Sezzle Buy Now, Pay Later: 2026 Review
Sezzle offers interest-free payment plans to shoppers online and in stores, but it charges numerous fees.
3.0
NerdWallet rating
What is Sezzle?
Sezzle is a “buy now, pay later” provider that offers payment plans for online and in-store purchases. These plans let you split up your purchase at checkout, so you pay the total balance over a series of installments, instead of all at once.
Sezzle doesn't charge interest for some plans, but it charges multiple fees.
» COMPARE: The best buy now, pay later apps in 2025
What the nerds think
"Sezzle offers a couple no-interest payment plans, and you can choose to have Sezzle report your payment history to the three major U.S. credit bureaus, which is pretty rare. But Sezzle charges significantly more fees than any other BNPL provider. I’d recommend only using Sezzle if you’re sure you can avoid these fees."
How does Sezzle work?
Sezzle works by dividing the total cost of your purchase into smaller installments when you check out with Sezzle online or in the Sezzle mobile app. There may be a few payment plans to choose from, including Pay in 4, Pay in 2 and Pay Monthly.
Sezzle doesn’t charge interest for Pay in 4 and Pay in 2, but Pay Monthly may include interest.
Once you choose a Sezzle payment plan, you’ll need to set up two payment methods — one for the down payment and one for future payments. Future payments are automatically deducted on the due date. You can use a debit or credit card to make the down payment, but for future payments, you’ll need to set a bank account as the default payment method.
Sezzle charges multiple fees, including late payment fees, failed payment fees and service fees, among others. Read more about these fees lower down.
Sezzle Pay in 4
- Payment structure: Pay in four installments, due every two weeks.
- Interest: 0%.
- Availability: Available for online and in-store purchases from $35 to $2,500.
- Amount due at checkout: The first installment (one-fourth of the purchase price).
Sezzle Pay in 2
- Payment structure: Pay in two installments, due two weeks apart.
- Interest: 0%.
- Availability: Available for online purchases from $10 to $500.
- Amount due at checkout: The first installment (one-half of the purchase price).
Sezzle Monthly Payments
- Payment structure: Pay monthly, with terms from three months to four years.
- Interest: 0%-34.99%.
- Availability: Available for online purchases from $150 to $10,000.
- Amount due at checkout: None.
Some shoppers may have access to Sezzle Pay in 5. This plan divides your purchase into five installments, each due two weeks apart, with the first installment (20% of the purchase price) due at checkout.
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Is Sezzle safe?
Sezzle is a safe and reputable provider of BNPL loans. However, NerdWallet doesn’t recommend using a BNPL loan to pay for a non-essential purchase, like recreational shopping. That’s because BNPL is still a form of debt, and it’s easy to get in over your head, especially if you struggle with overspending. Plus, if you fall behind on payments, your credit score could suffer, making it harder to qualify for affordable credit in the future.
» LEARN MORE: The pros and cons of BNPL
Where Sezzle stands out
- Zero-interest loans: Sezzle Pay in 4 and Sezzle Pay in 2 let you split up a purchase for no additional cost, which is hard to find among traditional credit products, especially those that don’t have a minimum credit score requirement. Sezzle’s monthly plans may also charge zero interest, but it isn’t guaranteed.
- Pauses account after missed payment: If you miss a payment, Sezzle automatically pauses your account, which prevents you from making new purchases with Sezzle until you’re caught up. Though this may be frustrating for some users, it’s an important safeguard that protects you from taking on more debt when you’re already behind on repayment.
- Credit reporting: Sezzle shoppers can opt in to Sezzle Up, which gives Sezzle permission to report your payment history to Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Though BNPL credit reporting is becoming more common, it’s still rare to have payment history reported to all three of the major credit bureaus. This feature could help you build credit with Sezzle if you make payments on-time. Late payments, though, will hurt your credit. To qualify for Sezzle Up, you must pay off one purchase on time, link your bank account as the default payment method and verify certain information like your Social Security number.
Where Sezzle falls short
Using Sezzle comes with the possibility of many fees. Though you can take action to avoid these fees — like making sure you have enough money in your account to cover all of the installments — if you slip up, it will cost you significantly more than it would with other BNPL providers.
You can avoid some of these fees by opting into a Sezzle subscription — Sezzle Premium for $13.99 per month or Sezzle Anywhere for $19.99 per month – but the savings may not be enough to justify the cost of a subscription.
- Late payment fee: If Sezzle is unable to acquire payment by the due date, plus any applicable grace period, it charges a late payment fee up to $16.95. This fee is much higher than what other BNPL providers charge, and some providers don’t charge late fees at all. Sezzle caps late fees at 25% of the order amount.
- Failed payment fee: Sezzle may charge a failed payment fee up to $6.95 if your payment doesn’t go through (for example, if you don’t have sufficient funds in your bank account to cover an installment). Though many BNPL lenders charge late fees, few charge failed payment fees. This fee is capped at 25% of the order amount.
- Service fee: Sezzle may charge a service fee (sometimes called a finance charge) for creating a single-use virtual card to shop at select retailers. This fee may be up to $7.49 and is included in your down payment.
- Payment rescheduling fee: Sezzle lets you reschedule a payment for up to two weeks later, but it charges a fee up to $7.50 for each reschedule. Some shoppers may be able to reschedule a payment three times per order.
- Late saver fee: Sezzle may charge a $1.99 fee for using a debit or credit card after the first installment. You can avoid this fee by connecting your bank account to pay off your remaining installments. Few BNPL lenders charge this type of fee. You can avoid some of these fees by opting into a Sezzle subscription — Sezzle Premium for $13.99 per month or Sezzle Anywhere for $19.99 per month – but the savings may not be enough to justify the cost of a subscription.
Detailed breakdown
NerdWallet rates lenders against a rubric that changes each year based on how BNPL products evolve. Here’s what we prioritized this year:
Product Affordability(35%)2/5
Product Flexibility(30%)3.5/5
Customer Experience(20%)3.5/5
Customer Protections(15%)3.5/5
Overall3/5
» LEARN MORE: NerdWallet’s methodology for rating BNPL products
Does Sezzle check credit?
Sezzle checks your credit with a soft pull when you create a Sezzle account. This won’t hurt your credit score.
If you opt into long-term monthly financing, there may be a hard credit pull, which isn’t typical of BNPL providers. This temporarily knocks a few points off your credit score, similar to applying for a new credit card or loan.
Though there’s no minimum requirement, Sezzle considers credit score as part of your application.
How to get approved for Sezzle
To be eligible for Sezzle, you’ll need to be at least 18 years old, have a U.S. or Canadian phone number that receives texts, be able to verify your email address and provide a payment method like a debit or credit card.
You’ll receive an initial spending limit based on what Sezzle thinks you can safely pay back. This amount can change over time and is determined by your credit score, overall financial picture and any prior history you have with Sezzle, including whether you’ve made past payments on-time. Sezzle also recommends having at least 25% of the total order amount available on your payment method when you check out.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
One of the best ways to get approved for a BNPL loan is to show a history of on-time payments with that provider. Consider using BNPL to make a small purchase first, then pay off your loan on time or early. This may help you get approved for a slightly larger purchase in the future.
Compare Sezzle to other BNPL lenders
Sezzle charges more fees – and at higher amounts – than other BNPL providers. Companies like Klarna and Afterpay offer similar payment plans, but stick to one or two low-cost fees.
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Alternatives to Sezzle
0% APR Credit Cards
If you have good or excellent credit (any score in the mid-600s or higher), you may consider applying for a 0% APR credit card. These cards offer introductory periods of up to 21 months and charge no interest during that period. You may also receive a sign-up bonus or access to a rewards program.
Since your payment history is reported to the credit bureaus, it’s a reliable way to build credit. Make sure you pay off the purchase before the introductory period ends or you’ll owe interest on the remaining balance.
Small Personal Loans
If you’re looking to fund a large, essential purchase, you could apply for a personal loan. Most personal loans start at $1,000 or $2,000, and there are options for borrowers with fair or bad credit (any score in the low 600s or below). Personal loans have fixed interest rates and longer repayment terms, both of which can help you budget for the monthly payments.
Personal loan lenders report your payment history to the credit bureaus, and they typically charge late fees.
Many lenders offer pre-qualification, so you can check whether you qualify for a small personal loan without hurting your credit score.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sezzle safe to use?
Sezzle is a trustworthy provider of buy now, pay later loans. However, it’s important to thoroughly research the company and understand the app’s features before opting into a Sezzle loan.
What is the catch of Sezzle?
The catch with Sezzle is that you may be tempted to overspend, since you don’t have to pay for your purchase all at once, and you could be charged multiple fees if you fall behind on payments.
Does Sezzle hurt my credit?
Sezzle shouldn’t hurt your credit if you make payments on time for Pay in 4 and Pay in 2. If you apply for a Sezzle monthly loan, there may be a hard credit check, which temporarily knocks a few points off your credit score.
What’s the minimum credit score for Sezzle?
Though Sezzle considers credit score as part of your application, there’s no minimum credit score requirement. This is standard for BNPL.
What happens if I don’t pay Sezzle?
If you don’t pay Sezzle, you may be charged a late fee up to $16.95. You also won’t be able to use Sezzle again until you’re caught up on payments.
3.0
NerdWallet rating
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