Popular Buy Now, Pay Later Apps Reviewed 2024

It feels like companies are releasing new buy now, pay later apps every single day.

So how do you decide which service to use?

I’ve personally tested almost all the buy now pay later apps on the market and found that each has its own unique pros and cons.

Join me and the 360 million other people already taking advantage of interest-free buy now, pay later services and read on.

What are Buy Now, Pay Later Apps?

Buy now, pay later (BNPL) apps allow you to purchase something interest-free and pay for it over a few weeks or months.

For example, if you bought something worth $200, you’ll pay $50 today and another $50 every second week until the loan is paid off.

But why would companies give out loans without interest? 

Buy now, pay later options encourage undisciplined shoppers to spend more money. If you only have to pay $50 during checkout instead of $200, you’re likely to add more items to your cart.

And research backs this up. Even Klarna (one of the largest BPNL companies) admits that retailers partnering with buy now, pay later apps saw a 68% increase in average order value.

So, use your buy now, pay later apps cautiously and avoid them if you have a habit of spending more than you should. 

For a full explanation of how buy now, pay later apps work, read my article here.

Popular Buy Now, Pay Later Apps

Are you considering giving buy now, pay later apps a shot? 

Below are quick summaries of the best buy now, pay later apps, so you can compare each service and choose one that matches your lifestyle!

Sezzle 

Sezzle is a buy now pay later provider that operates in the U.S. and Canada. Unlike most buy now, pay later apps, Sezzle offers a credit builder feature called Sezzle Up. It lets you build your credit from scratch – this is completely free and there are no minimum requirements.

• Amount due at checkout: 25% of total purchase
• Repayment options: Pay in 4 and monthly plans
• Fees: Sezzle charges late fees, rescheduling fees, reactivation fees, and convenience fees
• Interest rate: Pay in 4 is 0% while the interest on monthly plans will depend on your credit
• Browser extension? Not available
• In-store or offline purchasing options? Yes
• Credit check required for approval? Only a soft credit check is required

Pros	Cons
Sezzle Up allows you to build a credit history	There’s a $10 late fee for missed payments
Sezzle Spend enables customers to earn cashback	Convenience fees for payments made with credit or debit cards

For a full Sezzle review of this buy now, pay later app, click here.

Klarna

Klarna is one of the most widely-used ​​buy now, pay later apps with 150 million active users in 45 countries. Klarna is all about smooth shopping. Not to mention, they offer exclusive user deals with thousands of retailers, so you can get up to 80% off at your favorite stores!

• Amount due at checkout: 25% of total purchase
• Repayment options: Pay in 4, Pay in 30, and six to 24-month loans
• Fees: Late fees range between $0 and $24
• Interest rate: Pay in 4 and Pay in 30 is 0% while the long-term loans range between 0 and 28.99%
• Browser extension? Available on Chrome
• In-store or offline purchasing options? Yes
• Credit check required for approval? Only a soft credit check is required

Pros	Cons
Pay anywhere that accepts Visa	Late fees can go up to $24 per order
Option to receive physical Klarna card	Klarna may report your account to credit bureaus if you miss payments

For a full review of the Klarna buy now, pay later app, read my article here.

Zilch

Zilch is a buy now, pay later app available in the U.K. and U.S. They partner with Mastercard, so you can shop almost anywhere. Also, Zilch offers 2% cash back in Zilch rewards when customers opt to “pay all at once.” 

• Amount due at checkout: 25% of total purchase
• Repayment options: Pay in 4 or Pay in 1
• Fees: None
• Interest rate: 0%
• Browser extension? Not available
• In-store or offline purchasing options? Yes
• Credit check required for approval? Only a soft credit check is required

Pros	Cons
Option to “snooze” payments for 4-7 days for free	Customer service can be challenging to work with
Virtual Zilch Card available	Many customers claim the referral program isn’t rewarded accurately

Looking for a full Zilch buy now, pay later app review? Read my article here.

Nelo

Nelo is a buy now, pay later app currently operating in Mexico that may be expanding to the U.S. in the near future! Unlike other buy now, pay later apps, Nelo lets users withdraw a portion of their line of credit for cash. 

• Amount due at checkout: Varies based on payment plan you choose
• Repayment options: Payment plans range from two weeks to 12 weeks
• Fees: Late fees vary based on amount owed
• Interest rate: Usually 0%, but can depend on your payment plan
• Browser extension? Not available
• In-store or offline purchasing options? Yes
• Credit check required for approval? Information not yet available for if this will be required for users in the U.S. 

Pros	Cons
No credit card necessary to apply	Only available to use in Mexico
Virtual Nelo Card option available	Nelo doesn’t provide much transparency regarding payment plan and interest rate details

For an in-depth Nelo review, read here.

Afterpay

Afterpay offers short-term, interest-free loans as well as longer, six to 12-month plans. You can also use your virtual card to buy products in-store and offline. The best part is that customers earn rewards when making installment payments with Afterpay’s Pulse rewards program. 

• Amount due at checkout: 25% of total purchase
• Repayment options: Pay in 4, Pay in 1, and six to 12-month plans.
• Fees: For orders below $40, a $10 late fee applies. Anything above $40, fees will be capped at 25% of your order value or $68, whichever is less
• Interest rate: Pay in 4 plans is 0%. For long term loans, rates can range between 0% to 35.99%.
• Browser extension? Not available
• In-store or offline purchasing options? Yes
• Credit check required for approval? Only a soft credit check is required

Pros	Cons
Afterpay has a rewards program called Pulse which rewards customers for spending responsibly and making payments on-time	Afterpay charges a $10 late fee for purchases under $40. For more expensive items, they’ll charge 25% of your order value or $68, whichever is less
Every Afterpay customer starts with a limit of $600	If you miss payments, Afterpay may lock your account and prevent future purchases

For a full review of the Afterpay buy now, pay later app, read my article here.

Affirm

Affirm is a buy now pay later service which has Pay in 4 and monthly plans, so it’s a practical option when purchasing both small and big-ticket items. You can also get exclusive deals at your favorite stores like up to 60% off at Adidas.

• Amount due at checkout: 25% of total purchase
• Repayment options: Pay in 4 and monthly plans
• Fees: None
• Interest rate: Pay in 4 is 0%. The monthly plans range between 10% and 36% based on your credit history
• Browser extension? Chrome browser extension is available
• In-store or offline purchasing options? Yes
• Credit check required for approval? Only a soft credit check is required

Pros	Cons
Affirm doesn’t charge fees	Customer service can be difficult to reach
Easy to set up automatic payments	You can’t reschedule payment dates

For a full review of the Affirm buy now, pay later app, read here.

Zip

Previously known as Quadpay, Zip is another popular buy now, pay later app. They are partnered with Visa. So, you can use Zip anywhere Visa is accepted in the U.S. Their plans are also flexible. Users can change payment dates 24 hours before an installment is due, free of charge.

• Amount due at checkout: 25% of total purchase
• Repayment options: Pay in 4
• Fees: Zip charges installment and convenience fees.
• Interest rate: 0%
• Browser extension? Chrome browser extension available
• In-store or offline purchasing options? Yes
• Credit check required for approval? Only a soft credit check is required

Pros	Cons
Zip Virtual Card option	You have to live in the U.S. to use Zip
It works at any U.S. store that accepts Visa	Zip charges $4 installment fees for purchases from $35 to $99.99, $5 for anything between $100 and $199.99, and $6 for items above $200

For a full review of the Zip buy now, pay later app, read here.

PayPal Pay in 4

If you regularly use your PayPal account, PayPal Pay in 4 is a good buy now pay later option. You can borrow up to $1,500 and pay zero interest or late fees.

• Amount due at checkout: 25% of total purchase
• Repayment options: Pay in 4 and monthly financing
• Fees: PayPal Pay in 4 doesn’t charge fees.
• Interest rate: 0% for the Pay in 4 and up to 29.99% for monthly plans
• Browser extension? Not available
• In-store or offline purchasing options? Yes
• Credit check required for approval? Only a soft credit check is required

Pros	Cons
No fees	Customer supporter team is known to be unhelpful
It’s easy to qualify if you have an active PayPal account	PayPal sells your personal data to third-party advertisers

To learn more about PayPal Pay in 4, read my in-depth guide here.

How To Choose A Buy Now, Pay Later App

When choosing a buy now, pay later app, look out for factors like:

• Interest rates and fees
• Minimum and maximum limits
• Available payment plans

Fortunately, most buy now, pay later apps don’t have interest rates, but some still charge high fees. For example, some companies charge users convenience fees, late fees, and even fees for not linking your bank account.

If you’re looking for an app with no fees, check out Zilch.

You also want to factor in how much you’re going to spend. If you’re buying household appliances such as a dishwasher or refrigerator, consider Klarna. Klarna lets you borrow up to $10,000.

If you need some flexibility, sign up for a provider with flexible plans. For instance, Klarna has Pay in 4, Pay in 30, and six to 12-month plans. 

For an in-depth explanation of how buy now, pay later apps work, read here.

When to Use a Buy Now, Pay Later App

I recommend only using buy now, pay later apps if you’re a responsible shopper with a history of making payments on time. 

Because these services take money off your account every second week, the repayments can quickly become overwhelming. This can be dangerous for compulsive spenders. 

So if you’re in mountains of debt or you’re trying to cut back on spending, I suggest staying away from buy now, pay later apps.

Commonly Asked Questions About Buy Now, Pay Later Apps

Popular Buy Now, Pay Later Apps:

• Cushion (read this full Cushion App review to learn more)
• Sezzle (read full Sezzle review here)
• Perpay (read this full PerPay review to learn more)
• Afterpay (read these Afterpay reviews to learn more)
• Affirm (read these Affirm reviews to learn more)
• Zilch (read this full Zilch review to learn more)
• Nelo (read this Nelo review to learn more)
• Klarna (read these Klarna reviews to learn more)
• Zip (read these Zip reviews)
• PayPal Pay in 4 (read these PayPal Pay in 4 reviews to learn more)
• Splitit (read this Splitit review to learn more)
• Apple Pay Later (read this Apple Pay Later review to learn more)
• Sunbit (read this Sunbit review to learn more)

What Apps Lets You Buy Now Pay Later?

Klarna, Zilch, Nelo, Afterpay, and Affirm are apps that let you buy products today and pay them off over a set timeframe, usually six weeks. Be sure to also check out Cushion (read this full Cushion App review).

What Is The Best Buy Now Pay Later Program?

The best buy now pay later program is Klarna because you can borrow up to $10,000 interest-free. You also get a virtual card to load to your phone for in-store use. But remember to pay your account on time since Klarna has late fees ranging up to $24.

How Do Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) Apps Work?

When you buy something with a buy now, pay later app, your lender will pay the retailer a percentage of your cart total. From here, they’ll collect the full amount from you. Normally, you’ll pay 25% during checkout and 25% every second week over the next six weeks.

Can Buy Now, Pay Later Apps Help You Build Credit?

Buy now, pay later apps don’t usually report your on-time payments to credit bureaus, so they won’t help you build credit. Luckily apps like Sezzle are starting to provide credit-building features. Find out more about Sezzle here. 

If you need more help fixing your credit, check out our comparison of Credit Saint vs Lexington Law, or see if working with the best tradeline companies could be the right credit repair solution for you. 

Meanwhile, learn how to budget for non recurring expenses so you can be prepared for unexpected costs going forward. 

If you’re looking for a low-tech, hands-on budgeting method, learn about cash envelope categories. And if you need to boost your savings fast, the 60/30/10 rule budget can help.

And to learn which budgeting app could best help you manage your finances and boost your savings, check out these comparisons of Rocket Money vs the competition:

• Rocket Money vs YNAB
• Rocket Money vs Simplifi
• Rocket Money vs Copilot

Then use a net worth tracker to see how your new financial strategies are paying off. 

Buy Now, Pay Later Guaranteed Approval?

Although buy now, pay later apps don’t have minimum credit requirements, approval isn’t guaranteed. To give yourself the best chance of approval, link your bank account to the app and  show that you are a responsible spender with a history of making payments on time and a low total debt amount. 

Buy Now, Pay Later Virtual Card?

Buy now, pay later services like Zilch, Klarna, and Afterpay offer virtual cards that you can load to your mobile device and purchase things offline. They’ll withdraw 25% of your cart’s value during checkout and 25% every second week. This is handy if you prefer offline or in-store shopping.

Best Split Payment Apps?

The best split payment apps are Klarna and Zilch. Signing up for an account is free and only takes a few minutes. Once your account is approved, you can spend thousands of dollars and pay it off over six weeks. Klarna and Zilch also have flexible payment plans, easy to navigate apps, and low fees.

Buy Now, Pay Later No Down Payment?

Most reputable buy now, pay later apps require a downpayment, typically around 25% of your checkout total.

Buy Now, Pay Later Companies?

The best buy now pay later companies are Klarna, Afterpay, and Affirm. These lenders help hundreds of millions of users worldwide pay for emergencies. There’s no interest, and you’ll receive cashback for every purchase, so you can save it for a rainy day.