Websites · Compared
Stripe Checkout vs Payment Links
Stripe Checkout is a hosted payment page that a website creates for each order through the Stripe API, with the exact items, prices, shipping and tax of that cart. Payment Links are reusable links you create in the Stripe dashboard for a fixed product or amount, with no code. Both open a Stripe hosted page; Checkout suits carts and stock, Payment Links suit simple fixed offers.
Payment Links are actually built on Checkout: they are prebuilt Checkout sessions anyone can open. The difference is who creates the session and how much it knows about the order.
Nuwan Madhusanka · Co-founder
3 min read · Published
| Factor | Checkout session | Payment Link |
|---|---|---|
| Created by | Your site or platform, per order, through the API | You, once, in the Stripe dashboard |
| Cart | Any mix of items and quantities | A fixed product or set of products |
| Prices | Worked out by your server for that order | Set on the link |
| Stock | Can be reserved by your system before paying | Not tied to your stock |
| Shipping and tax | Set per order from your rules | Options set on the link |
| Code needed | Yes, or a platform that does it | No |
How a Checkout session works
When a buyer presses Checkout on your site, your server asks Stripe to create a session with the order lines, shipping option, tax line and return addresses, and redirects the buyer to the Stripe hosted page. After payment, Stripe sends the buyer back and notifies your server, which marks the order paid.
How a Payment Link works
In the Stripe dashboard you create a link for a product or amount, with options such as quantity, shipping address collection or promotion codes. Anyone with the link can pay. It is ideal for selling one product from a social post, an email or a QR code, without a website at all.
Which suits a website store
A store with a cart, stock, several shipping zones, discount codes and pickup needs per order sessions, because the price and items change with every order and stock must be held while the buyer pays. Payment Links suit a single fixed offer, a deposit, or an invoice style payment.
Common mistakes
Using Payment Links for products with limited stock, then overselling. Building a custom checkout form when Stripe hosted Checkout would handle wallets, security checks and receipts for you. And not listening for Stripe confirmation, relying only on the buyer landing on a thank you page.
Where it shows up in OneCraft
The store creates a Stripe Checkout session per order on your connected account, after reserving stock for 35 minutes. The browser sends only product ids and quantities; the server prices the lines, discount, shipping and tax and checks they add up to the total. The thank you page polls the order until Stripe confirms payment. Proposals invoices use pay links separately.
Questions people ask
Are Payment Links the same as Checkout?
Payment Links are built on Checkout: opening one creates a Checkout session from the settings saved on the link. The difference is that a Payment Link is fixed and created by hand, while a session made by your site is built fresh for each order with that order details.
Can I use Payment Links on my website?
Yes, as buttons or links for fixed products, and many small sellers start that way. The limits appear with a cart, stock, multiple shipping rules or discount logic, where each order differs and a link cannot know the details, so a store with Checkout sessions fits better.
Which is more secure?
Both use the same Stripe hosted payment page, so card details never touch your site in either case. The security difference is in pricing: a per order session priced by your server cannot be altered by a buyer editing the page, which matters once a cart and discounts are involved.
Do Payment Links track inventory?
Not your own inventory. A Payment Link knows the product and price you set in Stripe, not how many you have on a shelf. If stock is limited, use a store that holds stock during checkout, or check sales manually and deactivate the link when you sell out.
Which one sends receipts?
Both can. Stripe can email receipts for payments from either, depending on your Stripe settings, and a store may also send its own receipt with order details, delivery or pickup information and download links. Avoid sending buyers two confusing receipts for one order.
Make one with websites
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Create a website with OneCraftRelated questions
- What is Stripe Connect?What is Stripe Connect? The Stripe product that lets a platform take payments for sellers into their own Stripe accounts. Connected accounts, fees and refunds.
- What is inventory reservation?What is inventory reservation? Holding items for a buyer during checkout so two people cannot pay for the last one. How holds work, expire and become sales.
- What is an abandoned cart?What is an abandoned cart? A shopping cart or checkout a buyer started but did not pay for. The usual reasons, typical rates, and what small stores can do.
Written and checked by the OneCraft team. Last checked .