> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://storekit.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Payment Links Overview
> What a storekit payment link is and when to use one: hosted checkout pages for deposits, catering balances, gift vouchers, donations and ticketed events.
A payment link is a URL that opens a hosted checkout page for an amount of money. The customer taps it, sees your store's name, the title you gave the payment and the amount, and pays with a card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. No order, no menu, no card machine.
## What a Payment Link Is
Every payment link belongs to one store and has:
* a **title** the customer sees ("Private dining deposit — Patel, 14 Oct")
* a **link type**: **One-off** (stops after one successful payment) or **Reusable** (stays live for as many payments as you allow)
* a **pricing** mode: **Set price** (you choose the amount) or **Customer chooses** (they type an amount, optionally within a minimum and maximum)
* a public URL and a `plink_`-prefixed ID
The money settles through storekit Payments on the same store as your online orders, so it appears in the same transactions and payouts. If your store does not use storekit Payments there is no **Payment Links** entry in the dashboard — see [Set up payments](/docs/getting-started/launch/set-up-payments).
## Why Use One
Most money a restaurant takes is tied to an order or a table bill. Payment links cover the rest:
| Situation | Link to create |
| -------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| A deposit to hold a private dining room or a large table | One-off, set price |
| The balance on a catering order agreed by phone or email | One-off, set price, with the order number as the **Reference** |
| A customer left without paying a cash order | Use the prompt on the order itself — see [Collecting Payment for an Unpaid Order](/docs/payment-links/collecting-for-an-order) |
| Gift vouchers where the buyer picks the value | Reusable, customer chooses, with a minimum and maximum |
| A donation or "pay what you feel" supper club | Reusable, customer chooses |
| Ticketed events with a fixed number of places | Reusable, set price, with a **Maximum number of payments** |
| A standing link printed on invoices | Reusable, customer chooses |
## How It Works
1. You create the link in the dashboard under **Payment Links**, or ask a connected [AI assistant](/docs/guides/ai/what-you-can-ask#payment-links) to create it.
2. You share it: **Copy Link** and paste it anywhere, or **Send via Email / SMS** from the dashboard.
3. The customer opens the page, fills in any contact details you asked for, and pays.
4. The payment lands on the link's **Transactions** list with its status, and the link's **Payments** and **Collected** totals update. A one-off link becomes **Completed**.
5. You refund from the same place if you need to.
## What Payment Links Are Not
* They are not orders. Nothing is sent to the kitchen, the POS or a printer, and they do not appear in **All Orders**. The exception is a link created from an order page, which is attached to that order.
* They are not invoices. There is no line-item breakdown, VAT calculation or due date; put the invoice number in the **Reference** field and send the invoice separately.
* They are not a bill for a table. For dine-in guests paying a POS bill, use [Pay at Table](/docs/guides/pay-at-table/overview).
## Related Guides
Every field on the **New Payment Link** page.
Copy, email, SMS and QR codes.
The shortcut on cash orders for catering stores.
The checkout page, step by step.
## Related topics
- [Payment Links Reference](/docs/payment-links/reference.md)
- [Creating a Payment Link](/docs/payment-links/creating-a-payment-link.md)
- [Managing Payment Links](/docs/payment-links/managing-payment-links.md)
- [Sharing a Payment Link](/docs/payment-links/sharing-a-payment-link.md)
- [Payment Link Refunds and Transactions](/docs/payment-links/refunds-and-transactions.md)