Payment links, hosted checkout or integrated checkout: choosing how to get paid online
You do not need a full e-commerce build to start collecting payments online. The right option depends on how you sell, how many payments you take, and how much control you need over the experience.
Which is better for a small business: payment links or an integrated checkout?
Payment links are usually the fastest way to start: you create a link for an amount and share it by message, email or invoice, with no website or coding needed. An integrated checkout — built into your website or app through a payment gateway — suits businesses with many online orders that want a seamless experience and automation. Many businesses use both: integrated checkout for their store, and payment links for one-off, remote or custom payments.
- Payment links need no website or code and suit one-off, remote and custom payments.
- Hosted checkout sends customers to a ready-made payment page, reducing your build and security effort.
- Integrated checkout gives the most control and automation but needs development work.
- The options are not exclusive — most growing businesses end up using more than one.
The three main options
- Payment links
- A link tied to an amount and description. You share it through WhatsApp, SMS, email or an invoice, and the customer pays on a secure page. No website or integration is needed.
- Hosted checkout
- Your website sends the customer to a payment page run by your payment provider. After paying, the customer returns to your site. You build less, and card details are entered on the provider's page rather than yours.
- Integrated checkout
- The payment step is built into your own website or app through a payment gateway's APIs or SDKs. You control the full experience and can automate order handling end to end.
How they compare
| Payment links | Hosted checkout | Integrated checkout | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup effort | Lowest — create and share | Moderate — connect your site | Highest — development and testing |
| Needs a website | No | Yes | Yes, or an app |
| Control over the experience | Limited | Partial | Full |
| Automation | Manual or semi-automatic | Good | Highest |
| Best for | Remote sales, invoices, custom amounts | Simple online stores | High-volume stores, apps, platforms |
When payment links make sense
- You sell over the phone, chat or social media and need to collect payment remotely.
- Amounts vary — quotes, custom orders, advance deposits, balances due.
- You invoice customers and want them to pay directly from the invoice.
- You are just starting and do not have a website yet.
Good practice: set an expiry on links for time-bound offers, include a clear description so the customer knows what they are paying for, and use a reference that lets you match the payment to the order later.
When an integrated checkout makes sense
- You take many online orders and want payments to update orders automatically.
- You need a consistent branded experience inside your website or app.
- You want to support saved payment methods, subscriptions or complex flows.
- You have, or can hire, the development capacity to build and maintain it.
If you go this route, plan time for testing in a sandbox and for handling edge cases such as time-outs and late confirmations. Our go-live checklist covers what to test.
A simple way to decide
- Where do your customers decide to buy? If it is in a conversation, start with payment links. If it is on your website or app, you need a checkout.
- How many payments do you take? A handful a week can be managed with links; hundreds a day need automation.
- What development capacity do you have? No developers points to links or hosted checkout; an in-house team makes integrated checkout practical.
- Will you need more than one? Usually yes — many businesses keep payment links alongside their main checkout for exceptions.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a website to accept online payments?
No. Payment links let you collect payments by sharing a link through messaging apps, email or invoices, without a website.
Are payment links secure?
Payment links open a payment page hosted by the payment provider, so the customer's payment details are entered there rather than shared with you. As with any link, only share it with the intended customer and use expiry dates for time-bound payments.
Can I use payment links and a website checkout together?
Yes. Many businesses use an integrated or hosted checkout for their store and payment links for phone orders, custom quotes and outstanding balances.
What is the difference between hosted and integrated checkout?
With hosted checkout the customer pays on the provider's page and then returns to your site. With integrated checkout the payment step is built into your own site or app, giving you more control but requiring more development.
This article is general information to explain concepts and good practice. It is not legal, tax, accounting or financial advice. Last updated 23 Sep 2026. Found something unclear or out of date? Tell us.