — the brand recognition reduces hesitation for clients unfamiliar with paying a business directly.

SumUp generates payment links through its app at 1.69% per transaction. Square payment links charge 1.75%. Both generate links in under two minutes from the mobile app or web dashboard.

We recommend these if you already use a SumUp or Square card reader and want a consistent account for in-person and remote payments.

GoCardless offers payment links for direct debit mandate setup at 1% + 20p, capped at £4.

This is the right choice if you want to collect a recurring payment or switch a client from invoice billing to direct debit — the link takes them through the mandate setup flow rather than a one-off card payment.

QR Code Payments: How They Differ from Payment Links

A QR code is a visual representation of a URL. Scanning it with a smartphone camera opens the same hosted checkout page a payment link would load. The payment mechanics are identical — the difference is how your customer accesses the checkout.

Static QR codes link to a general payment page where the customer enters the amount. Dynamic QR codes pre-populate a specific amount and reference, reducing the steps your customer needs to complete.

Dynamic QR codes are generated by your payment provider app and can be printed or displayed on a screen.

QR codes suit point-of-sale scenarios where the customer is physically present but you want to avoid handling a card terminal: market stalls, pop-up events, table ordering, or pay-at-table setups where you display a QR code on the receipt.

We find QR codes less useful for remote or invoice billing — sharing a QR code via email or text is less intuitive for most clients than clicking a link. For remote payments, a standard payment link in the body of an invoice is the lower-friction option.

Payment Link and QR Code Providers Compared (UK, 2026)

We have set out the main payment link and QR code options for UK businesses, with costs and best-fit guidance.

Use Cases: When Payment Links and QR Codes Work Best

Payment links are the right tool for service businesses billing remote clients. A freelancer invoicing a client in another city, a tradesperson collecting a deposit before starting a job, a consultant sending a fee request — all benefit from a payment link on the invoice.

The client clicks and pays immediately rather than logging into banking to arrange a transfer.

For sole traders and small businesses with irregular client bases, payment links remove the need for a payment gateway integration. You can accept card payments from day one without building a website or connecting an e-commerce platform.

QR codes work best at a fixed physical location where the customer is present.

A printed QR code on your market stall table, a laminated code at a pop-up bar, or a QR on a printed menu for pay-at-table — all are scenarios where the customer can scan without needing to receive a message from you.

We recommend payment links over QR codes for any remote or invoice scenario, and QR codes over payment links for in-person scenarios where you want a hands-off payment experience without a card terminal present.

Neither method replaces a full payment gateway for high-volume ecommerce. If you process hundreds of transactions a week, a Stripe or Checkout.com gateway integration with automated reconciliation is the right setup — not manual payment links.

Setting Up and Sharing Payment Links

Every major provider generates payment links from its dashboard or app without any technical setup. In Stripe, go to Payment Links, click Create link, add a product name and price, and copy the URL.

The process takes under two minutes. SumUp and Square work the same way from their mobile apps.

Once you have the link, you can include it in email invoices as a “Pay now” button, send it via WhatsApp or SMS for informal billing, or add it to your Instagram or LinkedIn bio for social-media-based sales.

You can also generate a QR code version to print on a business card or flyer.

We recommend adding a payment link to every invoice you send, even to clients who pay by bank transfer. Some clients will use the link rather than logging into banking — it typically accelerates payment on outstanding invoices.

For recurring clients, switching to direct debit via GoCardless is more efficient than sending a new payment link each month. The GoCardless payment link sets up the mandate once; subsequent collections happen automatically on your schedule.

Keep a record of each payment link and the invoice it corresponds to. Most providers allow you to add a reference or description to the link — use your invoice number. This makes reconciliation straightforward at month end.

Bottom line: Add a payment link to every invoice for clients who do not pay by bank transfer. Use QR codes at fixed physical locations where a card terminal is impractical.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a payment link and how do I create one?
A payment link is a URL that takes your customer to a hosted checkout page where they can pay by card. You create one from your payment provider’s dashboard or app — Stripe, PayPal, SumUp, and Square all support this. The process takes under two minutes: you set a price (or leave it open for the customer to enter), add a description, and copy the generated URL. There is no technical setup, no website required, and no extra fee beyond the standard transaction rate.

Do payment links cost extra compared to standard card processing?
No. Payment links are charged at your standard transaction rate with no additional link fee. Stripe charges 1.5% + 20p for UK cards on payment links — the same as a standard Stripe card transaction. SumUp charges 1.69%, Square 1.75%, PayPal 1.2%–2.99% depending on your account tier. The link is just the delivery mechanism for the payment — it does not change the underlying fee structure.

Can I put a payment link in an invoice?
Yes, and we recommend it. Adding a payment link to your invoice as a “Pay now” button or URL gives clients the option to pay immediately by card without logging into online banking to arrange a transfer. Most invoicing software (FreeAgent, QuickBooks, Xero) lets you embed a payment link or connect directly to Stripe or PayPal so the link is auto-generated on each invoice. If you use a manual invoice template, you can paste the link URL directly into the document.

How does a QR code payment work for a customer?
Your customer opens their smartphone camera, points it at the QR code, and taps the link that appears. This opens a payment page in their browser — the same hosted checkout a payment link would load. They enter their card details (or use Apple Pay / Google Pay) and the payment is processed. No app download is required. The QR code is simply a visual way to share a URL — the payment mechanics are identical to clicking a payment link.

Is it safe to send payment links to clients?
Payment links generated by Stripe, PayPal, SumUp, or Square are hosted on the provider’s secure servers with SSL/TLS encryption. Your client’s card data is handled by the provider, not by you. The risk to be aware of: fraudsters can send fake payment links impersonating legitimate businesses. Your clients should verify that a payment link comes from a domain they recognise (e.g. buy.stripe.com, paypal.me). We recommend noting the link domain on your invoice so clients know what to expect.

When should I use a payment link vs a proper payment gateway?
Use a payment link if you are billing clients individually, have a low transaction volume, or do not have a website. Use a payment gateway integration if you have an ecommerce site, need automated order management, process high volumes, or want to offer a branded checkout experience. Payment links are ideal for freelancers, sole traders, and service businesses. Payment gateway integrations (Stripe, Checkout.com) are better suited to businesses processing hundreds of transactions a week where manual link generation would be impractical.

How we put this guide together

Payment link rates and feature availability sourced from published merchant documentation: Stripe, PayPal, SumUp, Square, and GoCardless (April 2026). Rates are standard published figures; volume discounts and negotiated rates may be available.

PCI DSS scope classification (SAQ A for hosted payment pages) from PCI Security Standards Council framework documentation. All providers listed generate and host payment links on their own infrastructure.

This is editorial guidance, not regulated financial advice. We have no commercial relationship with any payment provider named in this article.