Pay-by-Link Payments: How They Work and When to Use Them

Not every sale happens at a till or on a website. Deposits for table bookings, invoices for events, orders taken over the phone: all of these need a fast, secure way to get paid. That's where pay-by-link comes in.

What is pay-by-link?

Pay-by-link lets you create a secure payment link and send it to a customer by email, text, WhatsApp or social media. The customer taps the link, enters their card details or uses Apple Pay or Google Pay on a secure payment page, and the money is on its way to you. No terminal, no website checkout and no card details read out over the phone.

When to use pay-by-link

It works well for booking deposits for restaurants, hotels and events, for phone and social media orders, for invoices and outstanding balances, and for businesses that sell occasionally online but don't need a full e-commerce site.

Why it's safer than taking card details by phone

Writing down card numbers or keying them in from a call puts you at risk of fraud and creates extra PCI compliance work. With pay-by-link, the customer enters their own details on a secure payment page, so sensitive card data never passes through your staff.

Tips for getting paid faster

Send the link straight after the conversation while the customer is still engaged. Add a clear description and the exact amount so there are no surprises. Set an expiry date on links for deposits and bookings. And follow up automatically on links that haven't been paid.

How Moola helps

Moola's pay-by-link payments let hospitality and retail businesses take secure payments wherever the conversation happens, alongside card and e-commerce payments in one place. Get started with Moola today.