A Mollie payment link asks the customer to actively complete one payment. A Mollie subscription creates recurring payments on a schedule after consent and an eligible mandate. Use a link for a specific amount due now; use a subscription for a continuing fixed plan that renews automatically.
Payment Link vs Subscription
| Decision | Payment link | Subscription |
|---|---|---|
| Action | Customer opens and pays | First consent, then eligible background renewals |
| Best for | Invoice, deposit, one-off service or manual renewal | Membership, retainer or fixed recurring service |
| Schedule | No automatic billing schedule | Fixed interval and optional payment count |
| Mandate | Not needed for ordinary one-off payment | Eligible mandate required |
| Creation | Web app, mobile app or API | API directly or through a partner |
| Failure | Customer retries the request | Retry and dunning policy applies |
Mollie's payment-link guide describes a shareable URL or QR code created in its apps. Its recurring guide says recurring payments cannot be created in the Web app.
Choose by the Buyer Promise
Use a link when the customer should decide for this charge: an invoice, booking deposit, repair, extension or optional contribution. Sending the same €20 link monthly does not create a subscription; the payer still acts each time.
Use a subscription when continuing access or service renews at a defined interval. Show amount, interval, first and next charge, minimum term, cancellation timing, past-due policy and payment-update route before consent.
Do not force unknown variable work into a fixed subscription. Use an invoice or request when the amount needs approval. Mollie supports on-demand recurring charges after consent through its API, but variable billing requires precise amount notice and usage evidence.
Migrate Manual Renewals Safely
- Identify customers repeatedly paying manual links.
- Define the recurring promise and cancellation policy.
- Invite them through a new explicit consent flow.
- Retain the old link only for manual balances.
- Prevent both routes billing the same period.
- Confirm the first subscription payment and next date.
A prior one-off payment is not automatic consent for future debits.
PayRequest provides payment links and subscriptions above a connected Mollie account. The final rule: if the customer pays this request, use a link; if they authorize this plan to renew, use a subscription.