Comparison Guide
Best Payment Link Tools in the UK (2025 Comparison)
A practical guide comparing PayPal, Stripe, Square, SumUp, Zettle, and Simply Link. Find the best payment link tool for UK freelancers, tradespeople, and small businesses.
Payment links are now one of the fastest, easiest ways for UK freelancers and small businesses to get paid.
You create a link → send it to a client → they pay instantly.
No invoices. No card machines. No chasing.
But with so many payment tools available — PayPal, Stripe, Square, SumUp, Zettle, and more — it can be hard to choose the right one.
This guide compares the most popular UK payment link tools and shows you exactly which option is best for your business in 2025.
1. What Makes a Good Payment Link Tool?
Before comparing tools, here are the features that actually matter:
Speed
How fast can you create a link and get paid?
Client Experience
Is it mobile-friendly? Does it work on text, WhatsApp, Instagram?
Fees
Transaction charges vary a LOT across providers.
Branding
Does the link look professional? Or like a random PayPal URL?
Reminders / Tracking
Can you see when the link was opened? Does it remind clients automatically?
Deposits & Balances
Many businesses need staged payments — very few tools support this cleanly.
Ease of Use: You shouldn't need to be a developer.
2. Comparison Table (2025)
This is the clean, simple comparison people search for.
| Provider | Fees | Create Links | Mobile Pay | Reminders | Branding | Deposit Support | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PayPal | 1% platform fee | Good | Personal use, very small sellers | ||||
| Stripe | Stripe processing fees | Excellent | Developers, e-commerce | ||||
| Square | 1.75% | Good | Shops, cafés, in-person | ||||
| SumUp | 2.5% | Good | Trades using SumUp terminals | ||||
| Zettle | 1.75% | Good | In-person sellers | ||||
| Simply Link | Stripe fees | Excellent | Freelancers & UK small businesses |
3. PayPal Payment Links (Overview)
Pros:
- Easy to set up
- Trusted brand
- Simple for one-off payments
Cons:
- Highest fees
- Looks unprofessional
- No automatic reminders
- No branding
- No deposit/balance support
Who it's for: Very casual sellers or personal payments.
Not ideal for: Freelancers, tradespeople, or anyone who wants a professional workflow.
4. Stripe Payment Links
Pros:
- Lower fees
- Clean checkout
- Trusted globally
Cons:
- No reminders
- No deposit/balance workflow
- Difficult for non-developers
- Customisation requires coding
Who it's for: Developers building their own systems.
Not ideal for: People who want simple, ready-to-use links.
5. Square Payment Requests
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Good for in-person sellers
- Lower fees than PayPal
Cons:
- Basic link system
- No reminders
- No branding
- Not built for freelancers or bookings
Who it's for: In-person retail, markets, cafés.
6. SumUp Payment Links
Pros:
- Fast setup
- Works with SumUp card readers
- Basic link creation
Cons:
- Higher fees
- No automated reminders
- No deposits
- Not designed for bookings or services
Who it's for: Tradespeople already using SumUp terminals.
7. Zettle Payment Links
Pros:
- Easy onboarding
- Basic request-a-payment feature
Cons:
- No tracking
- No reminders
- Not suitable for staged payments
- Looks basic and unbranded
Who it's for: Market traders and hobby sellers.
8. Simply Link (Full Overview)
Simply Link is built specifically for UK freelancers, tradespeople, and service-based businesses.
It solves the biggest issues with other tools:
- Create a payment link in 10 seconds
- Automatic reminders (Day 0, 3, 7…)
- Deposit + balance payment support
- Fully branded with your logo
- Stripe-secure checkout
- Track link opens + payment attempts
- No coding, no setup complexity
Who it's best for:
If you want something built FOR service-based businesses, this is the only tool designed around your workflow.
9. Which Payment Link Tool Should You Choose?
Here is the simple breakdown:
Choose PayPal if:
You're selling small personal items with no need for branding.
Choose Stripe if:
You are a developer integrating payment links into code.
Choose Square/SumUp/Zettle if:
You mainly take payments in person.
⭐ Choose Simply Link if:
You want the fastest way to get paid without chasing clients, with:
- branded links
- deposits
- balances
- automated reminders
- full client tracking
Simply Link is the ONLY UK tool built specifically for freelancers and small service businesses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which payment link tool has the lowest fees?
Stripe has the lowest raw fees. Simply Link uses Stripe under the hood, so you get the same pricing.
Which tool is easiest for clients?
Simply Link and Stripe both offer excellent mobile checkout experiences.
Which tool helps avoid late payments?
Only Simply Link has built-in automatic reminders.
Can I send payment links by WhatsApp or text?
Yes — all tools support this, but Simply Link formats links for mobile-first clients.
Which tool supports deposits and balances?
Only Simply Link has native deposit + balance workflows.
10. Final Recommendation
If you're a UK service-based business looking for:
- fast payments
- fewer no-shows
- no chasing clients
- professional branded links
Then Simply Link is the strongest option in 2025.
It gives you the features other platforms lack, without complexity or high fees.
Related Guides
Continue learning with these related guides:
Create a Payment Link in Seconds
Learn how to create payment links manually and with Simply Link.
Read guideHow to Get Paid Faster as a Freelancer
Stop chasing payments and start getting paid in days instead of weeks.
Read guideHow to Chase Late Payments Automatically
Automate payment reminders and reduce late payments.
Read guideHow to Send a Payment Link on WhatsApp, Text & Instagram
Step-by-step instructions for sending payment links via messaging apps.
Read guideStart Sending Payment Links in 10 Seconds
Get paid faster with branded links and automatic reminders — no invoices needed.
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