SMS Payment Links
Email inboxes get crowded β text messages get read. With SMS delivery, your payment link lands directly in your customerβs messages app, with your business name as the sender. Itβs the fastest way to get paid when you need a customerβs attention right away.SMS delivery is available on every PayRequest account, no paid plan required. Sending one SMS costs 1 SMS credit β see How SMS Credits Work below.
Why Send Payment Links by SMS?
Gets Seen Fast
Text messages are typically read within minutes β much faster than email.
Your Name as Sender
The SMS arrives with your business name as the sender, so customers know itβs you.
One Tap to Pay
The message contains your payment link β customers tap it and pay on their phone.
Fair for Everyone
The credit system keeps SMS free to use while preventing abuse.
How It Works
1
Create a smart link
Go to Payment Page β Smart Links and create a new link, just like you normally would.
2
Select a customer
Under Send smart payment link to customer, pick the customer who should receive it. The customer needs a phone number in international format (for example
+31612345678).3
Choose SMS as delivery method
Tick the SMS option. Youβll see the phone number it will be sent to, plus how many SMS credits you have left.
4
Save β and it's sent
As soon as you save the smart link, the SMS goes out. Your customer receives a short personal message with the payment link.
How SMS Credits Work
To keep SMS fair and free for everyone, sending works with credits:
So the more you get paid, the more SMS messages you can send. An active business never runs out β and if you do run low, the next incoming payment tops you up automatically.
If your SMS fails to send (for example because of a network issue), your credit is automatically refunded.
What Happens When Youβre Out of Credits?
When your balance reaches zero, the SMS option is temporarily disabled in the smart link form, and a message explains how to earn more. You donβt lose anything β your smart link still works, and you can:- Send the link by email instead (always free)
- Copy the link and share it any way you like
- Receive any payment β your balance goes up by 1 credit immediately
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do SMS messages cost credits while email is free?
Why do SMS messages cost credits while email is free?
Sending a text message costs real money per message, unlike email. The credit system lets us offer SMS to every account β free of charge β while making sure itβs used for genuine payment requests and not spam.
Which payments earn me a credit?
Which payments earn me a credit?
Every successful payment you receive counts: card payments, iDEAL, bank transfers, PayPal, crypto β anything that lands as a paid transaction in your account earns 1 SMS credit.
Do my credits expire?
Do my credits expire?
No. Credits stay on your account until you use them.
Can I buy extra credits?
Can I buy extra credits?
Not at the moment β credits are earned through payments only. Since every payment earns a credit back, active businesses naturally keep a positive balance.
Why is the SMS option greyed out?
Why is the SMS option greyed out?
Two possible reasons: the selected customer has no valid phone number in international format (like
+31612345678), or your SMS credit balance is zero. The form tells you which one applies.My customer didn't receive the SMS β what now?
My customer didn't receive the SMS β what now?
Check that the phone number is correct and in international format. Note that some countries (notably the United States) have strict carrier rules that can block business SMS. If an SMS canβt be delivered, your credit is refunded β you can always fall back on email delivery.
Next Steps
Smart Links
Everything about creating reusable, branded payment links
Payment Reminders
Automatically follow up on unpaid links
Customer Profiles
Keep phone numbers and contact details up to date
Payment Methods
See all the ways your customers can pay