Smarter Payment Channels for Modern Businesses

The easier it is to get paid, the better. However, how you offer payment methods is just as important as which ones you accept.

Payment channels can help with that. These are the various ways that your clients can finish a transaction, including via a hosted payment page, payment API integration, invoice payment link, or phone payment, which is your virtual terminal payment method.

In addition to giving your clients flexibility, providing a variety of payment methods also makes doing business with you easier. This post will define payment channels, discuss how they are different from payment methods, and show you how to use them with BillPro to expand your company.

By the end, you’ll know how to choose the best mix of channels for your workflow, improve the customer journey, and scale your operations more efficiently. If you’re also exploring broader billing strategies, see Smarter Billing: Automate, Scale, and Grow Without the Stress or explore BillPro’s billing orchestration features.

If you’re looking to accept card payments, including in high-risk industries like crypto or gambling, you may also want to explore merchant services at CardCorp.

What Are Payment Channels (and How Are They Different from Payment Methods)?

Let’s dispel a frequent misconception: payment channels and payment methods are two different things.

• The tool the consumer uses to make payments, such as a credit card, e-wallet, or cryptocurrency, is called a payment method.
• The method and location of payment collection, such as a phone call, invoice link, or checkout page, is known as the payment channel.

To put it simply, the channel is the “how” if the method is the “what.”

Customers and businesses interact with payments in a variety of ways, so it’s important to understand this distinction clearly. A quick online checkout may be preferred by one customer, but a secure invoice payment link may be more comfortable for another. Therefore, you can lower friction and enhance the overall experience by tailoring your digital payment channels to these preferences.

For more on how a billing platform fits into your wider payment strategy, see How to Choose the Best Billing Platform – A Complete Guide.

If you’re interested in payment automation, see Smarter Billing: Automate, Scale, and Grow Without the Stress.

Core Payment Channels Supported by BillPro

BillPro provides you with four flexible payment channels, each of which is intended for a distinct use case. As your company grows, you can modify your billing strategy thanks to this scalable payment infrastructure.

1. Hosted Payment Page

A fast and secure way to start accepting payments without coding.

• Ideal for businesses that want a ready-to-use checkout
• Mobile-friendly and PCI-compliant
• Custom branding and quick setup

This is perfect if you want to launch quickly and still give customers a trusted, branded payment experience. Whether you’re a startup or an established business, it’s a smart choice to get going with minimal development work.

Related: Billing Orchestration: How the Right Billing Platform Helps Your Business Grow
Explore more: BillPro Pricing Plans

2. Payment API

For businesses that want full control over the customer experience.

• Build customisable checkout flow within your site or app
• Integrate payments directly into your product
• Tokenise methods for subscription payments and reuse

The API is best suited for SaaS platforms, marketplaces, or any business that needs a seamless, embedded payment journey. Developers can explore the BillPro API documentation.

Learn more about recurring billing capabilities.

3. Invoice Payment Links

Send a secure payment link by email, chat, or SMS.

• Works well for B2B, services, or remote billing
• No development needed
• Links are branded, tracked, and secure

This cross-channel payment solution is ideal if you want to send payment requests quickly and track them easily. As a result, it helps reduce late payments and adds convenience for both sides.

Related: How to Reduce Payment Failures and Improve Cash Flow

4. Virtual Terminal Payments

Manually enter the card details on behalf of your customer.

• Useful for sales, support, or back-office billing
• Designed for phone or email payments
• No customer action needed

This channel is especially helpful for teams working directly with clients, especially in B2B or professional services.

Why Use Multiple Payment Channels?

Not every one of your clients is the same. Some people would rather pay over the phone, some through email, and some on your website. Thus, by providing a variety of payment methods, you can:

• Meet your clients where they are.
• Cut down on abandoned checkouts and friction
• Support multiple business models, such as SaaS, e-commerce, or services
• Provide alternatives in case one approach doesn’t work.
• Easily expand using a multi-channel payment system

How BillPro Makes It Easy

It’s easy to switch between channels or use multiple at once with BillPro. It is designed to assist you in scaling without requiring additional work.

• For quick setup, use a hosted payment page.
• For smooth experiences, integrate the payment API.
• Provide links for prompt billing.
• When necessary, enter information using a virtual terminal.

You have complete control because everything works behind the scenes to connect to a single, centralised payment system. BillPro offers real-time reporting, custom branding, fraud protection, and tokenisation—all from a single dashboard.

If you’re planning to scale, don’t miss Top Subscription Growth Trends to Watch in 2025.

Use Cases for Different Payment Channels

Businesses are currently utilizing BillPro’s payment channels in the following ways:

• Startups use invoice links before building full checkouts
• SaaS brands embed the API into onboarding
• Agencies or call centers use virtual terminals for live billing
• E-commerce companies launch with hosted checkout, then integrate API later

💡 Start with the channel that fits your workflow, then scale from there.

Need help structuring your model? See Billing Models Explained.

Conclusion

Providing a variety of payment options promotes long-term growth, improved customer service, and quicker payments in addition to convenience.

With a versatile, safe, and strong multi-channel payment system, BillPro helps you at every stage, whether you’re just starting out or expanding internationally.

Want to enhance renewals as well? Check out How to Boost Your Subscription Renewal Rates.