Peer-to-peer payment apps like Venmo, Cash App, and Zelle use deep links to simplify money transfers. Instead of opening the app, finding the recipient, typing an amount, and adding a note, the user taps a single link and sees a pre-filled transfer form. This pattern reduces transfer friction and increases completion rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the broader payment deep linking strategy, see Payment Deep Links<\/a>. For the fintech overview, see Deep Linking for Fintech and Banking Apps<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Seven steps. Each step is a potential drop-off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Four steps. The user's decision to send money was already made when they tapped the link; the app just needs confirmation and authentication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When a user wants to receive money:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes the recipient doesn't want to specify an amount (splitting a bill where each person's share varies):<\/p>\n\n\n\n The sender fills in their own amount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Different identifier types:<\/p>\n\n\n\n For splitting among multiple people:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each person owes $30.00. The link opens the app showing "Jane is requesting $30.00 for Dinner."<\/p>\n\n\n\n Resolve the identifier to a real user:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before showing the transfer form, verify the recipient is real and active:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Display the recipient's full name and profile photo so the sender can verify they're sending to the right person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Validate amounts against transaction limits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n A malicious actor could create a link with someone else's username as the recipient:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The "to" field shows "@attacker" instead of the real friend. To prevent this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Payment request links should expire:<\/p>\n\n\n\n After the expiration date, the app shows "This payment request has expired" instead of the transfer form. This prevents stale requests from being paid accidentally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Generate a QR code for in-person payment requests:<\/p>\n\n\n\n For contactless payment requests, encode the deep link in an NFC tag. The payer taps their phone against the tag, and the transfer form opens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When shared in messaging apps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n This makes the payment request look professional and trustworthy in message previews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the payer doesn't have the app:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The deferred deep link ensures the payment context survives the install process.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe P2P Transfer Flow<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Without Deep Links<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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With Deep Links<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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URL Structure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Request Payment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
https:\/\/go.yourapp.com\/send?to=@janedoe&amount=25.00¬e=Coffee\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nRequest Without Amount<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
https:\/\/go.yourapp.com\/send?to=@janedoe¬e=Dinner+split\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nRequest by Identifier Type<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
By username: \/send?to=@janedoe\nBy phone: \/send?to=+15551234567\nBy email: \/send?to=jane@example.com\nBy user ID: \/send?to=uid:user_abc123\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nGroup Payment Request<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
https:\/\/go.yourapp.com\/split?from=@janedoe&total=120.00&count=4¬e=Dinner\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nImplementation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Generating Payment Request Links<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
function createPaymentRequestLink(recipient, amount, note) {\n const params = new URLSearchParams();\n params.set('to', recipient.username);\n if (amount) params.set('amount', amount.toFixed(2));\n if (note) params.set('note', note);\n\n return `https:\/\/go.yourapp.com\/send?${params.toString()}`;\n}\n\n\/\/ Usage\nconst link = createPaymentRequestLink(\n { username: '@janedoe' },\n 25.00,\n 'Coffee'\n);\n\/\/ "https:\/\/go.yourapp.com\/send?to=%40janedoe&amount=25.00¬e=Coffee"\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nHandling Payment Request Links<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
function handleSendDeepLink(url) {\n const parsed = new URL(url);\n const params = Object.fromEntries(parsed.searchParams);\n\n \/\/ Require authentication\n if (user.isAuthenticated === false) {\n pendingDeepLink.save(url);\n navigation.navigate('Auth');\n return;\n }\n\n \/\/ Resolve recipient\n const recipientId = params.to;\n const recipient = await resolveRecipient(recipientId);\n\n if (recipient === null) {\n navigation.navigate('RecipientNotFound', { identifier: recipientId });\n return;\n }\n\n \/\/ Parse amount\n const amount = params.amount ? parseFloat(params.amount) : null;\n\n \/\/ Navigate to send screen\n navigation.navigate('SendMoney', {\n recipient: recipient,\n amount: amount,\n note: params.note || '',\n isPreFilled: true,\n });\n}\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nRecipient Resolution<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
async function resolveRecipient(identifier) {\n if (identifier.startsWith('@')) {\n return await lookupByUsername(identifier.substring(1));\n } else if (identifier.startsWith('+')) {\n return await lookupByPhone(identifier);\n } else if (identifier.includes('@')) {\n return await lookupByEmail(identifier);\n } else if (identifier.startsWith('uid:')) {\n return await lookupByUserId(identifier.substring(4));\n }\n return null;\n}\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nSecurity Considerations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Recipient Verification<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
const recipient = await resolveRecipient(params.to);\n\nif (recipient === null) {\n showError('This user was not found.');\n return;\n}\n\nif (recipient.accountStatus !== 'active') {\n showError('This user cannot receive payments at this time.');\n return;\n}\n\n\/\/ Show recipient details for the user to verify\n\/\/ "Send $25.00 to Jane Doe (@janedoe)?"\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nAmount Limits<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
const amount = parseFloat(params.amount);\n\nif (isNaN(amount) || amount <= 0) {\n showError('Invalid amount');\n return;\n}\n\nif (amount > user.dailyTransferLimit) {\n showError(`Amount exceeds your daily transfer limit of $${user.dailyTransferLimit}`);\n return;\n}\n\nif (amount > user.balance) {\n navigation.navigate('InsufficientFunds', {\n required: amount,\n available: user.balance,\n });\n return;\n}\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nPreventing Impersonation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
"Send me $100 for the tickets!"\nhttps:\/\/go.yourapp.com\/send?to=@attacker&amount=100.00¬e=Concert+tickets\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n\n
Link Expiration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
https:\/\/go.yourapp.com\/send?to=@janedoe&amount=25.00¬e=Coffee&exp=2026-05-01\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nSharing Payment Request Links<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In-App Share Sheet<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
import { Share } from 'react-native';\n\nasync function sharePaymentRequest(amount, note) {\n const link = createPaymentRequestLink(user, amount, note);\n\n Share.share({\n message: `${user.displayName} is requesting $${amount.toFixed(2)} for "${note}". Pay here: ${link}`,\n });\n}\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nQR Code<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\/\/ Display QR code in the app for another user to scan\nconst qrData = `https:\/\/go.yourapp.com\/send?to=@${user.username}&amount=25.00¬e=Coffee`;\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nNFC<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
OG Metadata for Payment Links<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
og:title: Jane is requesting $25.00\nog:description: For "Coffee" via [Your App]\nog:image: payment-request-card.png (branded payment request visual)\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nDeferred P2P Deep Links<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Measuring Performance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n