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

In 2025, customers expect to complete payments in the same place they start conversations. Whether it’s a WhatsApp chat, a support email, or an Instagram DM, the last thing they want is to be pushed to a separate checkout page or asked to create an account. That friction kills intent and leads to lost revenue. Based on studies from Baymard Institute, the reasons for 18 to 46% cart abandonment by consumers are long, clunky, or over-complicated checkout processes, like requiring or creating an account or login before payment.

Pay by Link solves this problem by turning conversations into transactions. It gives merchants a way to generate a secure link that customers can use to pay instantly with their preferred method. Simple for the customer, flexible for the merchant, and scalable for different business models.

In this guide, we’ve explained what Pay by Link is, how it works, who should choose it, and what you need to know about security, compliance, and operational fit.

What Is Pay by Link?

Pay by Link is a digital payment method that lets businesses create a unique URL to request and collect payments. When a customer clicks the link to pay the respective amount, they are redirected to a secure checkout page where they can complete the payment using any suitable payment mode. You’ll get the flexibility of receiving payments through a card, a digital wallet, or open banking..

The benefit is that merchants don’t need a fully integrated online store or a custom checkout. 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 your customer, or even choose to reuse it or use it one time. After generating the link, you can share it with the customer across any channel and receive payment instantly.

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.

“At Celeris, we saw that too many merchants were losing sales because the payment step wasn’t built for the way people actually shop and communicate today. Pay by Link fixes that. It lets a business close the sale in the same moment a customer says yes, without friction, without risk, and without extra tech overhead.” – Chetan Chadha, SVP at Celeris

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