Payment links for eCommerce 2026: Fees and platforms

Key takeaways

• Generating a payment link helps digital merchants accept payments instantly across messaging channels without building complex websites.

• Processing fees, foreign exchange markups, and cross-border conversion charges can severely reduce profit margins for international sales.

• Airwallex Payment Links help your eCommerce business grow globally with 160+ payment methods and like-for-like settlement.

Accepting customer payments quickly is essential for growing eCommerce businesses. Setting up a payment link gives you an immediate way to collect funds via WhatsApp, email, and digital invoices without engineering effort. This guide breaks down provider options, processing fees, and how Airwallex helps businesses optimise cross-border revenue.

Understanding payment links: How they work and buyer requirements

Payment links give eCommerce businesses a quick, flexible way to collect customer payments without building a full online checkout. They are especially useful for social commerce, custom orders, and international sales.

How payment links work: From creation to settlement

A payment link is a secure URL that directs customers to a hosted checkout page. To create one, the merchant enters details such as the payment amount, currency, and product description in the provider’s dashboard, then shares the link through the customer’s preferred channel.

When the customer clicks the link, the checkout interface opens in their browser. The customer selects their preferred payment method, enters their details, and completes the transaction.

Core use cases for eCommerce businesses and social commerce sellers

Payment links can support several common eCommerce and service-business scenarios:

• Social commerce selling: Merchants operating on WhatsApp, Instagram, and WeChat can close orders directly inside chat threads.

• Custom invoicing: B2B exporters and service providers can embed direct payment URLs into digital PDF invoices and emails.

• Bespoke orders: Businesses handling custom client requests can generate specific links reflecting negotiated quotes.

• Deposit collection: Companies can collect upfront deposits and retainers before starting service delivery and product manufacturing.

These use cases make payment links particularly useful for businesses that sell through several channels or do not need a full online shop.

Creating and sending payment links without a website

Payment links let merchants start accepting payments with a simple checkout link instead of building a dedicated website and full checkout flow. You can create a link with a few basic details, and share it through your messaging channels.

How to generate a custom payment link in minutes

The exact steps vary by provider, but the process usually looks like this:

1. Log into your financial portal and open the payment link generation section.

2. Click the option to create a new payment link.

3. Enter transaction details, including the total amount, settlement currency, and product description.

4. Select accepted payment methods, such as credit card networks and e-wallets.

5. Generate the unique link and copy it to your clipboard for distribution.

With Airwallex, merchants can also create one-time or reusable Payment Links and download a QR code where needed.

Sharing payment links via WhatsApp, social media, and email

A payment link is a standard web address, so it is easy to share during an active customer conversation. Social commerce sellers regularly paste links into WhatsApp chats, Instagram messages, and WeChat conversations to collect funds during active customer discussions.

Invoicing teams also embed links inside billing emails and digital documents. Overseas buyers can click the link to pay instantly using their credit card and preferred local payment method, avoiding manual bank transfer delays.

Configuring link parameters: Fixed amounts, open amounts, single-use, and expiration dates

Advanced payment link solutions give merchants flexible administrative controls to protect cash flow and operational security:

• Fixed amount links: Designed for standardised products and services with set prices.

• Open amount links: Suitable for deposits, variable invoices, and open donations where the customer enters the final payment value.

• Single-use limits: Links that automatically deactivate after one successful payment, preventing duplicate uses.

• Expiration dates: Merchants can set links to expire after specific timeframes, encouraging quick customer settlement.

These controls help merchants tailor each payment link to the transaction and manage collections with greater control.

Comparing payment link platforms for eCommerce businesses

The right provider depends on where your customers are based, which payment methods they prefer, and how you manage revenue in different currencies. The comparison below highlights the key differences for Hong Kong eCommerce businesses.

Feature and usability matrix for Hong Kong merchants

For merchants selling across markets, Airwallex combines broad payment method coverage with multi-currency collection and like-for-like settlement. The sections below explain where each provider may fit and what to consider before choosing one.

Airwallex: Ideal for cross-border eCommerce

Advantages

• Accept payments through 160+ local payment methods.

• Collect in 130+ currencies across 180+ regions.

• Settle like-for-like in 20+ currencies, helping merchants manage foreign currency revenue directly.

• Access a unified financial and payment platform with local clearing networks and interbank FX rates.

For Hong Kong businesses focused on cross-border growth, we recommend Airwallex for its broad payment method coverage, multi-currency collection, and like-for-like settlement.

Navigating cross-border payment fees, FX markups, and local currency settlement

Cross-border payment costs extend beyond card processing fees. Foreign exchange mark-ups, local currency pricing, and the way you manage collected funds can all affect your final margin.

Understanding payment processing fees and FX markups

Payment links typically involve a percentage processing fee and a fixed transaction fee. In Hong Kong, domestic card payments usually charge lower. International cards and currency conversion can add further costs, so merchants should compare the total fee structure.

Pricing in local currencies to improve checkout conversion

Showing prices in the buyer's local currency makes checkout clearer and can build trust. Local acquiring rails can also improve authorisation rates and reduce unexpected foreign transaction fees for customers.

Like-for-like settlement and multi-currency management

Like-for-like settlement lets merchants receive and manage foreign currency without forced conversion into HKD. For example, USD received from a US customer can be used directly to pay overseas suppliers and service providers, reducing unnecessary FX conversions.

Airwallex supports collection in 130+ currencies across 180+ regions and like-for-like settlement in 20+ currencies, helping merchants save up to 80% on FX fees compared with traditional bank options.

Are payment links secure? How to handle buyer disputes?

Payment links can be secure when provided by a PCI-DSS-compliant provider. Hosted checkout pages keep card details on the provider's secure systems rather than on your own website, reducing the merchant's security and compliance burden. Merchants should also take simple steps to reduce fraud, prevent chargebacks, and resolve disputes efficiently.

How payment links protect customer payments

Reputable providers encrypt card data during transmission and use 3D secure (3DS) to add verification when a payment appears risky. Automated risk checks can flag suspicious activity, helping block fraudulent transactions while keeping checkout smooth for legitimate buyers.

How to reduce chargebacks and manage disputes

Chargebacks often result from buyer confusion, missing fulfilment evidence, or unclear refund terms. Merchants can reduce disputes by following a few practical steps:

• Use a recognisable business name and clear transaction descriptors so customers can identify the charge.

• Send an automatic receipt with order details after each payment.

• Keep proof of delivery, tracking numbers, and fulfilment records.

• Display clear refund, return, and cancellation terms before checkout.

Together, these steps help merchants build trust, respond to disputes with stronger evidence, and protect your cash flow.

Why Hong Kong eCommerce merchants choose Airwallex Payment Links

Airwallex Payment Link is a straightforward way to accept global payments without writing code and maintaining a website. Merchants can generate the link instantly within the WebApp, customise the payment experience with their own domain, logo, and business name, and choose one-time or reusable links. They can also embed links in invoices created by their accounting software, simplifying payment collection and invoicing.

Instant access to 160+ payment methods and 130+ collection currencies

Airwallex Payment Links connect merchants to a unified payment infrastructure, making it easier to accept payments through cards, local wallets, and domestic transfer methods. Sellers can collect funds across 180+ regions in 130+ currencies using credit cards, local e-wallets, and domestic transfer methods.

Seamless integration with Airwallex Business Accounts for low-cost global payouts

Airwallex Payment Links integrate directly with Business Accounts, giving merchants access to dedicated Global Accounts for multi-currency management. Collected funds flow directly into your balance, where they can be managed, converted at interbank exchange rates, and paid out to overseas suppliers.

To streamline your payment workflows and protect cross-border profit margins, open an Airwallex Business Account today.

Frequently asked questions

Do buyers need to register for an account to complete a payment link transaction?

Buyers do not need to need neither an account registration nor an app download to complete a payment link transaction. When a customer opens a payment link, they are directed to a secure, browser-based checkout page where they enter standard credit card details and select supported digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Can I send a payment link to an international customer via WhatsApp?

You can send a payment link to international customers via WhatsApp, email, and any social messaging channel. Because the payment link functions as a standard web URL, customers can click the link on any device to complete their purchase immediately.

What is the cheapest payment link provider for Hong Kong businesses?

Determining the most cost-effective payment link provider depends on your customer location and transaction currency mix. Airwallex offers competitive value for cross-border merchants by providing like-for-like settlement in 20+ currencies, helping businesses save up to 80% on foreign exchange conversion charges compared with traditional providers.

How do payment links handle currency conversion for overseas buyers?

Payment links manage currency conversion by detecting the buyer's location and presenting prices in their local currency, with rates based on live interbank exchange feeds. If the merchant uses multi-currency settlement tools, the customer pays in their native currency while the merchant receives and manages those funds directly without undergoing forced currency conversion.

Sources:

Information was sourced as of August 2026 for reference purposes. For the latest details, please visit each provider’s official website.

• https://www.hkma.gov.hk/

• https://stripe.com/hk/payment-links

• https://www.paypal.com/hk/webapps/mpp/payment-links

• https://payme.hsbc.com.hk/business

Disclaimer: This article was prepared in August 2026 based on voluntary online research and publicly available information. We have not personally tested every tool or provider mentioned. This article is for educational purposes only, and readers should independently evaluate each service provider based on their specific business requirements. Content is updated every six months. To request an update, please contact us at [email protected].