On this page
No Headings
Last updated: June 4, 2026
Estimated time: 3 minutes
You can create and manage payment links in two ways: through the PayPal business dashboard or by using the Payment Links and Buttons API. This page helps you choose the option that fits your setup and level of control.
Note: The Payment Links and Buttons API supports payment links only. Buy buttons and shopping cart buttons are created and managed in the dashboard.
Create payment links and buttons in the PayPal business dashboard and use them in emails, social posts, or on your site without writing code.
Use a REST API to create and manage payment links from your application and use them wherever you accept payments.
The key difference between these options is how payment links are created, managed, and controlled, whether manually in the dashboard or programmatically in your application.
| UI Editor | API | |
|---|---|---|
| Who should use it | Best for merchants who want to create and manage payment links or buttons without writing code. | Best for merchants and platforms that want to create and manage payment links programmatically from their applications and have experience with REST APIs and backend development. |
| How it works | You create and customize links or buttons in the PayPal Business Dashboard, then use the generated link or button code in your website or other channels. | Your application calls the Payment Links and Buttons API to create and manage payment links. You store and use the returned URLs within your own payment flows. |
| Key benefits |
|
|