Pay by Link: A Smarter Way to Accept Payments in 2025

Most businesses today close sales through conversations, not just via websites or apps. Customers interact with your brand across various channels, including Instagram, WhatsApp, email, and live chat. They ask about products, get recommendations, and are ready to buy. But when it comes to collecting payment, you often lose momentum by directing them to a complicated checkout or asking them to create an account. That friction can cost you the sale.

This is exactly where pay-by-link can help you. It allows you to send a secure, mobile-friendly payment link to your customer wherever you’re chatting. The customer opens the link, completes the payment in seconds, and you receive immediate notification without friction or a lengthy checkout process.

Pay by Link works for almost any type of business, from growing ecommerce brands to consultants and freelancers. You don’t need a website, a storefront, or any technical setup. With Celeris, you simply create a secure payment link from your dashboard and share it through the channels your customers already use, like email, WhatsApp, or live chat. Once the customer pays, the transaction is processed through your existing payment service provider or acquiring bank, and you can track it all in real time from the same dashboard.

What Is Pay by Link Exactly?

As its name suggests, ‘pay by link’ is a payment method that allows businesses to create and share a unique payment link to collect payments worldwide. This URL directs the customer to a secure checkout page where they can complete a transaction using their preferred payment method.

That might be a debit or credit card, open banking, or a digital wallet. With Celeris pay-by-link, you can generate the link in just a few steps and decide on the amount, the link expiry, a custom message for the customer, or even choose to reuse it or use it one time. Our system allows everything you need to collect payments without compromising user experience or security.

How Does the Payment Link Flow Work?

You log in to CelerisPay. From the dashboard or via API, you create a payment link by entering the amount, expiry time, reference label, and any optional notes and customer details. Our platform will instantly generate a secure link connected to your merchant account and share it directly with the customer through the chosen communication method you specified during the setup process.

With our solution, we offer merchants two options: they can either create a payment link through our automated flow by entering their details and share it directly, or they can copy and share the payment links via any platform they choose, such as WhatsApp, email, SMS, Slack, or live chat.

The customer clicks the link. A mobile-optimised checkout page opens. They pick their preferred payment method and complete the transaction. The merchant gets notified in real-time. The link can be reused or set to expire automatically after a single use or after a certain time.

For a complete flow, you can check the flow chart on how it works:

Real-World Scenarios: How Merchants Use Pay by Link

Let’s say you’re managing a mid-size ecommerce business running direct sales through customer service chats or WhatsApp support. A buyer requests a size change or wants to reorder a previously purchased item. Instead of redirecting them to your website or building a custom invoice, your team sends a pay-by-link directly in the chat. The customer completes the payment in seconds, and the fulfilment workflow continues without disruption.

Some e-commerce brands use it strategically to recover failed checkouts or abandoned carts. Instead of sending a generic cart reminder email, their support team reaches out with a tailored message and a payment link. The customer doesn’t have to re-enter items or shipping info. They click, pay, and confirm.

Why Should You Choose the Pay by Link Payment Method?

Given the current pace and demands, consumers value speed, and as a business owner, you prefer simplicity. Most businesses focus on closing the customer through calls, chats, or other methods, but they often overlook optimising their payment flow for a smooth and user-friendly experience. Many are stuck with systems built for long processes, login hurdles, or app downloads. While these systems work well for structured e-commerce, they fall short when it comes to custom orders, pop-up sales, or direct outreach.

Pay by Link is ideal for quick, unstructured payment situations. If someone messages your brand asking for a product, a quote, or a booking, you can complete the transaction instantly by sending a link. Your customer doesn’t need to visit a website, fill out forms, or switch platforms. The checkout occurs right there within a secure, branded flow. That’s why you should choose the pay by link method.

What Can You Customise with the Pay by Link Payment Method?

With the Celeris pay-by-link payment method, you can customise the branding to match your business, control the expiration or usage limit, and decide how customers pay. Whether it’s a fixed amount, an open field for donations, or a link for recurring payments, it’s customisable for your payment flow.

You can refund directly from your dashboard, track real-time payment status, and view transaction history with full transparency. The system works across devices and locations, and supports PCI-compliant security measures to ensure safe transactions every time.

Key Takeaways