If you're new to payment links, it helps to first understand how they differ from a regular checkout payment. This article explains the difference and when each is used.
Regular checkout payment
A regular payment happens as part of your store's normal checkout flow. The customer adds items to their cart, goes through checkout on your website, and pays right there using an integrated payment method. It's tied to an actual order placed in your store.
Payment link
A payment link is a standalone payment request that isn't tied to a store checkout at all. You (the merchant) create a link and send it to the customer through whatever channel you like: email, text message, an invoice, or social media. The customer pays by simply clicking the link, without needing to visit your store or add anything to a cart.
Note: Checkout and payment links draw from the same activated payment services in the Partner System (e.g. bank payments, card payments, financing etc.) — so whatever's already active in your Montonio account, will also appear on your payment links, no extra setup needed.
Key differences
| Regular checkout payment | Payment link |
Trigger | Customer initiates via merchant's online store | Merchant initiates and sends it |
Use case | Standard online purchases | Invoices, deposits, abandoned carts, upsells, offline sales |
Where it lives | Part of the store's order flow | Independent — works without a live online store |
Delivery | Happens in the online store's checkout | Sent via email, text message, social media, or QR code |
Flexibility | Fixed to what's in the cart | Can be created for any amount, description, or one-off charge |
In short: a regular payment is store-initiated and cart-based, while a payment link is merchant-initiated and works independently of a storefront.