Stripe Link vs. Stripe Payment Links
This is where most of the confusion comes from. Stripe has two products with "Link" in the name, and they do completely different things.
| Feature | Stripe Link | Stripe Payment Links |
|---|
| What it is | Digital wallet for one-click checkout | Shareable payment URLs |
| Purpose | Speed up checkout for returning customers | Accept payments without a website |
| How it works | Autofills saved payment info at checkout | Creates a hosted payment page |
| Setup required | None (automatic on Stripe checkouts) | Create a link in Stripe Dashboard |
| Best for | Boosting conversion on existing checkout | Selling without code or a site |
Stripe Link is invisible infrastructure. It works behind the scenes on any Stripe-powered checkout. Customers don't need to install anything. If they've saved their info on one Stripe site, it appears everywhere.
Stripe Payment Links are standalone payment pages. You create a link in Stripe's dashboard, set a product and price, and share the URL. Anyone who clicks the link sees a checkout page where they can pay. No website needed.
Both are useful. But when people search "does MasterClass use Stripe Link," they're usually asking about the wallet feature.
Does MasterClass Use Stripe Link?
No. MasterClass does not use Stripe Link for its checkout.
MasterClass runs a proprietary checkout system built for its subscription model. When you purchase a MasterClass membership, you interact with their custom payment form, not a Stripe-hosted checkout. The platform accepts:
- Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover
- PayPal
- Apple Pay
- Zip (buy-now-pay-later installments)
MasterClass has never publicly confirmed which payment processor (or processors) power their backend. As a venture-backed company with millions of subscribers, they likely use a combination of processors, fraud detection layers, and custom payment routing.
Stripe Link only appears on checkouts that use Stripe's hosted payment components (Stripe Checkout, Payment Element, or Link-enabled custom integrations). Since MasterClass uses a fully custom checkout, Stripe Link does not appear there, regardless of what processor is running underneath.
Why This Matters for Creators
If you're building your own masterclass business, MasterClass's checkout setup is irrelevant to your situation. They have a payments engineering team. You need something that works out of the box.
What matters is whether your checkout supports features like Stripe Link that reduce friction and increase sales.
Here's why Stripe Link is worth caring about:
Faster Checkout Means More Sales
Stripe reports that Link users check out 3x faster than non-Link customers. For businesses with a returning customer base, enabling Link has shown an average 14% increase in conversion among repeat buyers.
When someone decides to buy a $200 masterclass ticket on their phone, every extra field they have to fill out is an opportunity to abandon. Link removes that friction entirely for returning customers.
It Works Across Sites
Stripe Link isn't tied to your site. If a customer saved their payment info on any Stripe-powered checkout (Shopify, DoorDash, or thousands of other sites), those saved details appear when they check out on your masterclass booking page too.
This means even a first-time visitor to your site might have Link details ready. The network effect is significant: Stripe processes payments for millions of businesses, so the pool of Link users grows every day.
Zero Setup for Platform Users
If you sell your masterclass through a Stripe-powered platform like Talkspresso, Stripe Link is available at checkout automatically. You don't need to enable it, configure it, or even think about it.
When a student reaches your booking page and clicks "Pay," they see Stripe's checkout. If they have Link details saved, their info autofills. If not, they can save their info for next time. It just works.
How to Get Stripe Link on Your Masterclass Checkout
There are two paths depending on your technical setup.
Path 1: Use a Platform (No Code)
If you use a platform built on Stripe (like Talkspresso), Stripe Link is available by default. Your students see it at checkout without any action on your part.
The platform handles the Stripe integration, including Link support, webhook processing, refunds, and payout splits. You create your masterclass listing, set a price, share the link. Students get the full Stripe checkout experience including Link, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
Path 2: Build Your Own Integration (Developer Required)
If you're building a custom checkout, you enable Stripe Link in your Stripe Dashboard:
- Go to Settings > Payment Methods in your Stripe Dashboard
- Find Link in the list of payment methods
- Toggle it on
- Make sure your integration uses Stripe Checkout or the Payment Element (Link doesn't work with the legacy Card Element)
If you're using Stripe Checkout (the hosted payment page), Link is enabled by default. If you're using the Payment Element (embedded in your own page), you may need to add link to your payment_method_types array.
Custom integrations give you full control but require ongoing maintenance. For most creators, the platform path saves weeks of development time.
Stripe Link Fees
Stripe Link has no additional fees. You pay the same Stripe processing fee (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction) whether a customer uses Link or enters their card manually.
This makes it a no-brainer: faster checkout, higher conversion, same cost.
Here's what the full fee picture looks like for a creator selling a $200 masterclass ticket:
| Component | Amount |
|---|
| Stripe processing (2.9% + $0.30) | $6.10 |
| Stripe Link fee | $0.00 |
| Platform fee (Talkspresso, 10%) | $20.00 |
| You keep | $173.90 |
Whether the student uses Link, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or types their card number manually, the fees are identical.
What MasterClass Students Actually Experience
Since MasterClass doesn't use Stripe Link, here's what the checkout looks like when you buy a MasterClass membership:
- Choose your plan (Individual, Duo, or Family)
- Enter your email address
- Enter your payment details (card number, expiration, CVC)
- Optionally select PayPal, Apple Pay, or Zip
- Complete purchase
There's no "one-click" option for returning customers outside of Apple Pay. If you've purchased MasterClass before and want to buy a gift membership, you're re-entering your card details.
Compare this to a Stripe Link-enabled checkout:
- Click "Pay"
- Enter your email
- Receive a one-time verification code
- Your saved card and details autofill
- Click "Confirm"
The difference is 30 seconds vs. 2 minutes. On mobile, where typing card numbers is painful, the gap in completion rates is even larger.
Should You Care About One-Click Checkout?
If you run a single masterclass per year, checkout friction is a minor concern. But if you're building a recurring masterclass business with returning students, the math changes.
Consider a scenario:
- You run monthly masterclasses at $150/ticket
- 40% of your students are returning customers
- Stripe Link increases returning customer conversion by 14%
On 100 potential returning customers per month:
- Without Link: ~60 complete checkout ($9,000)
- With Link: ~68 complete checkout ($10,200)
That's an extra $1,200/month from a feature that costs you nothing and requires zero setup on a Stripe-powered platform.
For creators who build a loyal audience that attends multiple sessions, Stripe Link is free revenue.
Other Payment Wallets That Work with Stripe
Stripe Link isn't the only accelerated checkout option. Stripe also supports:
- Apple Pay - works on Safari and iOS devices
- Google Pay - works on Chrome and Android devices
- Amazon Pay - uses the customer's Amazon account (requires separate setup)
On a Stripe-powered checkout, Apple Pay and Google Pay appear automatically when the customer's browser supports them. You don't need to enable or configure them separately.
The combination of Link + Apple Pay + Google Pay means the majority of your students will have some form of fast checkout available, regardless of their device or browser.
Getting Started with Your Own Masterclass
MasterClass built custom payment infrastructure because they're an enterprise with millions of subscribers. You don't need that complexity.
If you want to offer your students one-click checkout with Stripe Link, the fastest path is using a platform that handles Stripe for you.
Talkspresso handles payments, scheduling, live video, recordings, and automatic reminders in one platform. Stripe Link, Apple Pay, and Google Pay are available at checkout by default. No monthly fees. You keep 90%.
See how creators use Talkspresso to monetize their audience with paid video calls, or compare 9 platforms for paid video calls.
See how creators use Talkspresso to monetize their audience with paid video calls, or compare 9 platforms for paid video calls.
Create your first paid masterclass on Talkspresso (free to start) →
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