Updated 2026 Comparison

Best Payment Link Tools in the UK

Compare Stripe, PayPal, Square, SumUp, PayPal POS/Zettle and Simply Link for UK freelancers, tradespeople and solo service professionals who need payment links, simple checkout and less awkward chasing.

The best payment link tool is not always the cheapest one. For UK solo professionals, the better question is whether the tool fits the way you actually get paid.

If you are a cleaner, tutor, dog walker, gardener, tradesperson, beautician, photographer, childminder, personal trainer or window cleaner, you probably do not need a complicated ecommerce setup. You need a clean way to send a payment link, make the client feel safe paying, and know what happens if they forget.

This guide compares the main payment link tools available to UK businesses in 2026, including Stripe, PayPal, Square, SumUp, PayPal POS/Zettle and Simply Link. It looks at fees, checkout experience, branding, reminders, deposits, balances, payment tracking and the type of business each option suits best.

Quick answer

Stripe is strongest for raw card payment infrastructure. PayPal is familiar to many customers. Square, SumUp and PayPal POS/Zettle are strongest when you also take in-person payments. Simply Link is strongest when your main issue is not creating a payment link, but getting the client to actually pay it without you manually chasing.

Payment toolkit

See the full workflow from pricing to reminders.

Free payment tools

Generate wording, prices, terms and reminders.

Send a payment link

Learn how payment links work in practice.

Fees and features can change. This page is a practical comparison guide for UK businesses and should be checked against each provider before switching.

What are the best tools for generating secure payment links?

A secure payment link tool should do more than produce a URL. It should give your client a trustworthy checkout, show what they are paying for, work well on phones and help you keep track of whether the payment has actually happened.

Fast link creation

You should be able to create and send a payment link quickly without building a product catalogue or complicated checkout setup.

Mobile checkout

Most clients pay from their phone, so the payment page needs to work smoothly from WhatsApp, text, email and social messages.

Clear UK fees

A good tool makes it easy to understand UK card fees, online payment fees, monthly costs and any extras.

Trust and security

Clients need to feel safe entering card details, especially when the link is sent by message rather than through a website.

Professional branding

A payment link should feel connected to your business, not like a random link copied from a dashboard.

Automatic reminders

If the client forgets to pay, the tool should help with polite follow-up instead of leaving every nudge to you.

Payment status

You need to know which links are paid, unpaid, overdue or waiting without searching through messages or bank statements.

Deposits and balances

Many service businesses need deposits before work and balances after completion, not just one single payment request.

The feature most payment link comparisons miss

Creating the payment link is only step one. The real pain for many UK service businesses is what happens when the client does not pay straight away. That is where due dates, payment status, reminders and clear follow-up wording matter.

Best payment link tools in the UK: quick verdict

Here is the simple version if you already know roughly what kind of payment workflow you need.

Best raw payment infrastructure

Stripe

A strong choice if you want polished card checkout and are comfortable using Stripe directly.

Best for: developers, ecommerce and businesses happy managing payment tools directly

Most familiar brand

PayPal

Useful when customers like paying through PayPal, but less focused on service-business follow-up.

Best for: casual sellers and customers who prefer PayPal

Best mixed in-person setup

Square

Good for businesses that already use Square POS and sometimes need online checkout links.

Best for: shops, cafés, markets and in-person sellers

Simple card reader ecosystem

SumUp

A straightforward option for existing SumUp users who want basic remote payment links.

Best for: small businesses already using SumUp

Best existing POS user option

PayPal POS/Zettle

Mainly a point-of-sale option. Payment links need checking carefully because availability has changed for new sellers.

Best for: existing PayPal POS or Zettle users

Best for automatic reminders

Simply Link

Built for UK solo professionals who send payment links and want automatic reminders when clients forget to pay.

Best for: solo service professionals who want less awkward chasing

Payment link tools compared

This table compares the practical details that matter when you send payment links by text, WhatsApp, email, Instagram DM or after a job has been completed.

Provider	Typical UK payment link fee	Monthly cost	Client account needed?	Automatic reminders	Deposits and balances	Branding	Best fit	Main watch-out
Stripe Payment infrastructure	1.5% + 20p for standard UK cards on Stripe Payment Links	No standard monthly fee for basic Payment Links	No Stripe account for client	Not built in	Manual setup	Good	Businesses comfortable using Stripe directly or building their own payment workflow.	Excellent checkout, but follow-up, reminders and service-business admin are mostly up to you.
PayPal Online payments	PayPal payment links commonly use business transaction pricing. Check the exact payment method before choosing.	Usually no monthly fee for basic use	Often guest checkout available	Not the core workflow	Manual	Limited	Customers who already know and trust PayPal.	Fees and checkout routes can vary, and the experience can feel less tailored to your own business.
Square POS and online checkout	1.4% + 25p for UK cards on Square Payment Links	No monthly fee for Square Payment Links	No Square account needed	Limited	Manual	Basic to good	Businesses using Square for in-person sales and occasional online payment requests.	Better as a wider POS system than a dedicated follow-up workflow for solo service work.
SumUp Card readers and payment links	2.5% for online payments including payment links	Usually no monthly fee for basic payment links	No SumUp account needed	Resend manually	Manual	Limited	Existing SumUp users who want basic remote payments.	Simple, but less focused on due dates, automatic reminders and service-business follow-up.
PayPal POS/Zettle POS and card readers	2.5% for Zettle payment links where available	Usually no monthly fee for basic POS use	No account usually needed	No for payment links	Manual	Limited	Existing PayPal POS or Zettle users who mainly take in-person payments.	PayPal says Zettle payment links are temporarily unavailable for new sellers due to product enhancements.
Simply Link Payment links with reminders	Stripe processing fees apply. Pro is £19/month for automatic reminders and unlimited usage.	Free signup. Pro available for reminder workflows.	No Simply Link account for client	Built in on Pro	Supported	Built for it	UK solo professionals who want payment links, due dates and automatic follow-up.	Not designed to replace a full ecommerce platform or complex custom payment system.

Fee examples are simplified for comparison. They may vary by card type, country, currency, payment method, plan, refunds, disputes and provider changes.

Example fees on a £100 payment

Fees should never be the only factor, but they are worth understanding. The right tool depends on your payment size, payment frequency and how much manual chasing the tool leaves behind.

Provider	Example rate	Approx fee on £100
Stripe	1.5% + 20p	About £1.70
Square	1.4% + 25p	About £1.65
PayPal	Varies by payment method	Check exact PayPal business fee route
SumUp	2.5%	About £2.50
PayPal POS/Zettle	2.5% where available	About £2.50
Simply Link	Stripe processing fees apply	About £1.70 on a standard UK card, before any Pro subscription cost

The cheapest tool is not always the best payment system

If a tool saves you 80p in fees but leaves you manually chasing five unpaid clients every Friday, it may not be the best fit for a service business.

For solo professionals, the bigger cost is often forgotten payments, late payments, awkward follow-up messages and time spent checking who has paid.

See the full payment toolkit workflow

Best payment link tools for freelancers and solo service professionals

Freelancers and solo professionals often need a different workflow from shops and online stores. The payment is usually attached to a real job, appointment, lesson, walk, clean or booking.

Freelancers without a website

If you mostly speak to clients by text, email, WhatsApp or social messages, payment links let you get paid without building a checkout page.

Best fit: Stripe, PayPal, Square, SumUp or Simply Link

Solo pros who hate chasing

If clients often say they will pay later, automatic reminders become more valuable than a tiny difference in transaction fees.

Best fit: Simply Link

Businesses with card readers

If you take lots of in-person payments already, a provider linked to your POS or card reader can make sense.

Best fit: Square, SumUp or PayPal POS/Zettle

Technical businesses

If you want full payment infrastructure and are happy managing settings, integrations and dashboards, raw Stripe is powerful.

Best fit: Stripe

Deposits and balances

If you take deposits before work and balances afterwards, choose a workflow that keeps each payment stage clear.

Best fit: Simply Link or Stripe with manual setup

Service businesses using messages

Cleaners, dog walkers, tutors, beauticians and trades often need a payment link that works naturally inside a client conversation.

Best fit: Simply Link

Which payment links let UK customers pay without creating an account?

Many clients do not want to create an account just to pay for a clean, lesson, appointment, dog walk or small job. A card-friendly checkout is usually smoother for service businesses because the client can pay directly from the link.

Card checkout is usually smoother

Stripe, Square, SumUp, Zettle and Simply Link-style card payment flows usually let the client pay by card without creating a full customer account.

PayPal can be familiar, but different

PayPal is familiar to many customers and may offer guest checkout depending on the transaction and settings, but the PayPal brand is more prominent in the experience.

Exact checkout options can vary by provider settings, customer location and payment method. Always test your own link on a phone before sending it to clients.

Stripe Payment Links

Stripe is one of the strongest payment platforms available in the UK. Its checkout is polished, mobile-friendly and trusted. For businesses that are comfortable with payment dashboards, technical settings or custom integrations, Stripe can be an excellent choice.

The trade-off is that Stripe is payment infrastructure first. It is brilliant at taking the payment, but service-specific wording, due dates, reminders and chasing workflows usually need to be managed separately.

Stripe is strong for

Strong checkout experience on mobile and desktop.
Competitive standard UK card processing fees.
Trusted payment infrastructure used by many online businesses.
Good option if you are comfortable managing payment tools directly.

Stripe is weaker for

The dashboard can feel technical for non-developers.
Automatic client follow-up is not the core product.
Service-specific wording, reminders and payment chasing usually need another system.
Deposits and balances often require a more manual workflow.

Best fit: Best for businesses that want powerful payment infrastructure and are comfortable managing the workflow around it.

PayPal payment links

PayPal is one of the most recognised names in online payments. For some clients, seeing PayPal can feel familiar and safe. It can be useful for casual selling, one-off payments and clients who already like paying through PayPal.

For solo service professionals, PayPal can be less clean as a branded workflow. The client experience feels strongly PayPal-led, and reminders, due dates, deposits and balances may still need to be handled manually.

PayPal is strong for

Very familiar brand for many clients.
Can be quick for one-off payment requests.
Useful when clients already prefer paying through PayPal.
No card reader needed for remote payments.

PayPal is weaker for

Fees and checkout routes can vary depending on how the client pays.
Payment requests can feel less branded to your own business.
Not designed around automatic service-business reminders.
Deposits, balances and staged payment workflows are not the main focus.

Best fit: Best for sellers who want a widely recognised payment name and do not need a dedicated service-business workflow.

Square payment links and Online Checkout

Square is a strong option for businesses that take payments both online and in person. It is especially useful for cafés, shops, market traders, pop-ups and businesses that already use Square hardware or Square POS.

For appointment-led service businesses, the weakness is that the link is only part of the job. You may still need to manually message clients, track who has paid and chase late payments yourself.

Square is strong for

Good fit if you already use Square POS or card readers.
No monthly fee for Square Payment Links.
Clear online checkout link experience.
Useful for businesses mixing in-person and remote payments.

Square is weaker for

Less focused on automatic reminders for unpaid service links.
Not primarily designed around solo-professional payment chasing.
Deposits and balances can require more manual workflow planning.
May be more POS-led than service-admin-led.

Best fit: Best for businesses already using Square for in-person payments and occasional online checkout links.

SumUp payment links

SumUp is popular with UK small businesses because it is simple and well known for card readers. Its payment links can be useful if you already use SumUp and want a quick way to take remote card payments without setting up a separate system.

SumUp can show which links have been paid and which are outstanding, but the follow-up is still more manual than a dedicated reminder workflow.

SumUp is strong for

Simple for businesses already using SumUp hardware.
Easy way to take remote card payments.
No complicated technical setup for basic use.
Payment link pricing is easy to understand.

SumUp is weaker for

Payment link fees can be higher than some alternatives.
Automatic reminders are not the main feature.
Less suited to deposits, balances and service-based follow-up.
Branding and workflow control are more limited than dedicated tools.

Best fit: Best for existing SumUp users who want a basic remote payment option alongside card readers.

PayPal POS and Zettle payment links

Zettle is now part of PayPal POS. It is mainly a point-of-sale system for taking in-person payments, managing sales and using payment hardware.

Zettle payment links can be useful for remote payments where available, but PayPal’s Zettle help page currently says payment links are temporarily unavailable for new sellers due to ongoing product enhancements. It also states that Zettle payment links do not send reminders.

PayPal POS/Zettle is strong for

Useful for existing PayPal POS or Zettle users.
Good fit for in-person point-of-sale payments.
Payment links can be shared by SMS or other apps where available.
Clear option for businesses already inside the PayPal POS ecosystem.

PayPal POS/Zettle is weaker for

Payment links are temporarily unavailable for new sellers according to PayPal Zettle help.
Payment links do not include reminders.
The workflow is POS-led rather than service-business-led.
Less ideal if your main need is new payment links with automatic follow-up.

Best fit: Best for existing PayPal POS or Zettle users who mainly take in-person payments and do not need automatic payment reminders.

Simply Link

Simply Link is built for UK solo professionals who send payment links directly to clients and do not want to keep manually following up when those clients forget to pay.

It uses Stripe for secure checkout, but adds the service-business layer around it: simple payment links, due dates, clear client messages, payment tracking and automatic reminders when a link has not been paid.

Simply Link is strong for

UK solo professionals who send payment links by message.
Automatic reminders for unpaid links on Pro.
Due dates, tracking, deposits and balance workflows.
Cleaners, tutors, dog walkers, trades, photographers, beauticians, personal trainers and similar service businesses.

Simply Link is weaker for

Not designed to replace a full ecommerce platform.
Not a custom developer payments API.
Not built around card reader hardware or physical POS.
Best suited to service businesses rather than large online stores.

Best fit: Best for UK solo professionals who already know payment links are useful, but need a calmer way to handle the follow-up when clients forget to pay.

Real-world examples

The best tool depends on how you actually get paid. Here are common UK service-business scenarios.

A cleaner finishing a weekly clean

The client is not always home, cash is awkward and bank transfer reminders are easy to forget. A payment link sent straight after the clean keeps the request clear.

Best fit: Simply Link if reminders matter, Stripe if the client pays immediately.

A dog walker billing for several walks

The work may happen across the week, but the payment request often comes later. A link with a clear due date helps stop small amounts drifting.

Best fit: Simply Link for repeat clients and unpaid-link follow-up.

A tutor asking a parent to pay after a lesson

Parents are busy and often intend to pay later. The payment message needs to be polite, simple and easy to complete from a phone.

Best fit: Simply Link for polite reminders, PayPal if the parent strongly prefers PayPal.

A photographer taking a deposit and balance

Deposits secure the booking, while balances are often due later. A tool needs to support staged payment requests without creating messy admin.

Best fit: Simply Link for service workflows, Stripe if managing it manually is fine.

A tradesperson after a small job

When a job is finished, the easiest time to ask for payment is straight away. If the client says they will sort it later, reminders become important.

Best fit: Square or SumUp for in-person payments, Simply Link for remote follow-up.

A beautician after an appointment

A payment link sent after nails, brows, lashes, facials or treatments keeps payment calm and normal, especially when clients are rushing off.

Best fit: Simply Link for branded links and automatic follow-up.

How to choose the right payment link tool

Before signing up to any payment link provider, work through the payment flow your clients actually experience. This helps you avoid choosing a tool that looks cheap on paper but creates more admin later.

Map when you ask for payment

Do you ask before the booking, straight after the work, at the end of the week or when a balance is due? Choose a tool that fits that moment.

Check the real client experience

Send yourself a test link and open it from your phone. If the checkout feels confusing, clients are more likely to delay payment.

Compare fees using your usual payment size

A £15 dog walk, £40 clean, £80 lesson block and £500 photography balance all make fees feel different. Compare using your real numbers.

Decide how much chasing you want to do

If you are happy sending every reminder yourself, a basic tool may be enough. If chasing drains you, automatic reminders are worth prioritising.

Think about professionalism

Your payment request is part of your client experience. A clear branded request can feel more professional than a vague message with bank details.

Simple rule: if clients usually pay immediately, a basic payment link may be enough. If clients often need nudging, choose a tool that handles due dates, reminders and status tracking.

Free tools to help before and after you send the payment link

Payment links work better when the price, wording and follow-up are clear. These tools help you handle the parts around the payment, not just the checkout itself.

Invoice and Payment Link Message Generator

Write the first payment request clearly before sending a link, invoice or balance request.

Use tool

Payment Reminder Message Generator

Create polite reminder wording for unpaid jobs, deposits, balances and overdue links.

Use tool

Deposit and Balance Calculator

Work out deposits, balances and split payments for jobs, bookings and larger payments.

Use tool

Payment Terms Generator

Create clear payment terms for lessons, appointments, regular work and client bookings.

Use tool

Late Payment Follow-Up Generator

Create firmer but still calm wording when payment reminders have already been ignored.

Use tool

Payment Toolkit

See the full workflow from pricing the job to sending the link and following up.

Use tool

Payment link message examples

The tool matters, but the message matters too. A clear, calm payment message makes it easier for clients to pay without feeling pressured.

Simple payment link message

Hi [Name], thanks again for today. Your payment link is below when you are ready: [Payment link] Thanks, [Your name]

Best for straightforward same-day payment requests.

Deposit payment message

Hi [Name], thanks for booking. To secure your appointment, please use the deposit link below: [Payment link] Once that is paid, your booking is confirmed.

Best for bookings, appointments and jobs where you need commitment upfront.

Balance payment message

Hi [Name], your remaining balance is now ready. You can pay securely here: [Payment link] Thanks again.

Best for photographers, tradespeople and booked services with staged payments.

Polite late payment reminder

Hi [Name], just a quick reminder that your payment link is still open: [Payment link] No problem if it slipped your mind. Thanks.

Best when a client has forgotten rather than refused to pay.

Generate your own payment link message

Final recommendation

If you want powerful payment infrastructure and you are comfortable managing payment tools yourself, Stripe is hard to beat.

If you mainly take payments face to face, Square, SumUp or PayPal POS may fit better, especially if you already use their card readers or point-of-sale tools.

If you are a UK solo professional and your real issue is payment follow-up, Simply Link is the better fit. It is built around the everyday reality of sending a payment link, giving the client a fair chance to pay, and automatically nudging them if they forget.

Payment links are easy. The follow-up is the bit most tools leave to you.

That is the gap Simply Link is built to fix.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best payment link tool in the UK?

The best payment link tool depends on how you work. Stripe is strong for payment infrastructure, PayPal is familiar to many clients, Square and SumUp are useful for businesses that also take in-person payments, and Simply Link is best for UK solo professionals who want payment links with automatic reminders.

Which payment link tool has the lowest fees?

Stripe and Square are usually among the strongest on raw UK card fees for standard online card payments. PayPal, SumUp and PayPal POS/Zettle can be higher depending on the payment method. Always check current provider pricing before choosing.

Can I send payment links by WhatsApp or text?

Yes. Most payment link tools let you copy a link and send it by WhatsApp, text, email or social message. The bigger difference is whether the tool also helps with wording, due dates, reminders and tracking.

Are payment links safe for clients?

Payment links can be safe when they use a trusted checkout provider and the client recognises who sent the link. You should use clear wording, avoid strange-looking messages and make sure the payment page feels professional.

Which payment links let customers pay without creating an account?

Card-based payment links from providers such as Stripe, Square, SumUp and Simply Link-style Stripe checkout usually let clients pay without creating an account. PayPal may offer guest checkout depending on the transaction and settings, but the PayPal experience is more prominent.

Is PayPal better than Stripe for payment links?

PayPal may feel more familiar to some clients, while Stripe usually gives a cleaner card checkout and strong payment infrastructure. For service businesses, the better choice depends on whether you need only payment processing or a full follow-up workflow.

Is Square good for payment links?

Square can be a good choice if you already use Square for in-person sales and only occasionally need online checkout links. If your main issue is chasing unpaid links after appointments or jobs, you may need a more dedicated reminder workflow.

Is SumUp good for payment links?

SumUp payment links can be useful for businesses already using SumUp card readers. They are simple, but they are not mainly designed around automatic payment reminders, due dates and service-business follow-up.

Can payment links be used for deposits?

Yes, payment links can be used for deposits if the tool lets you create a payment request for the deposit amount. For a cleaner workflow, service businesses often benefit from separating deposit requests and balance requests clearly.

Do payment link tools send automatic reminders?

Many standard payment link tools focus on taking the payment rather than chasing it. Simply Link is built around payment links with automatic reminders, which makes it more suitable for UK solo professionals who want less manual follow-up.

Do I need a website to use payment links?

No. Payment links are useful because you can send them directly to a client without needing a website. You can usually send them by text, WhatsApp, email, social media or from your booking process.