# QR codes and payment links

MONEI gives you four ways to charge a customer without building a checkout. This page helps you pick the right one and walks through the most common setups.

## Which tool fits your sale?[​](#picker "Direct link to Which tool fits your sale?")

|                     | [MONEI Pay app](https://docs.monei.com/monei-pay/overview/.md) | [Permanent QR code](https://docs.monei.com/manage-account/stores-and-points-of-sale/.md#qr-codes) | [Pay by Link](https://docs.monei.com/payments/pay-by-link/.md) | [Payments API](https://docs.monei.com/integrations/use-qr-payments/.md) |
| ------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Best for**        | Staff charging in person                                       | Printed or displayed checkout                                                                     | One-off remote charges                                         | Custom integrations                                                     |
| **Amount**          | Entered per sale                                               | Fixed, or customer enters it                                                                      | Set per link                                                   | Set per payment                                                         |
| **Reusable**        | New charge per sale                                            | Yes — unlimited payments                                                                          | No — one payment per link                                      | No — one payment per QR                                                 |
| **Expires**         | —                                                              | Never (until disabled)                                                                            | 7 days by default                                              | 5 minutes                                                               |
| **Needs**           | A phone                                                        | Nothing after printing                                                                            | Nothing                                                        | A developer                                                             |
| **How it's shared** | Tap to Pay, QR on screen, Bizum request                        | Print, screen, link, short link                                                                   | Email, WhatsApp, SMS                                           | Your checkout or device                                                 |

All four accept the payment methods enabled in your account and appear together in your [payments list](https://dashboard.monei.com/payments), so refunds and reporting work the same way.

## Retail counter[​](#retail "Direct link to Retail counter")

Staff charge each customer in person with the [MONEI Pay app](https://docs.monei.com/monei-pay/using-the-app/.md) — no card reader needed:

1. Open MONEI Pay, enter the amount.
2. Charge with **Tap to Pay** (contactless card or wallet on your phone), show a **QR code**, or send a **Bizum request** to the customer's phone number.
3. The customer gets a receipt by email — or automatically by WhatsApp for Bizum payments. You can also send one from the payment detail: see [digital receipts](https://docs.monei.com/monei-pay/using-the-app/.md#receipts).

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Payments inherit the staff member's [store and point of sale](https://docs.monei.com/manage-account/stores-and-points-of-sale/.md#segmentation), so each location reports separately.

## Unattended: kiosks, parking, donations, tickets[​](#unattended "Direct link to Unattended: kiosks, parking, donations, tickets")

Nobody attends the checkout — a printed [permanent QR code](https://docs.monei.com/manage-account/stores-and-points-of-sale/.md#qr-codes) does the work. Configure its point of sale once:

* **Fixed amount** — the customer scans and pays a set price without entering anything. Leave it off for donations, where the customer chooses the amount.
* **Callback URL** — your system gets notified the moment someone pays: open the barrier, log the donation, register the ticket sale.
* **Require email** + **Include order QR in email** — for tickets and pickups, the customer's confirmation email carries a scannable order QR.

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### Validate orders with the email QR[​](#order-qr "Direct link to Validate orders with the email QR")

The order QR in the confirmation email encodes the **order ID**. To validate at the entrance, at pickup, or at a parking exit:

1. Scan the customer's QR with any camera or scanner app — it reads the order ID.
2. Search that order ID in [MONEI Pay](https://docs.monei.com/monei-pay/using-the-app/.md) or the [dashboard payments list](https://dashboard.monei.com/payments).
3. Confirm the payment status is **Succeeded**.

Set a **QR code text** like "Scan this code at the entrance" so customers know what the code is for. This feature is separate from Verifactu tax compliance.

## Remote: invoices, WhatsApp, and a link that always works[​](#remote "Direct link to Remote: invoices, WhatsApp, and a link that always works")

Two options, depending on whether the amount changes:

* **One-off charge for a specific order** — create a [Pay by Link](https://docs.monei.com/payments/pay-by-link/.md) payment: set the amount, pick the delivery channel (email, WhatsApp, SMS), and the customer pays from the link. The link is tied to that order and expires (7 days by default).
* **A link you share once and reuse forever** — use a permanent payment link from a [QR code](https://docs.monei.com/manage-account/stores-and-points-of-sale/.md#qr-codes): put it on invoices, in your email signature, or on social media. With a custom [short link](https://docs.monei.com/manage-account/stores-and-points-of-sale/.md#short-links) like `monei.me/my-shop`, customers can even type it by hand.

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For recurring charges on a schedule, create a [subscription](https://docs.monei.com/subscriptions/manage-subscriptions/.md) instead — subscription payment links work the same way.

## Common questions[​](#common-questions "Direct link to Common questions")

### Can I take payments without a website?[​](#no-website "Direct link to Can I take payments without a website?")

Yes. Every tool on this page works without a website. During onboarding, select **Physical store** as your business type — see [Pay by Link without a website](https://docs.monei.com/payments/pay-by-link/.md#without-website).

### Can the same QR code charge different amounts?[​](#variable-amount "Direct link to Can the same QR code charge different amounts?")

Yes. Set the point of sale's payment flow to **Manual amount** — the customer enters the amount after scanning. Use **Fixed amount** for set prices.

### When do payment links and QR codes expire?[​](#expiry "Direct link to When do payment links and QR codes expire?")

* A **permanent payment link** never expires — it works until you disable its QR code.
* A **Pay by Link** payment expires 7 days after creation by default; set a custom expiration date when you create it. An expired link shows an expiration message — create a new payment to charge again.
* A **one-time API QR** expires after 5 minutes (or the `expireAt` you set).
* A **short link** for a QR code works until you delete it; a short link for a Pay by Link payment expires with the payment.

### Do links and QR payments cost more?[​](#fees "Direct link to Do links and QR payments cost more?")

No. They are regular MONEI payments — standard [fees](https://docs.monei.com/manage-account/monei-fees/.md) for the payment method used apply.

### Which payment methods can customers use?[​](#methods "Direct link to Which payment methods can customers use?")

All the methods enabled in your account, unless the point of sale or link restricts them — see [configure payment methods](https://docs.monei.com/payments/configure-payment-methods/.md).