Adding payment functionality to your website used to require developers, payment gateway integrations, and weeks of work. In 2026, you can do it yourself in five minutes—without writing a single line of code.
Whether you're selling products, offering subscriptions, accepting donations, or collecting payments for services, this guide covers every method to add payments to your website. We'll explore the options from simplest to most complex, so you can choose what fits your needs.
Why Add Payments Directly to Your Website?
Before diving into the how, let's understand why accepting payments on your own website matters more than ever.
When customers pay on your website rather than being redirected to a third-party platform, you control the entire experience. Your branding stays consistent, your messaging stays on point, and customers feel they're dealing with you—not some payment company they've never heard of.
This control translates to higher conversion rates. Every redirect, every new page load, every moment of confusion costs you sales. Embedded payments eliminate these friction points.
Customers increasingly expect to pay directly on the websites they're buying from. A professional-looking payment button or checkout form signals that you're a legitimate business with real infrastructure.
This is especially important for new visitors who haven't bought from you before. The payment experience is often the moment of truth—either they trust you enough to enter their card details, or they abandon their purchase.
With payments embedded in your website, you can capture revenue in contexts where sending customers elsewhere would break the flow. A reader finishing your blog post can immediately buy your ebook. A visitor impressed by your portfolio can instantly book a consultation. The moment of maximum interest becomes the moment of purchase.
Method 1: Payment Buttons (Easiest)
Payment buttons are the simplest way to accept payments on any website. You create a button, copy some code, and paste it wherever you want the button to appear.
A payment button is typically a link styled as a button that directs customers to a hosted payment page. The page handles all the payment processing—credit cards, bank transfers, Apple Pay, and other methods—then returns customers to your website after payment.
From the customer's perspective, they click "Buy Now," enter payment details on a secure page, and they're done. From your perspective, money appears in your account and you get an email notification.
Creating a payment button takes about 60 seconds. Log into PayRequest, click "Create Payment Link," enter your product name, price, and description. PayRequest generates a unique link that you can share anywhere—including as a button on your website.
For the button itself, copy the embed code from PayRequest and paste it into your website. The code looks something like this:
```html <a href="https://pay.payrequest.io/your-link" class="pr-button"> Buy Now - €49 </a> <script src="https://js.payrequest.io/v2/embed.js"></script> ```
The embed script adds styling and functionality, making the button look professional and work smoothly across all devices.
Strategic placement matters. The most effective locations are:
Product pages: Place the button near your product description where visitors are considering purchase. Don't make them scroll to find it.
Blog posts: If you mention a product or service, include a button right there. Readers won't go searching for how to buy—make it obvious.
Landing pages: After your pitch, the button should be immediately visible. Multiple buttons on long pages can capture visitors at different scroll depths.
Sidebar or footer: For always-visible options like donations or standard services, these persistent locations work well.
Method 2: Subscription Widgets
If you're selling memberships, recurring services, or subscription products, embedding subscription widgets lets customers sign up directly on your website.
Subscription widgets are more than buttons—they're mini checkout forms that handle plan selection, payment details, and recurring billing setup. Customers choose their plan, enter payment information, and start their subscription without leaving your site.
This matters because subscription purchases involve more consideration than one-time buys. Customers are committing to ongoing payments, so any friction in the process increases abandonment. Keeping them on your site maintains trust and momentum.
In PayRequest, create a subscription product with your pricing tiers. You might offer a €9/month basic plan and a €29/month pro plan, for example. PayRequest generates embed code that displays your plans and handles the entire signup flow.
The widget shows customers their options, highlights any recommended plan, and walks them through payment. You can customize colors to match your brand and choose between different display styles.
Show value before asking for payment: Your subscription page should clearly communicate what subscribers get. List benefits, show testimonials, explain the value proposition—then present the subscription widget.
Make cancellation policies clear: Customers hesitate when they feel trapped. Stating "cancel anytime" near your subscription widget actually increases signups by reducing perceived risk.
Offer a trial when possible: Trial subscriptions dramatically increase signup rates. If your business model allows it, a 7 or 14-day trial removes the commitment barrier entirely.
Method 3: Content Gating (Paywalls)
Content gating lets you lock specific content behind a payment or subscription. Visitors see a preview, then must pay to access the full content.
A content gate wraps around premium content on your page. Visitors without access see a teaser—maybe the first few paragraphs of an article, a blurred preview of a video, or a locked section indicator. When they pay, the gate opens and they see everything.
This model works for any digital content: articles, videos, courses, downloads, community access, or premium tools. The gate handles the payment flow and immediately unlocks content upon successful payment.
PayRequest's content gating uses a simple wrapper around your premium content. You add a short code snippet around the content you want to protect, and non-paying visitors see the gated version automatically.
For example, on a WordPress site, you'd wrap premium content like this:
```html <div class="pr-gated-content" data-membership="premium"> <!-- Your premium content here --> <h2>Full Article</h2> <p>This content is only visible to paying members...</p> </div> ```
Visitors without the "premium" membership see a prompt to purchase. Paying members see the content directly.
Metered paywalls: Let visitors read a few articles free per month, then require payment. This lets people experience your content quality before committing.
Tiered access: Offer different content levels at different price points. Basic subscribers might get articles while premium subscribers get videos and downloads too.
Pay-per-article: Charge for individual pieces rather than subscriptions. This works for high-value standalone content like detailed reports or tutorials.
Method 4: Platform-Specific Integration
Different website platforms have different ways to add payments. Here's how to handle the most popular ones.
WordPress powers over 40% of the web, and adding payments couldn't be easier. You don't need WooCommerce or complex plugins—just paste embed code.
In Gutenberg (the block editor), add a "Custom HTML" block and paste your payment code. In the Classic Editor, switch to "Text" view and paste. With page builders like Elementor or Divi, use their HTML widget.
PayRequest code works with any WordPress theme and doesn't conflict with other plugins. The script is lightweight and won't slow your site.
Squarespace makes adding payment buttons straightforward. Edit your page, add a "Code" block, and paste your embed code. The button will match your site's styling automatically.
For more advanced integration, you can add code to specific page headers through Squarespace's advanced settings, enabling site-wide functionality.
In Wix, use the "Embed HTML" widget from the Add panel. Paste your payment code and position the element where you want it. Wix previews the button in the editor so you can see exactly how it'll look.
Webflow's HTML Embed component handles payment code perfectly. Add the embed, paste your code, and style the container as needed. Webflow's responsive preview lets you check how the button looks on all device sizes.
For sites built with raw HTML, adding payments is as simple as copying code into your HTML file. Paste the snippet where you want the button to appear, and you're done. The PayRequest script handles everything else.
Choosing the Right Payment Methods
The payment methods you offer directly impact conversion rates. More options mean more sales—but only if you choose the right ones for your audience.
Credit and debit cards remain the most common online payment method worldwide. Accept Visa, Mastercard, and American Express at minimum. PayRequest handles all major card networks automatically.
If you sell to specific regions, local payment methods can significantly boost conversions. For the Netherlands, iDEAL is essential—it's how most Dutch people pay online. For Belgium, Bancontact dominates. For Germany, SEPA Direct Debit is popular.
PayRequest automatically shows relevant payment methods based on your customer's location, so Dutch customers see iDEAL while American customers see cards.
Apple Pay and Google Pay let customers pay with a single tap using the payment method stored on their phone. No typing card numbers, no friction. Enable these for mobile visitors especially.
Services like Klarna let customers split payments into installments. This can increase average order values and conversion rates, especially for higher-priced products. Consider offering BNPL for purchases over €50.
Security Considerations
Handling payments requires attention to security. The good news: using a service like PayRequest means you don't need to handle sensitive payment data directly.
PCI DSS compliance is mandatory for anyone handling credit card data. By using PayRequest's hosted payment pages, you never touch card numbers—they go directly to PayRequest's PCI-compliant infrastructure. This dramatically simplifies your compliance requirements.
Your website should use HTTPS (SSL encryption). Most hosting providers offer free SSL through Let's Encrypt. While PayRequest's payment pages are always encrypted regardless of your site, having SSL builds customer trust and helps with SEO.
PayRequest includes fraud protection by default. 3D Secure authentication adds an extra verification step for card payments. Suspicious transaction patterns are flagged automatically. You focus on your business while we handle security.
Optimizing for Conversions
Adding payments is just the first step. Optimizing how you present them can dramatically increase sales.
Every field customers must fill, every page they must load, every decision they must make—each one is an opportunity to lose the sale. Streamline ruthlessly:
- Pre-fill information when possible
- Minimize form fields
- Show progress indicators for multi-step checkouts
- Enable guest checkout (don't require accounts)
Near your payment buttons, include trust signals:
- Security badges and payment method logos
- Money-back guarantee statements
- Customer testimonials
- Clear contact information
These reduce purchase anxiety, especially for first-time customers.
A/B test your payment flows when you have enough traffic. Try different button colors, positions, and copy. Small changes can yield significant improvements in conversion rates.
Get Started Today
Adding payments to your website doesn't require technical expertise or expensive developers. With PayRequest, you can embed payment buttons, subscription widgets, or content gates in minutes.
Here's your action plan:
- Sign up free at PayRequest
- Create your first payment link or subscription
- Copy the embed code to your website
- Start accepting payments immediately
Whether you're selling products, services, memberships, or digital content, your website can become a revenue-generating machine today. No coding required, no complex integrations, no waiting for developers.
Get started with PayRequest now and add payments to your website in the next five minutes.