10 Apps Like Klarna 2023 (Best Buy Now, Pay Later Apps)

You’d like to give Klarna a go, but you got declined. Or maybe—with rumors of reluctant return policies, annoying approval rates, and a spending limit that goes up and down with no warning—trying other options doesn’t seem like a bad idea.

There are plenty of other payment plan apps that give Klarna a run for its money and will get you those shiny new sneakers in no time.

10 Apps Like Klarna 2023: Best Buy Now, Pay Later Apps with No Credit Check

A “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) app is a platform that lets you purchase items and pay overtime in equal installments—usually every two weeks.

This is a great solution for those who can’t afford to pay the total amount upfront as you can spread out the overall cost—typically with no interest and minimal fees.

Before we see how our top picks compare, here’s an overview of the best apps like Klarna:

Best Buy Now, Pay Later Companies: Overview of Klarna’s Competitors

Here’s how Klarna stacks up against the best buy now pay later sites:

Is Klarna the Best Pay Later Service?

Klarna is the top dog in the pay-later apps arena, with over 150 million users and over 450,000 merchants across 45 different countries.

Before we dive into our best buy now, pay later sites, let’s see what Klarna brings to the table—

Touching all the fluffy cushions and smelling all fifty candles in the store before deciding on your perfect living room scent is fun until you have to cough up a lot more than you expected.

Klarna makes the checkout experience a little less daunting by offering different forms of payment:

• Pay now (full amount).
• Pay in 30 days.
• Pay in 4 or Pay over time.

The Pay in 4 option lets you split the cost into four interest-free payments to be paid every two weeks. But if you need more time or you’re making a larger purchase, some merchants will let you pay installments over 24 months.

Their 30-day try-before-you-buy feature lets you trial-run products and pay in a month if you’re happy with your purchase. Suppose you decide your new flamingo pink cushion clashes with your sunflower yellow couch, you’re free to return it within 30 days—as long as there’s no damage.

Klarna’s shop list is packed with big labels that cover electronics, fashion, beauty, and home products. They also promote conscious brands, as well as female and black-owned stores.

With so much choice, we wouldn’t blame you for indulging—but you can easily keep track of all your spending on the app or the Klarna Chrome extension.

Why we like it

Note that

• $7 late payment fee.
• No opportunity to build credit.

10 Best Klarna Alternatives

Klarna might be winning the popularity contest at the moment, but it’s not the only buy now, pay in installments platform.

Here’s a breakdown of the best companies like Klarna—

Sezzle

Whether it’s that perfect pair of sneakers or the kiss-up Christmas gift for your boss—you’re certainly not going to buy the first thing you see (especially with that festive bonus on the cards).

Sezzle offers over 48,000 brands to choose from—and you can split the cost into four interest-free payments over six weeks.

In most cases, you’ll pay a down payment of 25%, then pay the remaining balance every two weeks.

Unlike your boss, who ignored your flashy Christmas tie gift, Sezzle will reward you for your efforts—you can earn some Sezzle Spend for promotions or by paying for items in-full.

Sezzle Rewards also dishes out points when you make purchases with specific merchants.

Why we like it

Note that

• $5 payment reschedule fee.
• $10 account reactivation fee.

Splitit

You’ve splashed out on a new coffee machine and you’re keen to use all the fancy features (no more daily Starbucks trips). Likewise, if you’ve got a credit card—you’ll want to make the most of all the benefits and rewards that come with it.

Splitit makes that possible by authorizing purchases on your existing credit card, where they’ll hold the balance until the final payment is made. You’ll get charged a portion of the price—then pay monthly installments until it’s all paid off.

With no new financing, you can get all the rewards, insurance, and protection that come with your current credit card—and you won’t need to pay any extra fees or interest beyond what your existing card charges.

Why we like it

Note that

• No debit cards.
• Various interest rates and fees, depending on your card issuer.

Affirm

If you’ve got your eyes set on that fancy memory foam pillow, payment plan apps are great for helping you spread the cost over a couple of months.

But what about bigger purchases?

With Affirm, you can pay monthly installments for up to three years—so you can afford to buy a whole new mattress and some satin bedsheets to match.

You’ll pay your first installment upon payment, with the rest being billed to your debit card, checking account, or credit card.

Three years is a long time—so if you’re the forgetful type, you can set up AutoPay for automatic payments. You can also download the Affirm Chrome extension to keep tabs on your spending.

Why we like it

Note that

• Some monthly plans can charge up to 30% interest.
• You can’t reschedule payments.
• Your credit score could be negatively impacted if you fail to pay after 120 days.

PayPal Pay 4

PayPal has been in the game for a long time—and with over 432 million users, it’s not showing signs of slowing down. In 2020, the company decided to jump on the “buy now, pay later” service bandwagon by introducing Pay 4.

The platform does what it says on the tin—you pay 25% upfront, then they’ll split your purchase into four payments every two weeks.

And because PayPal is such a big player, you’ll be able to use Pay 4 across thousands of retailers—with no hidden fees or interest to catch you out.

You’ll need a PayPal account to get started—just keep in mind that you won’t be able to use your PayPal balance to make payments as they charge everything to your credit or debit card.

Why we like it

Note that

• No hardship protection.
• For Paypal users only.
• Missed payments could harm your credit score.

Afterpay

Shop now pay later apps sound ideal on paper—but with kids running around and deadlines to meet, it can be easy to lose track of payments.

Afterpay helps you by sending reminders, having an automatic payment system, and offering a ten-day grace period.

Like other pay-over-time apps, Afterpay splits your payment into four interest-free installments, which you can pay back over six weeks.

To save time, you can also set up the digital Afterpay Card, add it to your Apple or Google Wallet, and quickly tap away.

You can shop from millions of products online, or venture out to do some good, old-fashioned in-store shopping.

Why we like it

Note that

• Does not report to the credit bureaus.
• $8 fee for late payments.

PerPay

So your cat tore up half your couch. Getting a loan would be great, but your poor credit score is holding you back.

Well, PerPay lets you pay in installments for up to a year and build your credit up—free from any credit check.

The company promises you can increase your credit score in just four months by making on-time payments—which they’ll report to the three major credit bureaus.

Unlike with your overly excited pets, you can take control of your outstanding balance and spending limits with PerPay using their Account Summary and PerPay Dashboard features.

You can also set up automatic payments, so you always pay up on time and work towards getting a better credit score.

Why we like it

Note that

• You can only buy from the Prepay Marketplace.
• Payments are made through automatic paycheck deductions.
• You must maintain full-time employment to hold an account.

Zip

We live in a world where credit bureaus are always watching. Whether you forget to pay a bill, fall into debt, or take out a loan for the swimming pool you’ll only use 30 days a year—your credit can start to drop.

Zip, however, lets you fly under the radar and pay over time with no impact on your credit score.

Zip also doesn’t report to the credit bureaus—bad news if you want to build credit, but good news if you want to protect your score if you miss a payment.

Their no-credit-check payment plan lets you pay 25% at the checkout, then another 25% every two weeks, across six weeks.

Zip also sets itself apart from other pay-later apps by letting you pay everyday bills and utilities.

The app will pay the bill for you, and you’ll need to pay them back in installments (whether that’s monthly, fortnightly, or monthly—the choice is yours).

Why we like it

Note that

• $5–$10 for late fees.
• $1 convenience fee per installment.
• No option to turn off automatic payments.

Zebit

Shopping online, all tucked up in bed, sounds great, until you realize you’ve spent the last three hours looking through endless online stores—and all you’ve got is over 50 tabs to show for it.

If you’re a three-tab maximum kind of person—Zebit lets you browse all their items in one place.

The Zebit Marketplace has around 175,000 products and over 1500 top brands across more than 80 different categories.

Once you decide on your purchase, you’ll make a down payment between 20% and 30%—and pay the rest in installments (the frequency and amount depending on how often you get paid).

And no worries if you’ve got poor credit—Zebit doesn’t do a credit check, but it’ll look at factors from their own eligibility requirements before you can start spending.

Why we like it

Note that

• Spending limit can change depending on your repayment history.
• Does not report to the three major credit bureaus.
• Limited to the Zebit Marketplace products.

Bread

Unlike the other Klarna competitors, Bread goes against the grain and does things a little differently.

You can make purchases over time by applying for a short-term loan, which you can then use to buy from participating retailers and pay off the full amount in fixed monthly loan payments.

And just like standard loans, Bread reports to the three credit bureaus, so you can boost your credit score by making on-time payments.

Other handy features include their prequalification process and the chance to review loan terms and the exact amount and interest you’ll pay before you commit.

Why we like it

Note that

• Doesn’t refund interest on returned items.
• Limited retailer options.
• You can’t repay the loan with a credit card.

GoCardless

We thought we’d throw one in for all you business owners out there. Like Klarna, GoCardless works like an installment payment app—but this one targets businesses that are collecting payments.

Dealing with customers can be hit or miss (especially when it comes to money). To smooth things over, GoCardless helps businesses collect the cash, either as instant, one-time payments or scheduled installments.

GoCardless take care of all the tedious admin work, with an easy-to-use dashboard and their Automate Admin feature, which you can connect to your accounting system.

And if you’ve got your sights set on taking over the world, you’ll be happy to know that GoCardless accepts payments from all over the globe (including the US, Canada, and the UK).

Why we like it

Note that

• An additional fee of 0.3% applies to transaction values above $1,000.
• Failed payments are only recovered 70%.

How We Picked Our Best Buy Now, Pay Later Apps

When it comes to cash, it’s important to know that your money will be well looked after—and that you’re getting a good deal.

To track down the best buy now pay later companies, we spent many hours looking through and comparing various factors, such as:

• Spending limits
• Installment length
• Extra fees and interest
• Additional features
• Eligibility requirements
• Customer reviews

We understand that everyone has different preferences, so we’ve included a variety of pay later apps that will appeal to your range of needs—whether that’s shopping in one place, or being able to build up your credit score.

What To Know About Companies Like Klarna

As you shop around for the best pay-later apps, it’s handy to understand all the lingo and features to help you find the right payment plan for you—

Installment lengths

Many payment plan companies (like Pay 4, Sezzle, and Zip) will ask you to pay four installments every two weeks across six weeks.

But, if you’re planning on making a larger purchase or need more time to pay the full amount—some pay-later apps will extend the term length.

For example, Zebit lets you pay up to six months, Affirm and Afterpay up to 12 months—and Klarna comes out on top with a term length of up to 24 months.

Fees

There’s nothing that brings everyone together like a shared dislike for extra fees. Many buy now, pay later options can charge up to $10 if you’re late on a payment, so remember to always pay everything on time.

And if you’re the type who’s always looking for their car keys—go for apps that have automated payments or notifications to give you a gentle reminder.

Other apps like Klarna will simply shut down the account if you fail to make the payment on time. In that case, you could get charged a reactivation fee to open the account again.

You might also get charged a small convenience fee (the amount charged by businesses to cover the cost of transactions).

Spending limits

Most pay-over-time apps come with a fixed spending limit, although these amounts can vary depending on the payment plan.

If you tend to spend beyond your means, you might want to get a lower spending limit to keep yourself from splurging.

But if you’ve got your eyes set on some bigger purchases (and you can afford the installments), you can opt for apps with larger limits, like Affirm and Splitit.

Some apps will adjust the spending limit depending on your history with the company and your credit score.

Klarna doesn’t have a predefined spending limit—instead basing your Purchase Power on factors like your payment history and outstanding balance.

How To Choose the Best Buy No Pay Later App

Now that you know what to look out for, let’s take a look at some key considerations when deciding on the best pay later app for your preferences.

Buy now pay later credit check

Say, it’s finally time to replace your oven. But with payday over a month away and a less-than-impressive credit score, applying for a loan is risky business.

But, good news for you—you’re unlikely to be rejected for poor credit as many payment apps like Klarna don’t require a good credit history.

Some might do a soft check to determine your spending limits—but this won’t dent your credit score.

Pay-over-time apps, like Bread and Prepay, even report to the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) so you get the chance to build credit by making on-time installment payments.

Buy now pay later guaranteed approval

Nothing in life is guaranteed, and the same goes for buy now, pay later apps—but some are easier to be accepted for than others.

For example, these are the eligibility requirements of Klarna:

• Be a resident of the US or its territories.
• Be 18 or over.
• Have a bank card or bank account.
• Have a positive credit history.
• Have a phone to receive text codes.

Most apps like Klarna will need you to be over 18 with proof of residency and a valid phone number, while apps such as Splitit only require a Visa or Mastercard.

Eligibility requirements vary across apps—so be sure to check them out before applying.

Buy now pay later bad credit

Many pay-over-time apps tend to be forgiving of bad credit—as long as you meet their other eligibility requirements.

Apps like Sezzle and Afterpay will run a soft credit check to determine your spending power, but other apps like Splitit don’t consider your credit score at all.

A soft credit check involves your credit report being pulled up and checked by the payment plan company—but this won’t affect your credit score, even if it leads to you not getting accepted.

Online Stores With Payment Plans

Here are some top websites with buy now pay later plans offering online shopping with financing from apps like Klarna, Affirm, and Sezzle:

• Amazon
• Target
• eBay
• Best Buy
• Walmart
• Apple
• Home Depot
• Bloomingdale’s
• Nike
• Dell
• Sephora
• Target
• Lego
• Samsung
• Gap

And there are a ton more websites with payment plans out there—just check out the payment options on the store website for more details on how to pay.

Key Takeaway