Bolt and Link, Stripe's accelerated checkout, both recognize returning shoppers by email and fill in saved payment details after a one-time code. The difference is scope. Link is a wallet built into Stripe's payment surfaces, and Link payments run on Stripe. Bolt is a full checkout with a shopper account network and optional fraud indemnification, and it can run on several payment processors, Stripe included.
How each product works
Link. Link detects an enrolled shopper from their email address, phone number or a browser cookie, sends a one-time passcode, and then fills in their saved card or bank details and shipping information [L1]. It works with Stripe Checkout, Payment Links, Web Elements, Mobile Elements and Invoicing, and it's included automatically if you use Checkout or Payment Links [L1][L4]. Shoppers manage their Link account at link.com [L1].
Bolt. With Managed Checkout, Bolt runs the checkout interface, shipping details and payment collection, and your store keeps the cart, pricing and order records. With the Embedded API, you keep your own checkout page and add Bolt account sign-in, which is set up separately from card payments. Shoppers sign in with a one-time code, or with a passkey on mobile. A shopper who creates a Bolt account at one store is recognized at other stores that use Bolt.
Who each option fits
Link is likely the better fit if you:
- Already process with Stripe. Link payments settle to your Stripe balance on the same timeline as card payments [L1].
- Use Stripe Checkout or Payment Links, where Link is included automatically and managed from the Stripe Dashboard [L4].
- Sell in native mobile apps. Stripe offers Link in its Mobile Payment Element for iOS, Android and React Native apps [L1].
- Want bank payments. Stripe says Instant Bank Payments, from US bank accounts, are available only through Link [L1][L4].
Bolt is likely the better fit if you:
- Process cards with a provider other than Stripe, or with more than one, such as Adyen, Braintree, Authorize.net, CyberSource or Checkout.com. Bolt connects to these as a gateway, or Bolt Payments can be your payment facilitator.
- Want the checkout itself managed (hosted checkout, shipping and payment collection), not only autofill.
- Want fraud screening with chargeback indemnification from the same vendor. Bolt's Fraud Protection add-on provides indemnification of qualifying approved transactions that charge back as fraud, under your Bolt agreement.
- Want passwordless accounts across your storefront as well as at checkout, through SSO Commerce and Check-In.
- Run on Adobe Commerce, BigCommerce or Salesforce Commerce Cloud and want a Bolt-provided plugin or cartridge.
Comparison table
Competitor cells cite a source ID. Sources and read dates are listed after the table.
| Bolt | Link by Stripe | |
|---|---|---|
| Checkout experience | Managed Checkout (Bolt-hosted) or Embedded API (your checkout, with Bolt account sign-in added) | Wallet inside Stripe Checkout, Payment Links, the Payment Element and the Express Checkout Element [L1][L4] |
| How shoppers are recognized | Email or phone, then a one-time code, or a passkey on mobile | Email address, phone number or browser cookie, then a one-time passcode [L1]. On a new site or device, the code arrives by SMS [L4] |
| Payment processing | Bolt Payments, or keep your processor (11 processors documented, including Stripe, Adyen, Braintree, Authorize.net, CyberSource, Checkout.com) | Stripe. Link payments settle to your Stripe balance [L1] |
| Platforms | Shopify (checkout links and a theme checkout button), Adobe Commerce, BigCommerce, Salesforce Commerce Cloud, WooCommerce, Volusion (v1), SAP Commerce Cloud, direct API. Solidus for passwordless accounts (limited release). Setup guides | Sites and apps that use Stripe Checkout, Payment Links, Web or Mobile Elements, or Invoicing [L1] |
| Shopper network (as reported by each company) | Bolt accounts shared across Bolt merchants ("millions of recognized shoppers") | "Over 300 million consumers worldwide" [L4] |
| Payment methods | Major cards and APMs including Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Affirm, Afterpay, Klarna (via Bolt Payments; availability varies by platform and processor) | Cards, US bank accounts (Instant Bank Payments) and Klarna on Link, which is in public preview [L4][L1] |
| Mobile apps | iOS and Android SDKs open Bolt checkout in your app, and a React Native SDK adds card fields, Apple Pay and Google Pay. Bolt account sign-in with saved details isn't available in native apps today | Link in the Mobile Payment Element for native iOS, Android and React Native apps [L1] |
| Fraud and chargebacks | Optional Fraud Protection: risk scoring, manual review, and indemnification of qualifying approved transactions that charge back as fraud, under your Bolt agreement. Risk scoring without indemnification is also available | Radar Lite fraud screening for cards included on standard pricing. Radar Standard from $10 per month. $15 fee for each dispute received [L3][L2] |
| Pricing model | Bolt Payments: 2.5% + $0.30 per transaction. Network fee: 1.35%, only when a shopper with an existing Bolt account signs in. Basic fraud tools included; chargeback indemnification is a paid tier. See pricing | Your Stripe rate: 2.9% + 30¢ for domestic cards. Stripe says Link is built in "with no additional charges or fees"; businesses on custom pricing should ask Stripe [L2][L4] |
| Merchant controls | Checkout settings and risk scores in the Merchant Dashboard, plus order-rejection settings and fraud tools with Fraud Protection | Turned on in Stripe's payment method settings and managed from the Stripe Dashboard [L1][L4] |
| Data | Your store keeps cart, pricing and order records. Shopper profiles live in the shopper's Bolt account, and Bolt shares the details needed to complete each order with your store. With SSO Commerce, store accounts created through Bolt stay with you if you stop using Bolt | Shopper profiles live in the shopper's Link account, which they manage at link.com [L1] |
Link sources (read 2026-10-29):
- [L1] https://docs.stripe.com/payments/link
- [L2] https://stripe.com/pricing
- [L3] https://stripe.com/radar/pricing
- [L4] https://stripe.com/payments/link
Bolt sources (read 2026-10-29): boltapp.com /pricing and /fraud; help.boltapp.com /products/checkout/, /products/embeddable-checkout/, /products/user-network/, /products/check-in/, /products/payments/, /products/add-ons/passkeys/, /products/add-ons/fraud-protection/, /products/add-ons/sso-commerce/, /platforms/, /platforms/shopify/, /platforms/shopify-checkout-everywhere/, /integrations/payment-processors/, /integrations/payment-processors/stripe/, /getting-started/sdks/, /add-ons/sso-commerce/sso-faq/.
Switching
Moving from Link to Bolt. Link accounts stay with Stripe, so returning Link shoppers would see Bolt's sign-in instead. Bolt documents a gateway connection to Stripe, so your Stripe account can stay in place as your Bolt gateway on any platform Bolt supports. Measure conversion for new and returning shoppers separately during the switch.
Moving from Bolt to Link. You would need card processing on Stripe and a Stripe payment surface that supports Link: Checkout, Payment Links, Elements or Invoicing [L1].
Choose one per storefront. Bolt and Link both recognize shoppers from the email entered at the start of checkout, and only one can run there. Bolt doesn't support running Link elsewhere on the same storefront either, including Link buttons in Stripe's Express Checkout Element. Both companies' conversion figures are self-reported, so test your choice against your current checkout before committing.
FAQ
Do I need Stripe to use Link?
Yes. Stripe's docs say Link works with Checkout, Payment Links, Web Elements, Mobile Elements and Invoicing, and Link payments settle to your Stripe balance.
Does Link cost extra?
Stripe says Link is built into existing Stripe payments integrations with no additional charges or fees. Businesses on custom pricing for payments processing should ask Stripe about Link pricing.
Can I use Bolt if I process with Stripe?
Yes, on any platform Bolt supports. Bolt documents gateway connections to 11 processors, including Stripe, Adyen, Braintree, Authorize.net, CyberSource and Checkout.com. Bolt Payments is also available for US-based merchants who want Bolt to act as their payment facilitator.
Does either product cover fraud chargebacks?
Bolt's optional Fraud Protection provides indemnification of qualifying approved transactions that charge back as fraud, under your Bolt agreement. Stripe's pricing pages list Radar Lite fraud screening for cards as included on standard pricing, paid Radar plans from $10 per month, and a $15 fee for each dispute received.
Can I offer Link and Bolt on the same checkout?
No. Bolt and Link both recognize shoppers from the email entered at the start of checkout, and only one can run there. Bolt doesn't support running both on the same storefront, including Link buttons in Stripe's Express Checkout Element.
Comparing more options? One-click checkout providers compared also covers Shop Pay, Fastlane by PayPal and Amazon Pay, and Bolt vs PayPal Fastlane goes deeper on Fastlane.
Talk to Bolt
If you're comparing one-click checkout for a US store on Adobe Commerce, BigCommerce, Salesforce Commerce Cloud or a custom stack, we can walk through how Bolt would run on your processor and platform, and how to test it against what you use today. Contact sales.
Stripe and Link are trademarks of Stripe, Inc. Bolt is not affiliated with or endorsed by Stripe.