Payment Links in Singapore: What They Are & How to Use

Singapore’s digital commerce landscape is evolving beyond traditional websites. A thriving ecosystem of entrepreneurs, freelancers, and SMEs now operates through social media, messaging apps, and direct customer engagement. From home bakers selling on Instagram to consultants invoicing global clients via email, the new wave of commerce is direct, personal, and fast-paced.

In this environment, the traditional checkout process can be a significant bottleneck. How do you professionally and securely collect payments without a complex e-commerce site or a physical point-of-sale system? The answer is Payment Links.

This powerful tool is democratizing digital payments, allowing any business to request and accept money instantly using a simple, shareable URL. This guide provides a comprehensive breakdown of what payment links are, their strategic benefits, and why they are becoming an indispensable tool for modern businesses in Singapore.

What Are Payment Links?

A payment link is a secure, customizable URL generated by a business to request a specific payment from a customer. When the customer clicks the link, they are taken to a dedicated, secure checkout page where they can complete the transaction using their preferred payment method.

It is, in essence, a portable and shareable checkout page. This link can be sent through any digital channel, including:

• Messaging Apps: WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook Messenger
• Email and SMS
• Social Media: Instagram DMs, Facebook posts, TikTok bios
• Invoices: Embedded as a “Pay Now” button in a PDF or digital invoice

This versatility makes payment links the ideal tool for any business model that doesn’t rely on a traditional online shopping cart.

How Payment Links Work: A Simple 4-Step Process

The elegance of payment links lies in their simplicity.

1. Create the Link: From a payment platform dashboard (like Razorpay), enter the payment amount, currency (e.g., SGD, USD), and a brief description of the product or service. You can also set parameters like an expiry date.
2. Share with the Customer: The system generates a unique URL. Copy this link and send it to your customer through your chosen channel—WhatsApp, email, or any other platform.
3. Customer Clicks and Pays: The customer clicks the link and is directed to a secure, branded checkout page. Here, they can choose from multiple payment options (credit/debit cards, PayNow, etc.) to complete the payment.
4. Receive Funds and Track Status: You receive an instant notification once the payment is successful. The funds are settled to your bank account, and you can track the status of every link—sent, viewed, and paid—in real-time on your dashboard.

The Business Benefits of Using Payment Links in Singapore

1. Unlock the Power of Social Commerce

For the thousands of businesses in Singapore using platforms like Instagram, Facebook Marketplace, and Carousell, payment links are a game-changer. You can close a sale directly in a chat or DM by sending a link, providing a professional and secure payment experience without ever asking the customer to leave the app.

2. Professionalize Freelance and SME Invoicing

Move beyond sending just a bank account number. A payment link embedded in your invoice offers customers multiple ways to pay, looks more professional, and makes it easier for them to pay you instantly. This simple step can drastically reduce late payments.

3. Drastically Reduce Checkout Friction

Studies consistently show that complicated checkout processes are a major cause of abandoned sales. Payment links eliminate this friction entirely. With a single click, the customer is at the final payment step, leading to higher conversion rates.

4. Seamlessly Accept International Payments

For freelancers, consultants, and e-commerce businesses serving a global clientele, multi-currency payment links are essential. You can request payment in your client’s local currency (e.g., USD, AUD, EUR), and the funds are settled in your SGD bank account, simplifying cross-border commerce.

5. Ensure Top-Tier Security Without the Overhead

By using a provider like Razorpay, your payment links are automatically PCI DSS Level 1 compliant. This means you are offering bank-grade security and protecting sensitive customer data without having to manage the complex and costly process of compliance yourself.

Real-World Use Cases for Payment Links

• The Freelance Designer: After completing a project for a client in Australia, the designer creates a payment link in AUD and sends it via email along with the final invoice.
• The Home-Based Baker: Sells custom cakes through an Instagram page. When an order is confirmed in the DMs, a unique payment link is sent to the customer to collect the deposit.
• The Renovation Contractor: Meets a client on-site and agrees on the initial project scope. A payment link for the down payment is sent immediately to the client’s WhatsApp to confirm the engagement.
• The Education Centre: Emails parents a payment link to collect fees for a school holiday coding camp, allowing them to pay online instantly.
• The Non-Profit Organisation: Shares a single payment link on its social media channels during a fundraising drive, allowing supporters to donate any amount securely.

Why Razorpay is the Ideal Choice for Payment Links in Singapore

Razorpay’s Payment Links are engineered to do more than just collect money. They are a tool for business growth.

• Global Reach, Localised Experience: Accept payments in over 100 currencies while offering customers in Singapore their preferred local payment methods.
• Powerful Customisation and Control: Set expiry dates for offers, allow customers to make partial payments on large invoices, and add your branding to the checkout page.
• A Unified Dashboard for Full Visibility: Go beyond simple tracking. Our dashboard allows you to easily manage refunds, reconcile accounts, and gain insights from detailed payment analytics.
• Developer-Friendly APIs: For larger businesses, our robust APIs allow you to automate the creation of thousands of payment links and integrate them directly into your existing CRM, accounting, or invoicing software.

Conclusion

Payment links are one of the most agile and powerful tools available to businesses in Singapore today. They break down the barriers to accepting digital payments, eliminating the need for expensive infrastructure and complex technical setups. They are perfectly suited for the city-state’s dynamic and growing culture of social, freelance, and direct-to-consumer commerce.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do I need a website or app to use payment links?

No. That is the primary advantage of payment links. You can start accepting digital payments immediately without any website, app, or coding knowledge.

2. Are payment links secure for my customers?

Absolutely. Payment links from a reputable provider like Razorpay are highly secure. They are PCI DSS compliant, meaning all data is encrypted, and transactions are monitored by advanced fraud detection systems.

3. Can I use payment links for subscriptions or recurring payments?

Yes. You can set up payment links to handle recurring billing. This is ideal for subscription services, installment plans, or regular retainers, as the system can automatically charge the customer at set intervals after their initial approval.

4. How do I track which customer has paid?

Your payment platform dashboard provides a real-time, consolidated view of all your payment links. You can see which links have been sent, which have been viewed by the customer, and which have been successfully paid, making reconciliation simple.

5. Can I send payment links in bulk?

Yes. For use cases like collecting event fees or subscription renewals from multiple customers, you can use APIs