Payment by Link: What It Is, How to Create It and How to Collect
A payment by link is a checkout URL generated by the provider: the customer clicks, pays and gets the receipt, without you running an e-commerce. In the RoxPay list the cost follows the payment method rate (SEE cards from 0.35%, SEPA Instant from €0.13 + 0.10%).
How much it costs to collect a payment by link
| Payment method | RoxPay rate | Example on €100 |
|---|---|---|
| SEE cards (Visa, Mastercard, Maestro) | €0.15 + 0.35-0.85% | €0.50-1.00 |
| Apple Pay / Google Pay | SEE card rate | €0.50-1.00 |
| SEPA Instant (transfer, PIS) | from €0.13 + 0.10% | €1.13 |
| Invoice with SDD debit | €0.25 + 0-0.13% | €0.25-0.38 |
Sources: RoxPay price list 2026. The SEE card rate depends on the card type (consumer, business, international); the payment link carries the cost of the method chosen by the customer, with no extra fixed fees.
What a payment by link is and what it is for
A payment by link is a checkout URL generated by the provider that contains the amount and transaction data: the customer opens it from phone or computer, pays and receives the receipt, without you running an online store. It is the fastest way to collect remotely when no cart exists.
Practical uses: collecting an invoice with a due date, validating a phone order, closing a quote via WhatsApp or email, selling on social and at events. The link takes the customer to a hosted page of the provider, where they pay with card or other methods: no code to install, no website needed.
The difference versus a bank transfer: the link is paid in one tap by card or wallet and the receipt arrives automatically; a transfer requires manual home banking and manual reconciliation.
How to create and send a payment link
Two paths, both supported by RoxPay (per its collection solutions channel):
- From the panel: you enter amount, description and expiry, the platform generates the URL and sends it via email, SMS or WhatsApp. The delivery is a message the customer clicks from their phone: no card data travels through messaging.
- From the API: bulk or automatic generation goes through the REST API (payment link, with status webhooks): useful for businesses issuing hundreds of invoices a month or embedding collection in their management software.
Typical customisation: amount, currency, expiry, description and usage limits. The link can be single-use or reusable, and the expiry is configurable: in the panel you set it upfront, the public default is not declared and should be confirmed with the team (source: internal payment link guide).
SME use cases: invoices, phone orders, email and WhatsApp
The cases where the link makes the difference versus a POS or a bank transfer:
- Invoices with deferred payment: you send the link with the invoice (email or PDF) and the customer pays in one tap, with no transfer to reconcile manually.
- Phone and remote orders: the amount is confirmed by the customer on the checkout, without asking for card details on the phone.
- WhatsApp and social commerce: you send the payment link in the chat or in posts, and the customer pays without leaving the chat.
- Events and group sales: a link for the booking deposit, paid before arrival.
- Professionals and consultants: no e-commerce to run, just the link sent with the invoice.
For SMEs the relevant fiscal detail is the 30% tax credit on fees (Italian Decree-Law 124/2019, art. 22): transactions collected via link fall within the same electronic payment fees list.
Security of payments via link
The checks a merchant should verify:
- PCI DSS Level 1 of the provider: RoxPay is PCI DSS L1 certified (commercial terms), with card data handled by the provider and not travelling through messaging channels.
- Dynamic 3D Secure: SCA verification triggers only when needed, based on customer and transaction risk (PSD2 rules, platform 3D Secure channel).
- Fixed amount in the link: the customer pays the set amount, with no manual edits; reconciliation happens from the dashboard with the automatic receipt.
- Expiry: the link has an expiry date set upfront, after which payment closes; what happens if the customer pays after expiry is covered in the FAQ.
The remaining risk for the merchant is the chargeback: as with any remote payment, proof of delivery and the commercial relationship protect the merchant. The [chargeback guide](/en/resources/chargeback-meaning) explains the dispute process.
How payment by link works with RoxPay
With RoxPay the link is created from the panel (amount, description, expiry) and sent via email, SMS or WhatsApp; bulk generation goes through the REST API v5 with webhooks and PHP/Node/Python SDKs. Collection settles on the business account within 48 hours, and with the T+0 service the same day (from 0.25% per payout, RoxPay commercial terms).
For recurring payments the link connects to the mandate: whoever pays a subscription from the link gets the receipt, and the next debit runs automatically (management included). To compare collection channels point by point see the [IC++ fee guide](/en/resources/payment-gateway-fees-comparison).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a payment by link cost in the RoxPay price list?
The cost follows the payment method: on SEE cards it is the card rate (with RoxPay €0.15 + 0.35-0.85% IC++), on SEPA Instant PIS from €0.13 + 0.10%, on SDD debits €0.25 + 0-0.13%. There is no separate fee for the link: the cost is that of the method chosen by the customer.
What happens if a payment link expires before payment?
An expired link no longer accepts payments: expiry customisation is available from the panel (source: RoxPay payment link guide), while the public default is not declared. You can regenerate the link with a new expiry or send it again to the customer.
Which payment methods does a payment link accept?
In the RoxPay list: SEE cards (Visa, Mastercard, Maestro), Apple Pay and Google Pay, SEPA Instant with PIS payment for instant transfers. Amex has a dedicated list (2.90%). The customer sees the available methods on the checkout page of the link.
Does a payment link expire before the customer pays?
Only if an expiry is set: expiry is a configurable parameter of the link (source: RoxPay guides). The public default is not declared publicly: it should be confirmed with the team if the default value matters for your flow.
Can I create payment links in bulk with the API?
Yes: the RoxPay REST API v5 generates links via API with webhooks and PHP/Node/Python SDKs, useful for bulk generation of invoices and quotes. The [payment link generator guide](/en/resources/payment-link-generator) covers the topic with use cases.
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