Tap to Pay vs. Payment Link: What’s the better way to collect?

To get paid faster and in the field, convenience matters—for you and your customer. With Encircle Payments, we’ve built two secure ways to collect one-time payments like deposits and deductibles right from the job site: Tap to Pay and Payment Links.

They’re both secure. Both are fast. But one might make more sense than the other, depending on the job. So which one should you use—and when?

Here’s the breakdown.

Use Tap to Pay when the homeowner is standing right in front of you

If you’re face-to-face with the customer, this is the fastest, easiest and most convenient way to get paid (the fees are also lower too*).

The customer just taps their credit card on your phone, and that’s it—payment done.

No chasing down checks. No awkward “call the office” moments. No more crossing your fingers hoping that you’ll get paid.

Good situations for Tap to Pay:

• You've just finished inspecting the loss and want to collect a deposit before leaving drying equipment
• You’re in a high-volume CAT event and want to secure the job with the property owner
• It’s after hours and the office is closed

People are used to tapping their card at the grocery store or gas station. Now they can do the same thing with you, on the job site.

Use a Payment Link when the customer isn’t around

Sometimes the property owner is across the country or evacuated. Sometimes they need to get approvals from others.

In these cases, send them a secure payment link straight from the Encircle app (web or mobile). They get a link by text or email, click it, pay, and you’re good to go.

Best for:

• Jobs where the homeowner isn’t on-site
• When someone else is footing the bill (landlord, property manager, etc.)
• When you need to follow up after a walkthrough

You don’t have to be face-to-face. You don’t even have to wait. Just send the link and move on.

So, what should you use?

Whatever gets the job done.

If you’re with the homeowner, Tap to Pay is fast and easy.

If not, a payment link gives them a way to pay when it works for them.

Both are built into Encircle, so you don’t need any extra tools or apps. Your team already knows how to use the app. This just adds one more way to keep things moving and keep the cash flowing.

Want to get started with Encircle Payments?

We’ve got you.

*Processing fees for Tap to Pay are 2.95% for Visa and Mastercard (3.5% for American Express). Payment link fees are 3.2% for Visa and Mastercard (3.5% for American Express).