What a Square payment link is and why you'd use one

A Square payment link is a unique URL that lets someone pay you without needing a Square register, app, or card reader. You create the link in your Square account, send it to a customer via text, email, or social media, and they click it to pay by card or digital wallet. The money lands in your Square account the same way it would from an in-person transaction.

Payment links work for invoices, donations, event tickets, online orders, or any time you need payment but don't have a website. They're useful if you're a freelancer, small business owner, or anyone collecting money remotely. Square handles the payment processing; you don't manage card details yourself.

The link stays active until you deactivate it, so you can reuse the same link for repeat customers or create new ones for different amounts or purposes.

Key Takeaways

  • Payment links are created inside your Square Dashboard under the Invoices or Payment Links section, depending on your account type.
  • You can set a fixed amount, let customers enter their own amount, or create a link that works for multiple transactions.
  • Customers pay by entering card details or using Apple Pay, Google Pay, or other digital wallets directly on the payment page.
  • Square charges its standard processing fee (2.9% + $0.30 for online card payments, or your negotiated rate) each time someone uses the link.
  • You can track payments, send reminders, and disable the link anytime from your Dashboard.

Step-by-step: Creating a payment link in Square Dashboard

Log into your Square Dashboard at squareup.com. From the left menu, select Invoices (if you're sending a formal invoice) or Payment Links (if you want a simple shareable URL). Both routes create a link; Invoices add more detail like line items and due dates.

If you choose Payment Links, click Create or + New Payment Link. Enter a description of what you're charging for—this appears on the customer's receipt and in your records. Set the amount: you can enter a fixed price, leave it blank so customers can enter their own amount, or set a minimum.

Add optional details like a note to the customer, your business name, or a logo if your account supports it. Then click Create Link or Save. Square generates a unique URL that looks like squareup.com/pay/[random string].

Copy the link and send it however you want: email, text, social media, or a website. When the customer clicks it, they land on a Square payment page, enter their card or digital wallet, and complete the transaction. You'll see the payment in your Dashboard within seconds.

Customizing your payment link

Square lets you add a custom note that appears above the payment button—use this to explain what the payment is for, include terms, or add instructions. You can also upload a photo or logo to make the page look more like your business.

If you're using Invoices instead of Payment Links, you can itemize charges (for example, "Consulting: $200, Rush fee: $50") and set a due date. The customer sees the breakdown and can pay the full invoice or, if you've turned on partial payments, pay part of it now and the rest later.

You can also set the link to accept multiple payments—useful if you're collecting deposits or installments. Each time someone pays, the link remains active unless you manually disable it.

What happens when a customer pays

When someone clicks your link and enters payment details, Square processes the transaction in real time. The customer sees a confirmation page with a receipt number. You receive an email notification, and the payment appears in your Square Dashboard under Transactions within seconds.

The money is deposited into your linked bank account according to your payout schedule—usually one to two business days for most accounts, though timing varies by bank and account type. Square deducts its processing fee from the payout.

You can send the customer a receipt via email from your Dashboard, and you can also track the link's performance—how many times it was clicked, how many payments came through, and which ones are still pending.

Fees and what you'll pay

Square charges 2.9% + $0.30 per online card payment made through a payment link. This is the standard rate for card-not-present transactions. If you have a negotiated rate with Square (for example, through a point-of-sale plan), that rate may apply instead—check your account settings or contact Square support to confirm.

There is no fee to create the link itself, and no monthly subscription required just to use payment links. You only pay when someone actually pays.

If a customer uses a digital wallet like Apple Pay or Google Pay, the same fee applies. If you later refund a payment, Square refunds the fee as well.

Disabling or deleting a payment link

If you no longer want the link to work, go to your Dashboard, find the link under Invoices or Payment Links, and click Disable or Deactivate. The link will no longer accept payments, but the transaction history stays in your account.

You can re-enable the link later if needed. If you want to permanently remove it from your Dashboard, you can delete it, though this is optional—disabled links simply sit inactive and don't clutter your workflow.

If you've already sent the link to customers and then disable it, they'll see an error message if they try to pay. Let them know the link is no longer active and provide a new one if you want them to pay.

Security and fraud protection

Square's payment page is encrypted and PCI-compliant, meaning it meets the security standards required for handling card data. You never see or store the customer's full card number—Square handles that part.

Square also monitors transactions for fraud and can flag suspicious activity. If a payment looks risky, Square may hold it for review before depositing it to your account. You'll be notified if this happens.

Because you're sending a link rather than collecting card details yourself, you reduce your own fraud risk and compliance burden. The customer enters their information directly into Square's secure page, not into an email or form you control.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the amount after I've created the link?

If you created a link with a fixed amount, you'll need to create a new link to charge a different price. However, if you created the link without a set amount (so customers enter their own), the same link works for any amount. For invoices, you can edit the amount before sending it to the customer, but once they've received it, create a new invoice if the price changes.

What if a customer's payment fails?

The customer will see an error message on the payment page and can try again with a different card or payment method. You'll see the failed attempt in your Dashboard but won't be charged a fee for it. The link remains active, so they can retry anytime.

Can I use a payment link on my website?

Yes. You can embed the link in an email, post it on social media, or add it to your website as a button or text link. Some website builders let you embed Square payment links directly; others require you to link to the Square page. Check your website platform's documentation or Square's support site for embedding instructions.

Do I need a Square account to send a payment link?

Yes. You need an active Square account to create and manage payment links. Creating an account is free, but you'll need to provide basic business information and link a bank account for payouts.

Can customers save their card to pay faster next time?

Square's payment page offers the option to save payment details for future transactions if you've turned on that feature in your account settings. Customers can choose to save or not; it's their decision. This can speed up repeat payments, but it's optional.