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Read article →September 15, 2026
Payment methods
Payment link: how much each platform charges in Colombia
A payment link It's a link you send to the customer via WhatsApp, email, or social media so they can pay by card, PSE (Colombian electronic payment system), or digital wallet, without an online store or card reader. In Colombia, with a national card, it costs between 2.65 and 3.59 of the sale plus a fixed charge of 700 to 900 pesos, before VAT.
Everyone compares the percentage, and that's almost never the deciding factor. For small sales, the fixed fee is the deciding factor; for large sales, it's when you get paid. Here are the rates that Bold, Wompi, and Mercado Pago are publishing today, based on calculations for sales of $20,000, $100,000, and $200,000.
The essentials
- Wompi charges 2.65 % + $700 + VAT per successful transaction and credits you the next business day.
- Bold charges 2.99 for % + $900 with Visa or Mastercard if you receive the money the next day. If you want it instantly, it goes up to 3.59 for % + $900.
- Mercado Pago charges 3.29 % + $800 if you withdraw instantly and drops to 2.79 % + $800 if you wait 14 days.
- In a sale of $20,000 you end up paying between 7.3 % and 9.6 % with VAT. In one of $200,000, between 3.6 % and 4.8 %.
- Rates consulted on September 11, 2026 on each platform's website.
What is a payment link and when is it useful?
It's a payment page that the platform creates with the price, product name, and accepted payment methods. You copy the link, send it to the customer, and they pay from their phone. The platform processes the payment, deducts the commission, and deposits the rest into your account.
It's most profitable when selling via chat. If you're currently getting paid by bank transfer to a personal account, you're in good company. 84.9% of micro and small businesses already receive electronic transfers. The link adds credit card information, automatic receipts, and an organized record of each sale. It can also be used to collect advance payments for services or deliveries without requiring any equipment.
If you already sell via messages, in the guide for Sell via WhatsApp Business It's about how to include the payment at the end of the conversation without scaring the customer away.
How much does a payment link cost in Colombia in 2026?
Three platforms publish their full price, and one does not. This is today's picture, before VAT and withholding taxes:
| Platform | Base fare (national card) | Variations | When do you receive the money? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wompi | 2,65 % + $700 | Same fee for PSE, Nequi, and Bancolombia button. QR code to 1 % | Next business day |
| Bold | 2.99 % + $900 (Visa or Mastercard) | 3.59 % + $900 with immediate credit. Other cards 3.29 % + $900. PSE, Bancolombia and wallets 2.89 % + $900. International card: 1 additional % | Next day before 10 am, or instantly with the highest rate |
| Mercado Pago | 3,29 % + $800 | 2.99 % + $800 at 7 days. 2.79 % + $800 at 14 days | Instantly, in 7 or 14 days, depending on the rate you choose |
| Redeban | It is not published on the product page | Credit card only. International cards not accepted. | According to your contract |
Wompi publishes a single rate for its advanced plan for all payment methods, with QR codes as the exception. It's a subsidiary of Bancolombia, so if you were looking for a Bancolombia payment link, that's the shortest route. In the analysis of Wompi card reader It shows how much your $700 charge weighs depending on the size of your sale.
Bold has fine print. Its payment link page displays 2.99 % + $900 and, in the same block, promises the money "in seconds". In their full price list These two things don't go together: the 2.99 % is with next-day credit before 10 am, and the immediate credit costs 3.59 % + $900. Both rates are for businesses that sell up to $10 million per month and do not include VAT or withholdings.
Mercado Pago has a detail worth checking in your dashboard before processing a payment: the product page itself displays a charge of $800 in the fee schedule, and its FAQ states that there are no fixed costs. For the accounts in this article, we used the $800 charge, which is the most expensive option.
Redeban has its own payment link, but it requires a non-present Merchant ID and only accepts credit cards. If you already work with Redeban at the counter, ask for the link fee in writing. Otherwise, it's the longest way to get started (the over-the-counter comparison is in [link]). Bold vs Redeban).
How much do you keep from each sale: the fixed charge rules
The percentage is misleading for small orders. Adding 19% VAT to the commission, this is what each platform deducts. These are estimated values, calculated using published rates and before withholdings:
| Sale | Wompi | Bold the next day | Immediate boldness | Mercado Pago instant | Mercado Pago at 14 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $20.000 | $1.464 (7,3 %) | $1.783 (8,9 %) | $1.925 (9,6 %) | $1.735 (8,7 %) | $1.616 (8,1 %) |
| $100.000 | $3.986 (4,0 %) | $4.629 (4,6 %) | $5.343 (5,3 %) | $4.867 (4,9 %) | $4.272 (4,3 %) |
| $200.000 | $7.140 (3,6 %) | $8.187 (4,1 %) | $9.615 (4,8 %) | $8.782 (4,4 %) | $7.592 (3,8 %) |
Wompi is cheaper in all three sizes. In a sale of $100,000, the difference between the most expensive and the cheapest option is $1,357. It seems small until you multiply it: with 300 sales per month, that's about $407,000.
What Wompi doesn't give you is the money on the same day. If you use what you sell in the morning to buy merchandise in the afternoon, the immediate options are Mercado Pago and Bold, and Mercado Pago is cheaper in all three sizes: $476 less than Bold for a sale of $100,000. Besides VAT, legal withholdings may apply to the consignment depending on your tax regime; these are not platform fees.
If your average order value is below $30,000, compare platforms based on the fixed fee. In those sales, a $200 difference in the fixed fee is worth more than half a percentage point of commission.
Gateway, payment button or virtual card reader: what do they have in common?
The four words are used as synonyms and do not mean exactly the same thing. payment gateway It's the system that processes the payment, and the link is how you use it without a website. The payment button is that same payment gateway embedded in your site. Many people call the link or QR code a "virtual payment terminal" when they collect payments at the counter or at a customer's home: the customer opens the link on their phone and pays there.
If you have a physical store and most of your customers pay by card in person, a physical card reader is still cheaper. At Bold, a Visa or Mastercard payment at the counter costs 2.69 (% + $300), compared to 2.99 (% + $900) at the linked store. In the guide of payment methods for your business All the options are side by side.
How to create a payment link step by step
On all three platforms, it's done from your mobile phone:
- Create the merchant account and validate the account where you will receive the payment. Have your RUT (tax ID) and, if you are a business, your Chamber of Commerce certificate on hand.
- Enter the payment link option and write the value, the product name and a short description.
- Check which payment methods are still active. If your customers buy on credit, the card option must be available; if they pay via bank transfer, leave PSE enabled.
- Copy the link and send it via WhatsApp along with the order summary.
- Wait for confirmation on the panel or in your email before shipping.
The last step is the one that saves you the most money: only ship when the panel confirms the payment, because a screenshot can be edited in a minute.
Common mistakes with the payment link
- Dispatch with the customer's screenshot instead of waiting for confirmation from the platform.
- Compare only the percentage and forget the fixed charge, which in small sales weighs more than the commission.
- Sending a link with no defined value or an empty description. The customer doesn't know what they're paying for and either writes to ask or doesn't pay at all.
Which payment method is best for your business?
We review your average ticket, your sales channels and how quickly you need the money at the register, and we tell you which combination of link, card reader and QR costs you the least.
Frequently asked questions about the payment link
Does creating a payment link cost anything?
At Wompi and Mercado Pago, the commission is only charged when a payment is received. Bold also doesn't display a monthly fee on its payment link page. What you pay is the commission on each sale.
What is the cheapest payment link in Colombia?
With the rates published today, Wompi: 2.65 % + $700 plus VAT. If your customers can pay with QR code, Wompi QR charges 1 % per transaction.
How long does it take for the money to arrive?
At Bold, you can get it the next day before 10 am for the base rate, or instantly for 3.59 (% + $900). At Wompi, it's the next business day. With Mercado Pago, you choose: instant, in 7 or 14 days, and the fee decreases the longer you wait.
Can I accept international cards with a payment link?
Yes, with Bold, which adds 1.% to the base commission, and with Wompi, which accepts international Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. The Redeban link does not accept them.
Is a payment link the same as a virtual card reader?
In practice, they work the same way: the customer pays from their cell phone, and you don't need any equipment. "Virtual POS terminal" is the name some platforms and many merchants give to in-person payments via links or QR codes.
In summary
A payment link lets you accept card and PSE payments directly from the chat, without a website or card reader. Wompi is the cheapest at 2.65 (% + $700) plus VAT. If you need the money instantly, Mercado Pago charges less than Bold's instant payment service. Before choosing, calculate the commission on your average sale, including the fixed fee: that's where the real difference lies.
