# PayByLink Introduction

::: tip  
PayByLink is an internet-based payment method commonly used for online transactions and offline-to-online payment scenarios. It refers to merchants generating payment links and sending them to users for direct payment. 
:::

PayByLink offers the following advantages:

+ **Convenience**: Consumers can complete payments by simply clicking the link without visiting the merchant's website, making it easy to use;

+ **Flexibility**: It is suitable for various payment scenarios such as social e-commerce, service booking, donations, etc., and supports multiple payment methods;

+ **Security**: Payments are processed through third-party payment platforms, providing high security and anti-fraud mechanisms;

+ **Quick deployment**: Merchants can implement the payment function by generating and sending links without complex technical integration.

## 1. Applicable Scenarios

### 1.1 Online Scenarios

+ **Personal e-commerce**: Merchants can send payment links to facilitate customers' online shopping payments;

+ **Service booking**: For example, hotel, flight, and event ticket reservations, merchants can send payment links to collect deposits or full payments;

+ **Bill payments**: Utility companies, insurance companies, etc., can collect payments through payment links;

+ **Donations and crowdfunding**: Charitable organizations and crowdfunding platforms simplify the payment process for donors using payment links.

### 1.2 Offline Scenarios

+ **Cash on Delivery (COD) industry**: Delivery personnel present QR codes to customers for scanning and payment upon doorstep delivery;

+ **Home repair/housekeeping services**: Service providers present QR codes to customers for scanning and payment;

+ **Children's smart watches**: Users place orders in the watch store, and the system generates payment links and displays dynamic QR codes on the watch screen for users to scan and pay;

+ **Offline markets**: Merchants display PayByLink QR codes on devices such as PCs, tablets, and mobile phones for consumers to scan and pay;

+ **Roadshow fundraising**: Fundraisers present QR codes to donors for scanning and payment.

## 2. Business Process

```mermaid
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    'primaryColor': '#e6f0ff',
    'primaryTextColor': '#333',
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    'actorFontSize': '14px',
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}}%%
sequenceDiagram
    participant User as User
    participant Merchant as Merchant Server
    participant PMServer as PayerMax Server
    participant Checkout as PayerMax Cashier

    %% Phase 1: Subscription and Link Creation
    Merchant->>PMServer: 1.1 Subscribe to Link Payment Product
    Merchant->>PMServer: 1.2 Request to Create Link
(Merchant Platform/API)
    PMServer-->>Merchant: 1.3 Return Payment Link

    %% Phase 2: Provide Link to User
    Merchant->>User: 4. Provide Link to User
(Online delivery/Offline display)

    %% Phase 3: Access Cashier
    User->>Checkout: 5. Access Link
Select Payment Method on Cashier Page

    %% Phase 4: Payment Processing
    Checkout->>Checkout: 6. Process Payment Request
    
    %% Phase 5: Result Notification
    Checkout-->>User: 7. Display Payment Result
    Checkout-->>Merchant: 8. Payment Result Notification (Webhook)
```

## 3. User Experience

Users can enter the product details page by accessing the link provided by the merchant (directly online or by scanning the link QR code with a mobile phone camera offline). They can then click "Checkout" to enter the checkout page, choose a payment method, follow the instructions on the page to complete the payment, and return to the payment result page.

![](https://img-cdn-sg.payermax.com/public/20250916-18c6b1ab-2d41-4a9b-9cda-0f8b00f825ac.png)

## 4. Link Creation Methods

### 4.1 Merchant Platform Creation

Currently, PayerMax allows merchants to log in to the [Merchant Platform (MMC)](https://mmc.payermax.com/#/login) to create one-time payment links and generate QR codes. The specific path is: **Payment** → **PaybyLink** → **Create Link** .

Complete in 4 steps:

(a) Create a link;

(b) Enter order information;

(c) Generate link/QR code;

(d) Send to the user to complete payment (after the user completes the payment, the result can be queried by logging in to MMC or via API).

### 4.2 API Creation

PayerMax also supports merchants to create/maintain PayByLink through API. For details, please refer to [PayByLink Integration](https://docs.payermax.com/en/202606-version/acquiring/start-integration/create-payment/paybylink.html).