Best payment request software in 2026
A side-by-side comparison of the 4 most popular payment request tools — PayRequest, PayPal Request Money, Stripe Payment Links and Square Invoices. Features, fees, payment methods, and the best fit for your business.
Quick recommendation
- Most online businesses: use PayRequest — free plan, 20+ methods (iDEAL, SEPA, cards, Apple Pay), email/SMS/WhatsApp delivery, automatic reminders.
- PayPal-heavy customer base: use PayPal Request Money, but be aware of the 10-day expiry and 2.99% fee.
- Developer-led integration: Stripe Payment Links, but you'll build the channel delivery yourself.
- US retail/restaurants: Square Invoices fits the in-person workflow.
The 4 main contenders
Pros, cons and fees for each — at a glance.
PayRequest
- 20+ methods: cards, iDEAL, SEPA, Apple Pay, Klarna, Bancontact, PayPal
- Email, SMS, WhatsApp, Telegram, QR, link — 6 channels
- Automatic reminders + customer portal
- Free plan + 2% per successful payment (capped €25)
- REST API + webhooks
- Custom branding + custom domain
- EU-focused payment methods (US-only methods limited)
PayPal Request Money
- 400M+ active PayPal users worldwide
- Instant brand trust
- Easy guest checkout via card
- PayPal-only payment methods
- Money requests expire after 10 days
- Manual reminders only
- No custom branding
- 2.99% + €0.35 fee
Stripe Payment Links
- Excellent developer documentation
- Cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Klarna, iDEAL
- Strong fraud protection
- Each link is a single product/amount
- No native amount-buttons (need multiple links)
- No multi-channel delivery (you share the URL manually)
- No automatic reminder system
Square Invoices
- Strong in-person/retail POS integration
- Easy invoicing UI
- US-focused features (Cash App pay)
- Limited international payment methods
- No iDEAL/Bancontact
- $ per-transaction fees vary by country
- Not great for purely-digital businesses
Feature comparison
All the features that matter for payment request software.
| Feature | PayRequest | PayPal | Stripe | Square |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan available | ||||
| Email delivery | ||||
| SMS delivery | ||||
| WhatsApp delivery | ||||
| Telegram / QR code delivery | ||||
| iDEAL / SEPA support | ||||
| Apple Pay / Google Pay | ||||
| Klarna / BNPL | ||||
| Custom branding + domain | ||||
| Automatic reminders | ||||
| Quick-pick amount buttons | ||||
| Subscriptions / recurring | ||||
| REST API + webhooks | ||||
| Customer portal | ||||
| Multiple providers (Stripe + Mollie + PayPal) |
What is payment request software?
Payment request software is a tool that lets you send a digital message asking a customer to pay a specific amount — and gives them a one-click way to do it.
You enter the amount, description and customer's email or phone, then share the request by email, SMS, WhatsApp or a copyable link. The customer opens the link, picks a payment method (card, iDEAL, SEPA, Apple Pay, PayPal, etc.) and pays through a secure hosted checkout. You get notified the moment the payment lands.
It's faster than a traditional invoice (which often takes 23+ days to be paid) and simpler than building a checkout from scratch. Most modern payment request software also includes automatic reminders, recurring billing, and an API for developers.
How to choose payment request software
Six things to check before you commit.
1. Delivery channels
Email at minimum; ideally also SMS, WhatsApp, QR code and shareable link. The more channels, the better the conversion.
2. Payment methods
Cards alone won't cut it in 2026 — check for iDEAL (NL), Bancontact (BE), SEPA, Apple Pay, Klarna and PayPal.
3. Branding
Custom logo, colors and ideally a custom domain (pay.yourbrand.com). Your customers should see your brand, not a generic third party.
4. Reminders
Automatic follow-ups for unpaid requests, with auto-stop on payment. Manual chasing kills cash flow.
5. API access
REST API + webhooks if you want to integrate it into your product, dashboard or CRM. Critical for SaaS, hosting and agency platforms.
6. Pricing model
Flat % per transaction beats monthly fees for low-volume users. Watch for hidden fees on FX conversion and chargebacks.
FAQ — payment request software
What is payment request software?
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Payment request software lets you send a digital message — by email, SMS, WhatsApp, Telegram or a shareable link — that asks a customer to pay a specific amount. The customer clicks the link, picks a payment method (card, iDEAL, SEPA, Apple Pay, etc.) and pays through a secure hosted checkout. It replaces the friction of traditional invoices for fast, one-off and recurring payments.
What is the best payment request software in 2026?
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The best payment request software depends on your needs. PayRequest is the most flexible — it accepts 20+ methods (cards, iDEAL, SEPA, Apple Pay, Klarna, PayPal) on a single payment page, with automatic reminders and a free plan. PayPal Request Money is fastest if you only need PayPal. Stripe Payment Links is ideal for developer-led setups. Square fits in-person retail. For most online businesses, PayRequest offers the best mix of features and price.
What's the best free payment request app?
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PayRequest is free to start — no monthly fee. You pay 2% per successful payment (capped at €25 per transaction) on top of your provider's processing rate. Stripe Payment Links has no monthly fee either but only their cards/methods are supported. PayPal Request Money is free to send but charges 2.99% + €0.35 on receive.
Which payment request software supports email and SMS?
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PayRequest supports the most delivery channels: email, SMS, WhatsApp, Telegram, QR code and shareable link — all from the same payment request. PayPal supports email only. Stripe Payment Links is a URL you share manually. Square has email/SMS for invoices but limited international payment methods.
Is payment request software the same as an invoice?
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Not quite. Invoices are formal accounting documents with line items, VAT and invoice numbers. A payment request is lighter — just an amount, description and a pay button. Most payment request software (including PayRequest) does both: send a quick payment request for one-off charges, or upgrade to a full invoice when you need formal accounting.
What features should I look for in payment request software?
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Key features: (1) Multi-channel delivery — email, SMS, WhatsApp, link, QR. (2) Multiple payment methods — at minimum cards, iDEAL/SEPA, Apple Pay, optionally PayPal. (3) Automatic reminders to chase unpaid requests. (4) Custom branding — your logo and domain. (5) Recurring/subscription support. (6) Fair pricing — flat % per transaction beats monthly fees for low-volume users. (7) API access if you want to integrate it into your product.
Does payment request software have an API?
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Yes — most modern payment request software (PayRequest, Stripe, Square) expose a REST API with webhooks. PayRequest's API lets you create payment requests, send via any channel, listen for payment events, and embed checkouts. PayPal also has an API but it's tied to PayPal-only payments.
Try the highest-rated payment request software
Free to start. Send your first payment request in under a minute — by email, SMS, WhatsApp or a shareable link. Powered by Stripe, Mollie or PayPal.