bookto checkout vs Mollie payment links

Use a Mollie payment link when…

• —You are splitting a cost with a colleague or client
• —You need a quick, informal one-off transfer
• —You are collecting a deposit in an existing client relationship where no product context is needed
• —The transaction does not require a formal order record

Use bookto checkout when…

• —You are selling a defined product — a session, package, book, or workshop
• —You want the buyer to see what they are buying before they pay
• —You need buyer details, VAT data, and an order record
• —You want a customised confirmation email that delivers the next step
• —You want to get paid before you deliver — professionally

What is the difference between a Mollie payment link and bookto checkout?

A Mollie payment link transfers money — the buyer enters a fixed amount or follows a preset link to pay. There is no product shown, no buyer details captured beyond the transaction, and no branded confirmation experience. bookto checkout uses Mollie for the actual payment processing, but adds a full checkout page on top: the buyer sees what they are buying, confirms the purchase, and receives a branded confirmation email. The seller gets an order record with buyer name, email, address, and full VAT data.

Do I still need a Mollie account if I use bookto checkout?

Yes. bookto checkout connects to your own Mollie account via API key. The payment is processed through Mollie — iDEAL, Bancontact, SEPA, and credit cards. bookto checkout never holds or intermediates money. Your Mollie account is still where the payment lands.

Does Mollie send a confirmation email to the buyer?

Mollie sends a payment receipt confirming the transaction. bookto checkout sends a fully customisable post-purchase email — per product — that can include your own content, a Calendly booking link, a digital download, onboarding instructions, or any next step. They serve different purposes: the Mollie receipt confirms the payment; the bookto confirmation email delivers the product experience.

Does bookto checkout keep VAT records that Mollie payment links do not?

Yes. bookto checkout captures buyer details at checkout — including company name, VAT number, address, and country — and stores them alongside the product, price, VAT rate, and VAT amount in every order record. A Mollie payment link does not collect this data. For B2B sales and European VAT compliance, the bookto checkout order record provides the data your accountant needs without any additional administration.

Can I use bookto checkout without using the Mollie dashboard?

Yes. Once your Mollie account is connected, you manage products and orders entirely in bookto checkout. You see every order, the buyer details, the payment status, and the financial breakdown. The Mollie dashboard remains available for your broader payment overview, but you do not need to use it for products you sell through bookto checkout.

When is a Mollie payment link the right choice over bookto checkout?

A Mollie payment link is the right choice for informal, one-off transactions — splitting a bill, reimbursing a colleague, accepting a deposit in an existing client relationship where no formal product context is needed. For selling a defined product or service professionally — where the buyer should see what they are buying and receive a confirmation — bookto checkout is the appropriate tool.