Create and manage payment links to collect one-off payments from guests outside of a regular payment schedule. Generate a link, share it with guests, and monitor how it interacts with existing payment automations.
When to use payment links
Payment links are a manual tool designed to work alongside payment automations, not replace them. Examples of when to use a payment link:
Extra cleaning fees
Pet fees
Early check-in or late check-out fees
Mid-stay upgrades
Additional services or amenities
Outstanding balances you want the guest to pay directly
Scheduled payments where you want the guest to actively submit payment through a link
Create a payment link
Follow the steps below to generate a new payment link for a guest.
Step by step:
Sign in to your Guesty account.
In the left-side menu, click
Reservations.Select the relevant reservation.
In the left submenu, click Payments.
At the top-right corner, click Payment actions, then select Create payment link.
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In the pop-up, enter the payment Amount.
The amount defaults to the total reservation balance but can be edited.
The amount can’t be higher than the current reservation balance.
Add a Description explaining what the guest is paying for, such as "Early check-in fee".
Review or upload your company logo.
Click Preview to see how the payment page looks to the guest.
Click Create link.
Share a payment link
After creating the link, share it with your guest in one of the following ways.
Copy the link
Step by step:
Click Copy link to copy the URL.
Paste the URL into your preferred communication channel, such as WhatsApp, SMS, or a direct email.
Send the link via email
Step by step:
Click Send via email.
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Confirm or enter the Guest email.
This field is pre-filled if an email exists in the guest's contact information.
If no email is on file, the field is blank.
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Review and edit the Subject and Email body.
The email uses a pre-made template you can edit.
Standard Guesty variables are supported.
Click Send.
Note:
Editing the email address in the Send via email modal does not update the guest's contact details on the reservation.
Manage the logo for payment links
Add a company logo to create a branded payment page for guests.
Existing logo: If you already have a logo in your guest invoice settings, Guesty automatically uses it for the payment link.
Uploading a new logo: If you upload a logo in the payment link modal, Guesty saves it for all future payment links.
Replacing the logo: Replace the logo at any time when creating a link. Replacing it updates the logo for all active and future payment links. This doesn't update the logo used for invoices.
Manage payment links and automations
Payment links work with existing payment automations to keep the reservation balance accurate.
When a link is created: Guesty creates a pending payment for the link's amount and recalculates the remaining scheduled payments. This prevents the guest from being charged twice for the same amount.
When a link is paid: The amount is collected, and the pending payment is marked as complete.
When a link expires, is canceled, or fails: The pending payment is canceled, and Guesty recalculates the automated schedule again. The unpaid amount is added back into the remaining scheduled payments.
Note:
If you create a payment link and later increase the reservation balance, the existing payment link's amount won't change. Guesty distributes the additional balance across the remaining scheduled payments according to automation rules.
Expiration and cancellation
Expiration
By default, a payment link expires three days after it's created.
A link also expires automatically if the reservation's current balance becomes lower than the link's amount. For example, if you create a $100 link and the balance later drops to $50, the link expires.
Cancellation
Manually cancel an active payment link from the reservation's "Payments" section. When a link expires or is canceled, the associated payment's status changes to "canceled", and the unpaid amount can be collected later through payment automations.
Failed payments and retry limits
To prevent fraud, guests have a limited number of attempts to pay using a payment link.
Guests have up to three payment attempts.
After the third failed attempt, the link expires automatically.
The payment is marked as "failed" with the reason "Too many failed attempts".
Guesty notifies you of the failure.
Payment automations are recalculated to include the unpaid amount in the schedule.
Best practices
Use a clear description: Write a guest-friendly description so the guest understands the charge. For example, use "Pet fee for your stay" instead of "Extra charge".
Confirm the amount before creating: Because a link's amount doesn't update automatically if the balance changes, confirm the final amount with the guest before creating and sending the link.
Use for ad-hoc payments: Continue using payment automations for standard payment schedules. Use payment links for one-off or unexpected charges.
Add your logo: A branded payment page helps guests trust the request and feel secure.
Cancel outdated links: If a charge is no longer needed or the amount changed, cancel the old link to avoid confusion.
Follow up before expiration: If a payment is urgent, remember that links expire after three days. Follow up with the guest to ensure they pay in time.
FAQ
Can I have multiple active payment links?
No. You can only have one active, unpaid payment link per reservation. To create a new one, the existing link must be paid, canceled, or expired.
Can guests use a card already on file?
No. Guests must enter a new payment method; they can't use one already on file.
Which payment provider is used?
Payment links use the payment provider assigned to the reservation, such as Stripe or GuestyPay.