SOME CARD INFO MAY BE OUTDATED
This page includes information about these cards, currently unavailable on NerdWallet. The information has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been provided or reviewed by the card issuer.
“Buy now, pay later” is a type of payment plan that can be used at most retailers to divide the cost of your purchase into a series of smaller, equal installments.
Known as BNPL for short, these plans often come with no interest and minimal fees. You can use them to shop online and in stores.
Here are six of the top BNPL apps, plus alternatives to consider.
Affirm
Affirm offers a wide range of BNPL plans to choose from, including a pay-in-four plan and monthly payment plans. It charges zero fees.
| Payment plans |
|
| Interest |
|
| Fees |
|
How to get approved for Affirm
Affirm performs a soft credit check, which doesn’t hurt your credit. It also considers prior payment history with Affirm, how long you’ve had an Affirm account, any outstanding Affirm loans, your credit utilization, current debts and income, and any bankruptcies.
» READ: NerdWallet’s Affirm review
Afterpay
Afterpay offers pay-in-four and monthly payment plans. If you pay on time, there are no fees for using Afterpay. If you miss a payment, it charges a late fee up to $8.
| Payment plans |
|
| Interest |
|
| Fees |
|
How to get approved for Afterpay
Afterpay performs a soft credit check, which doesn’t hurt your credit score. As part of its approval process, Afterpay looks at whether there are sufficient funds on your debit or credit card, how long you’ve been using Afterpay, the purchase price and whether you have other outstanding loans with Afterpay.
» READ: NerdWallet’s Afterpay review
Klarna
Klarna offers a pay-in-four plan, a pay-in-30 plan and monthly financing. It charges a late fee for missed payments and a service fee if you use a one-time virtual card at a store that doesn’t partner with Klarna.
| Payment plans |
|
| Interest |
|
| Fees |
|
How to get approved for Klarna
Klarna conducts a soft credit check, so it takes into account your credit score and credit history when making an approval decision. Klarna may also consider your income, any outstanding debt, overall spending patterns and your payment history with Klarna.
» READ: NerdWallet’s Klarna review
PayPal
PayPal offers two BNPL plans to choose from, including a pay-in-four plan and monthly financing. Its Pay in 4 is only available for online purchases. PayPal doesn’t charge fees.
| Payment plans |
|
| Interest |
|
| Fees |
|
How to get approved for PayPal
PayPal conducts a soft credit check. Approval is based on a few factors, like your account history with PayPal and information provided by the credit bureaus.
Sezzle
Sezzle offers a pay-in-four plan, a pay-in-two plan and monthly financing. Sezzle charges numerous fees: a late fee if you miss a payment, a failed payment fee if your payment doesn’t go through, a service fee for creating a one-time virtual card, a late saver fee if you use a debit or credit card after the first installment and a rescheduling fee if you change a payment date.
| Payment plans |
|
| Interest |
|
| Fees |
|
How to get approved for Sezzle
Sezzle conducts a soft credit check, which will not affect your credit score. It considers any prior history with Sezzle when determining your spending limit, as well as your overall financial picture. Sezzle recommends having at least 25% of the total order amount available on your payment method when you check out.
» READ: NerdWallet’s Sezzle review
Zip
Zip offers two payment plans to choose from: a pay-in-four plan and a pay-in-eight plan. Zip charges numerous fees, including an automatic origination fee that can vary widely based on the details of your purchase, a late fee if you miss a payment and a rescheduling fee if you reschedule a payment more than once per calendar month.
| Payment plan |
|
| Interest |
|
| Fees |
|
How to get approved for Zip
Zip performs a soft credit check. The company doesn't publicly disclose much of its approval criteria but says it takes into account numerous factors, including information from the credit bureaus and any prior payment history you have with Zip.
» READ: NerdWallet’s Zip review
Compare buy now, pay later apps
| Interest | Terms | Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|
 on NerdWallet's secure website |
|
|
|
 on NerdWallet's secure website |
|
|
|
 on NerdWallet's secure website |
|
|
|
 on NerdWallet's secure website |
|
|
|
 on NerdWallet's secure website |
|
|
|
 on NerdWallet's secure website |
|
|
|
How to get a BNPL app
If you want to shop with BNPL, there are two main ways to access these payment plans.
Download the provider’s mobile app
You can download a BNPL mobile app to your phone from either the Apple or Google Play app stores. Once you have the app, you’ll create an account, and you may receive an initial spending limit, often known as “purchasing power” or “spending power.”
You can shop online directly from the app. If you want to shop in-store, you can create a one-time virtual card which you save to your phone’s mobile wallet and scan at the register.
Shop online at a partner store
Some stores offer BNPL payment plans during online checkout. When you go to pay, you’ll see an option to divide your purchase into smaller installments with a BNPL provider like Affirm or Afterpay.
You’ll need to log into your account or create an account by filling out a short application. You’ll receive an instant decision.
Should you use a buy now, pay later app?
NerdWallet recommends paying for nonessential purchases with cash whenever possible. Though BNPL may seem like a convenient payment option, it’s still a form of debt.
Consider these pros and cons when deciding whether to use BNPL.
Pros of BNPL
No interest: Most BNPL apps charge zero interest for their pay-in-four loans. That means if you make all payments on time, you use the service for free. It’s rare to be able to finance a purchase, especially a bigger ticket item like a computer, at zero interest.
No hard credit check: Unlike credit card or loan providers, BNPL apps don’t usually conduct a hard credit pull, which temporarily knocks a few points off your score. Also, if you’re worried about a low credit score, you may have an easier time getting approved by a BNPL app than a traditional lender.
Simple, convenient and fast financing option: BNPL providers pride themselves on the simplicity and ease of their payment plans. Loan applications are short, and providers can approve you instantaneously, usually without ever leaving a retailer’s checkout screen.
Cons of BNPL
Could encourage overspending: Research has shown that people tend to spend more when they use BNPL, because purchases seem smaller and their budgets feel more flexible . For example, if you plan to spend no more than $100 at checkout, and you opt into a pay-in-four plan, you’ll only pay $25 upfront. It may be tempting, then, to fill up your cart with more items.
Unlikely to build credit: BNPL is not a reliable way to build credit, even with the new scoring models. If building credit is a priority for you, it's better to go with a more established financial product, like a credit card or credit-builder loan.
Fees: Though some BNPL apps won’t charge any fees, many do — especially if you miss a payment. Fees for late or rescheduled payments typically range from $2 to $17, represent a significant percentage of the total and increase the overall cost of your purchase.
Customer service issues: Some BNPL users have trouble settling disputes. For example, if you buy an item you need to return, you must deal directly with the store, even though your loan is through the BNPL lender. This can delay your refund, and you may be stuck making biweekly payments in the meantime.
Did you know?
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau released a report in January 2025 that shows the majority of BNPL loans are held by borrowers with subprime or deep subprime credit scores (meaning borrowers with bad credit) . BNPL users also tend to hold larger amounts of other unsecured debts, like credit cards, than non-BNPL users. Though the CFPB doesn’t draw direct conclusions from this report, it suggests that BNPL users may be particularly financially vulnerable and should exercise caution around these apps.
Alternatives to buy now, pay later
Though BNPL can provide a simple and convenient way to cover a purchase, it doesn’t offer the same perks as other financing methods. You may want to consider these alternatives.
0% interest credit card: If you have good or excellent credit (a credit score in the mid 600s or higher), you could qualify for a 0% APR credit card, which charges zero interest during the card’s introductory period — usually 15 to 21 months.
Credit card companies report payments to the bureaus, which can help build your credit. You may also receive a sign-up bonus or access to a rewards program.
Small personal loan: If you want a longer repayment period, a small personal loan could be a smart choice. Loans are available for borrowers across the credit spectrum, and like credit cards, you can show a history of on-time payments to the bureaus.
You’ll pay interest on a personal loan, but with longer terms, the monthly payment may fit more comfortably in your budget.
Article sources
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary,
trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed
studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with
industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness
and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high
standards for journalism by reading our
editorial guidelines.
- 1. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Consumer Use of Buy Now, Pay Later and Other Unsecured Debt. Accessed Nov 24, 2025.
