Accept Online Payments Fast With Stripe and PayPal Links

How to Set Up Simple Online Payments

You do not need a complicated website to start accepting payments online.

You do not need a shopping cart.
You do not need coding skills.
You do not need a huge tech setup.

For many simple offers, you only need three things:

1. A payment link
2. A delivery link
3. A clear message that tells people what they are buying

That is why tools like Stripe Payment Links and PayPal payment links/buttons are useful. Stripe describes Payment Links as a no-code way to accept online payments, including one-time and recurring payments. PayPal also offers payment links and buttons that can be shared in emails, social posts, or placed on a website. (Stripe Docs)

This makes it easier to sell digital products, coaching calls, templates, guides, services, and one-time offers without building a full online store.

Start With Stripe Payment Links

Stripe is a strong option if you want to accept credit cards, debit cards, and other supported payment methods through a clean checkout page.

To begin, go to Stripe and create an account. You will need to provide basic personal or business information. Depending on your country and account type, Stripe may ask for identity, tax, banking, website, or business details.

You can often use Stripe as a sole proprietor, but the exact requirements depend on where you live and what you sell.

Once your account is approved and active, create a payment link.

A simple Stripe setup looks like this:

1. Log in to your Stripe Dashboard.
2. Go to Payment Links or Payments.
3. Create a product or choose an existing product.
4. Add the price.
5. Choose one-time or recurring pricing.
6. Adjust checkout settings, if needed.
7. Create and copy your payment link.

Stripe payment links can be used for one-time purchases or subscriptions when you use recurring pricing. Stripe’s documentation explains that subscription payment links use a recurring price. (Stripe Docs)

That means you could create links for things like:

1. A $19 checklist
2. A $47 template pack
3. A $99 coaching session
4. A $15 monthly membership
5. A $29 monthly resource library

Your customer clicks the link, pays through Stripe’s hosted checkout, and receives a receipt.

No coding required.

Use Stripe Links as a Mini Funnel

A payment link is not just a link.

It can act like a simple checkout page.

You can place it in an email, a direct message, a social media bio, a simple landing page, a PDF, or a sales post. You can create separate links for different products, offers, or promotions.

For example, you might have one link for your full-price guide and another link for a limited-time sale.

Stripe also allows you to configure what happens after payment. Stripe documentation says you can redirect customers to a URL or display a custom message after checkout by setting the payment link’s after-completion behavior. (Stripe Docs)

That is important.

After someone pays, you can send them to a:

1. Thank-you page
2. Google Drive folder
3. Dropbox file
4. Notion page
5. Course login page
6. Calendar booking link
7. Digital product delivery page

This turns your payment link into a simple sales-and-delivery system.

Now Set Up PayPal

PayPal is another simple way to get paid online.

Many buyers already know and trust PayPal. Some prefer it because they can pay with their PayPal balance, linked bank account, or card, depending on the checkout options available in their location.

To use PayPal for business, sign in or create a PayPal Business account. Then look for the tools for payment links and buttons. PayPal says its payment links and buttons let sellers create shareable payment links, add buy buttons to a website, or generate QR codes. (PayPal Developer)

A simple PayPal setup may look like this:

1. Log in to your PayPal Business account.
2. Go to payment links, buttons, or “Pay & Get Paid.”
3. Create a product, service, or buy button.
4. Add the item name and price.
5. Choose one-time payment options.
6. Copy the shareable link or button link.
7. Send the link to buyers or place it on a simple page.

PayPal’s interface can vary by country and account type, so the exact menu names may not look the same for everyone. If you do not see the same options, search your PayPal dashboard for “payment links,” “buttons,” or “PayPal buttons.”

Turn On PayPal Guest Checkout When Available

One common concern is whether buyers need a PayPal account.

In many cases, PayPal can allow guest checkout so customers may pay by card without logging in to PayPal. PayPal support says merchants can set PayPal Account Optional to On under Website Payments settings, though guest checkout availability can depend on region, account settings, and transaction factors. (PayPal)

To check this setting:

1. Log in to PayPal.
2. Go to Account Settings.
3. Find Website payments.
4. Look for Website preferences.
5. Turn PayPal Account Optional on, if available.

This step helps reduce friction.

But do not promise every buyer will always see guest checkout. PayPal’s checkout experience can vary.

Stripe or PayPal: Which Should You Use?

Stripe and PayPal can both work well.

Stripe often feels smoother for card payments and simple checkout links. PayPal may feel familiar to buyers who already use PayPal regularly.

For many creators and small business owners, the best answer is to offer both.

You can say:

Pay by card with Stripe
Prefer PayPal? Use this link

That gives buyers a choice.

More choices can mean fewer lost sales.

Create a Simple Sales Page

You do not need a full website to sell.

A simple page can work.

Use a tool like Carrd, Notion, Google Docs, Canva, ConvertKit, Systeme.io, or your email platform’s landing page builder. Add a clear headline, a short description, a few benefit bullets, and your payment buttons.

Your page could include:

1. Product name
2. Who it is for
3. What the buyer gets
4. Price
5. Stripe payment button
6. PayPal payment button
7. Delivery instructions
8. Refund or support information

Keep it simple.

People should understand the offer quickly.

Deliver the Product After Payment

Do not forget delivery.

If you sell a digital product, decide how the buyer receives it before you share the payment link.

You can deliver through:

1. A thank-you page
2. A redirect link
3. An automated email
4. A course platform
5. A Google Drive or Dropbox folder
6. A Payhip, Gumroad, or similar product page
7. A manual email, if you are just starting

Manual delivery is okay for your first few sales, but automation is better once orders increase.

If you use tools like Zapier, Make, ConvertKit, MailerLite, Flodesk, or other email platforms, you may be able to trigger delivery emails, add tags, or send follow-up messages after purchase.

That part is optional.

Start simple first.

A Quick 10-Minute Setup Plan

Here is the fast version:

1. Create or log in to Stripe or PayPal.
2. Add your product name and price.
3. Create a payment link.
4. Create a delivery page or file link.
5. Add a thank-you message or redirect.
6. Test the checkout.
7. Send the link to yourself.
8. Confirm the payment and delivery process.
9. Add the link to your email, bio, or sales page.
10. Start promoting the offer.

Always test before sending your link to real buyers.

Final Thoughts

You do not need to wait until your website is perfect.

You can start selling with a simple payment link, a clear offer, and a reliable delivery process.

Stripe and PayPal both make it possible to accept payments without building a full store. Stripe is strong for clean card-based checkout and subscriptions. PayPal is familiar to many buyers and useful when people prefer paying through their PayPal account.

Use one or use both.

The important thing is to remove friction.

Create the link. Test the checkout. Deliver what you promised. Then share your offer with confidence.

A simple payment setup can be enough to start earning from digital products, coaching, services, templates, guides, and one-time offers.