How to create a UPI payment link and collect payments

Plural Online
6 min readFeb 17, 2023

India has been slowly and steadily moving towards a cashless economy for the past several decades. However, the pandemic propelled the country towards the super-fast adoption of digital technologies, with digital transactions rising to almost 48 billion in 2020 alone.

But to make digital India a success story, Indian businesses of all sizes need a simple, safe, and user-friendly method of making cashless payments. This is where UPI payment link generators come into the picture. UPI payment links provide the fastest, easiest, and most cost-effective method of accepting payments.

Plural and Setu teamed up to create the UPIverse for all things UPI including UPI payment links. Other offerings in the UPIverse include:

  • UPI Autopay
  • UPI Intent flow
  • UPI Switch

Drop in your details here and get early access to the UPIverse.

What are UPI payment links?

UPI payment links are a digital payment method businesses can use to collect customer payments online and offline. The no-code payment tool allows you to start collecting payments immediately, even without a business website or an app.

You can send the UPI payment link to your customers through SMS, WhatsApp, or email and accept payments remotely or in person. When customers click the link, a list of UPI apps installed on their phones appears on the screen. They can choose the app of their choice to complete the payment.

UPI payment links are compatible with businesses of all sizes, whether online or offline. Thanks to them, customers can make quick and safe online payments with just a click.

Benefits of UPI payment links

Generating UPI payment links can provide the following benefits to your business:

1. Seamless payment

UPI offers flexible options for customers to make payments. They can choose their preferred payment method and make instant payments without logging into their bank accounts. The ease of use makes it one of the most preferred payment methods. In 2022, India closed approximately 74 billion UPI transactions worth Rs 125.94 trillion.

2. Higher success rate

Customers need not input any information to make payments via UPI links. It reduces the transaction failure rate due to inaccurate information. Further, the success rate for UPI transactions is quite high, with the top 50 UPI banks having less than 2% technical decline rates.

3. Privacy protection

Though digital payments are mostly secure, there is a chance that data may be stolen. Stealing of bank credentials by hackers while entering them into the payment gateway is not unheard of. UPI payments resolve this issue by eliminating the need to always enter your bank credentials. Customers can make payments using just a PIN.

4. Cost-effective

UPI links eliminate the need to create expensive payment acceptance devices and terminals. You can make payments without a third-party application and save costs on its setup and maintenance.

5. Safe and secure

The need to enter sensitive private details makes many customers reluctant to make digital payments. However, they feel secure when they receive links to reliable payment solutions. Thus, UPI links promote cashless payments with their safe and secure features.

6. Effective communication

You can send UPI payment links via text, WhatsApp, or any social media channel you use to communicate with your customers. Further, you can include a special message with the payment link and personalise each transaction.

7. Save time and effort

A business has to deal with multiple clients. UPI payments save time and effort by allowing you to generate several links in batches and sending them to various clients via bulk messages or emails.

8. Eliminates the dependency on cash

For a use-case like cash-on-delivery collection, businesses can simply collect payments online and eliminate the need for cash transactions.

9. Contactless payments

Payment links via SMS or WhatsApp emerged as the front runner in contactless payments in the second wave of the pandemic. It allows for omni-channel transactions where in-store purchases were completed with online payments — a huge win in social-distancing times.

How to create a UPI payment link

You can create a UPI payment link through a payment gateway or with Setu’s UPI DeepLinks. To generate the payment link, you must first add your product and customer details. You can send the generated link to your customers via message or mail and collect up to INR 1 lakh per transaction.

  1. Through a payment gateway

Here are the steps to create a UPI payment link:

  • Go to the Payment Gateway Dashboard
  • Go to the ‘Payment Links’ tab and select ‘Create Payment Link.’
  • Next, select ‘Create UPI Payment Link’ from the list of options.
  • Now, you need to add the payment details. Mention the purpose of the payment in a concise manner for easy understanding of your customers.
  • Set the expiry time for the payment link.
  • Fill in the customer details (email ID and mobile number) to share the link.
  • You can also choose to set automatic payment reminders for your customers.
  • Once you fill up all the required fields, click ‘done.’ A payment link will be generated. Copy the link and send it to your customers.

2. Using Setu’s UPI DeepLinks

Setu’s UPI DeepLinks is a UPI-based solution that enables merchants to embed UPI payments on WhatsApp and other popular platforms to collect payments from customers easily.

Benefits of DeepLinks:

  • Collect any type of payment
  • Go live in 48 hours
  • Reduce fraud
  • Receive detailed notifications and reports

To get started, click here.

UPI DeepLinks is just one offering in the UPIverse. Drop in your details here and get early access.

Things to consider while using UPI payment links

Now that you’ve understood how to generate a payment link, here are a few things to consider for safe and smooth UPI payments:

1. UPI links are non-deletable

So what do you do if you accidentally send a wrong link to your customers? Deactivate the payment connection. This way, the customer will no longer be able to pay through the link.

2. Use UPI AutoPay for recurring payments

UPI payment links work only for a single payment. To receive recurring payments, you can use the UPI AutoPay feature. It allows your customers to set recurring fixed amounts to be automatically deducted from their accounts.

3. Opt for a superior UPI payment gateway

Provide your customers with a superior experience with Plural Payment Gateway. Our UPI payment gateway comes enhanced with multiple features, such as:

  • Multiple payment avenues
  • Buy Now Pay Later
  • Custom branded pages
  • Easy integration with social media and messaging apps

Plus, our round-the-clock technical support ensures a hassle-free shopping experience for your customers.

4. Consider UPI Intent Flow for a seamless user experience

Plural makes UPI payments easier by accepting UPI Intent payment requests for both payment gateways and links. When customers select their preferred UPI app as the payment method on your website, the UPI app opens with pre-populated payment details. Customers can complete the transaction without switching between applications.

5. Adopt UPI Switch by Setu get all the latest UPI features instantly

UPI Switch by Setu is the industry-first, end-to-end solution for businesses to adopt all UPI-based product offerings before anyone else and without any bank integrations. Using the robust product layer, you can cater to any use case in the market, be it AutoPay, eRUPI, Links, QR, Credit card payment, etc. Drop in your details here and get early access.

Final words

UPI payment links are easy to create, safe to use and provide a seamless customer payment experience. Create payment links with a UPI payment link generator and see your business grow to new heights of success.

UPIverse is your go-to platform for all things UPI. Think UPI, think Plural. Interested in getting started? Drop in your details here and get early access to the UPIverse.

Plural by Pine Labs has received an in-principle authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as a Payment Aggregator.

Setu has received an in-principle authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as an Account Aggregator.

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Plural Online

Payments infrastructure for all things internet to Fast Forward your #ecommerce hustle. www.pluralonline.com