# Create and share a payment link

> Request one payment for one customer. Add an invoice reference, share a link or QR code, and track it until it is paid.

Source: https://railbed.io/docs/user-guide/payment-links/ · Updated: 2026-09-26 · Railbed by DeepWork user guide

## When to use a payment link

Use a payment link for an invoice, a project deposit, a consultation or a custom order. It has a fixed amount and can be paid once. To sell the same product repeatedly, use a [checkout page](https://railbed.io/docs/user-guide/checkout-pages.md) instead.

**Visual example: Create a payment link.** New payment link: Amount 49.00, Currency USD, What it is for Design consultation, Reference INV-0042, Can be paid for 7 days. The buyer sees a payment request with the amount, description and reference.

*Illustrative example · a $49 consultation with a 7-day payment link.*

## Create the request

1. Check Test or Live mode, then open **Create → Payment link**, or choose **New payment link** in Payment links.
2. Enter the **Amount**, **Currency**, and **What it’s for**. The description is shown to the customer, so use a recognizable product or service name.
3. Add the optional customer and invoice details below.
4. Choose how long the link **Can be paid for**: **1 day**, **7 days**, or **30 days**. The default is 7 days.
5. Choose **Create payment link**. Review the saved details before sharing the link.

| Field | What to enter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | A price from 1.00 to 100,000.00; provider minimums may be higher | `49.00` |
| Currency | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD or AUD | `USD` |
| What it’s for | A customer-facing description, up to 120 characters | Design consultation |
| Reference | An optional order or invoice number, up to 64 characters | `INV-0042` |
| Name | An optional customer name, up to 80 characters | Alex Morgan |
| Email | Prefills the buyer's email at checkout | `alex@example.com` |
| Note to the customer | An optional note shown on the payment page, up to 500 characters | Consultation on Friday at 2 pm |

**Railbed does not email the payment link.** Adding a customer email prefills checkout; you still send the link yourself. A customer's name or email is not an access restriction. Share the payment link only with people who should see the request.

## Share the payment link or QR code

The saved request has a **Payment link** section. Copy the link into your invoice, message or email. Use its QR code for a printed invoice or for a customer to scan from another screen. The QR code opens the same payment page; it is not a crypto transfer address.

Here is a message you can adapt:

Example: Example message to a customer

```text
Hi Alex,

Your design consultation is ready to book.
The total is $49.00 USD (reference INV-0042).

Pay using the Railbed link included in this message.
The link is available for 7 days.

Thank you,
Northstar Studio
```

Paste your actual saved link into the message before sending it. Recheck the mode: a Test link cannot collect real money.

## Share progress with someone else

Use the separate **Tracking link** for an accountant or collaborator who needs to see whether the request has been paid.

**Visual example: A status-only tracking page.** The tracking page shows a $49 Design consultation for Alex Morgan, reference INV-0042, In progress. It omits the email, note, wallet, transactions and a way to pay.

*Illustrative example · share progress without sharing payment details.*

The tracking page shows the amount, status, progress, reference and billed-to name. It omits the buyer's email, your note, deposit and wallet details, transaction links and a way to pay. Anyone with the tracking link can see that limited information; treat it as a shareable link, not a login-protected report.

## Read the result

Open the request in **Payment links** to see its status, details and timeline. Once paid, the buyer's payment link shows their receipt. A held payment shows that it is being reviewed.

The list's **Paid** filter also includes payments being reviewed, and **Expired** includes declined payments. Always read the individual row status before delivering an order. [Payment statuses](https://railbed.io/docs/user-guide/payments.md#understand-each-status) explains the next action for each one.

## Cancel, duplicate or replace a request

**Cancel link** is available only while the link is still payable and the buyer has not gone to a card provider. After that hand-off, the link stays open for the payment to arrive or expire. Canceling a request does not reverse a card payment or refund money.

Saved payment links are not edited in place. To correct an amount or request payment again, choose **Duplicate**, review the copied fields, and create a new link. Duplicate clears the reference. Once the original payment has started, it also clears the saved email, so review and re-enter the details needed for the new request. Cancel the old link if that action is still available.

## Send the buyer to your thank-you page

Under **More options**, fill **After payment, send them to**. You can include `{PAYMENT_ID}` and `{REFERENCE}`:

Example: Example success URL

```text
https://example.com/thanks?payment={PAYMENT_ID}&order={REFERENCE}
```

The original Railbed tab follows this URL after payment is confirmed. If the buyer closes the tab, the redirect cannot happen. Leaving the field empty shows Railbed's on-screen receipt; it does not send a receipt email. [The buyer experience](https://railbed.io/docs/user-guide/buyer-experience.md) explains the two-tab flow.