158 - How to Build a Credit Payment System for Your Marketplace Using No-Code Tools

‍What is a Credit Payment System and How Does It Work?

A credit payment system allows users to:

1. Buy credits: Purchase packages like “10 credits for $50.”
2. Redeem credits: Use those credits to access services or products.
3. Track credits: Monitor their balance and transaction history in real-time. For example, you could build a platform that lets users book expert feedback:

• A customer buys credits.
• They use credits to submit requests like “How can I improve my homepage?”
• An expert delivers a response, and credits are deducted. To see another marketplace example, check out my guide on How to Build a No-Code Marketplace with Webflow.

Why Use a Credit Payment Model for Your Marketplace?

Credit payment models are popular for a few key reasons:

1. Bulk Purchases: Ideal for corporate clients. Businesses can buy credits in advance and distribute them to team members.
2. Reduced Fees: Instead of processing multiple small transactions, you handle fewer payments, saving on processing fees.
3. Improved Retention: Pre-purchased credits keep customers coming back to use their balance.
4. Flexibility: You can use this system for marketplaces, educational platforms, and even SaaS tools. For more ways to automate marketplace operations, check out my article on How to Automate Your Marketplace with Make.

Step 1: Set Up Your Marketplace Database

To manage credits, purchases, and redemptions, you need a solid database structure. Use Airtable or another no-code database tool to set up the following tables:

1. Users Table
   • Tracks user details, credit balances, and session history.
2. Credit Packages Table
   • Lists packages for sale (e.g., Starter Pack, Pro Pack) and includes Stripe payment links.
3. Transactions Table
   • Logs purchases, credit amounts, and Stripe receipt links.
4. Services Table
   • Lists services users can redeem credits for, including the credit price.
5. Sessions Table
   • Tracks services booked, credits used, and session status. For another example of setting up a no-code database, read How to Allow Clients to Manage Your Builds with Airtable.

Step 2: Configure Stripe for Selling Credits

Stripe makes it easy to handle payments. Here’s how to set up credit packages:

1. Create Products in Stripe
   • Set up packages like “10 credits for $50” or “30 credits for $120.”
2. Add Metadata
   • Use Stripe’s metadata field to include the number of credits for each package.
3. Generate Payment Links
   • Create direct payment links for each package. These links will redirect users to a Stripe checkout page.
4. Save Links in Airtable
   • Store the Stripe payment links in your “Credit Packages” table. Pro Tip: You can pre-fill customer email addresses in Stripe links for a smoother checkout process.

Step 3: Build a User-Friendly Interface with Glide

Glide allows you to create a customer-facing portal where users can purchase and redeem credits. Here’s what you’ll build:

1. Homepage
   • Displays the user’s credit balance, recent transactions, and important updates.
2. Credit Store
   • Shows available credit packages with “Buy Now” buttons linked to Stripe payment links.
3. Services Page
   • Lists available services with their credit cost and a “Redeem Credits” button.
4. Sessions Tracker
   • Allows users to view pending and completed bookings. Want to learn more about Glide? Check out How to Build Customer Portals with Glide for more in-depth examples.

Step 4: Automate Credit Updates Using Make.com

Make.com connects Stripe and Airtable to ensure credit updates happen automatically. Here’s how it works:

1. Stripe Webhook
   • Create a webhook to detect successful payments.
2. Pull Transaction Data
   • Use Make.com to fetch transaction details like the user’s email, amount paid, and credits purchased.
3. Update Airtable
   • Log the transaction in the “Transactions” table and update the user’s credit balance.
4. Sync with Glide
   • Airtable updates automatically reflect in the Glide app. For a more detailed automation example, read How We Automated Client Follow-Ups with Make.

Step 5: Create a Seamless User Experience for Redeeming Credits

To let users redeem credits for services:

1. Add a “Redeem Credits” Button
   • Create a form in Glide where users can submit their service requests.
2. Track Sessions
   • Map requests to the “Sessions” table, linking the user, service, and credits used.
3. Restrict Purchases
   • Use Glide’s visibility settings to show the “Redeem” button only if the user has enough credits.
   • Display a “Buy More Credits” button if the user’s balance is too low.

Real-Life Use Cases of Credit Payment Systems

1. Mentor Platforms
   • Sell credits for booking mentorship sessions.
   • Example: MentorPass.
2. Corporate Platforms
   • Companies bulk purchase credits for services like counseling or training.
3. Digital Product Marketplaces
   • Users redeem credits for templates, downloads, or custom components. For ideas on building similar systems, check out How to Build a Fully Automated Job Board.

Top Benefits of a Credit-Based Payment Model

1. Simplified Billing: Perfect for corporate accounts and bulk orders.
2. Lower Transaction Fees: Fewer payments = reduced processing costs.
3. Higher Retention: Pre-purchased credits encourage repeat usage.
4. Flexible Use: Works for marketplaces, job boards, education platforms, and more. ‍