Here are the best apps like Afterpay and where each one stands out.
Key Takeaways
- Payment Plans Vary: Some apps stick to four payments over six weeks, while others offer monthly financing for larger purchases.
- Interest-Free Doesn’t Always Mean Free: Service charges, origination fees, late fees, and subscriptions can still increase the total cost.
- Store Access Matters: Virtual cards, browser extensions, and digital wallets may let you use installment plans at more retailers.
- Longer Terms Can Cost More: Monthly payments may be smaller, but interest can make the purchase more expensive overall.
- Multiple Plans Add Up Quickly: Several small installment purchases can create a much larger payment burden than expected.
Sezzle: Best for Flexible Payment Dates
Sezzle is one of the closest alternatives to Afterpay. Its standard Pay in 4 plan divides a purchase into four installments over six weeks, with the first payment generally due at checkout.
Where Sezzle starts to pull ahead is payment flexibility. Qualifying orders may allow you to reschedule a payment multiple times, although fees and the number of available changes depend on the order and your location. Sezzle has also introduced monthly installment plans ranging from three to 36 months for eligible purchases, giving shoppers another option when six weeks isn’t enough.
- Payment Options: Pay in 4 and eligible monthly installment plans
- Standard Schedule: Four payments over six weeks
- Interest: Standard Pay in 4 purchases may be interest-free, while monthly installment plans may charge interest
- Fees: Service, rescheduling, failed-payment, or late fees may apply
- Credit Check: A soft inquiry may be used and won’t negatively affect your score
- Best Feature: More options for moving qualifying payment dates
Where It Beats Afterpay: Sezzle gives eligible users more control over repayment dates. It also offers Sezzle Up, an optional feature that reports payment activity to credit bureaus for shoppers who want their BNPL history included in their credit file.
Where Afterpay Is Better: Afterpay’s basic Pay in 4 setup is easier to understand. Sezzle’s service fees, subscriptions, rescheduling charges, and different product options can make the final cost less predictable.
Bottom Line: Sezzle is the best Afterpay alternative for shoppers who value repayment flexibility. Just review the checkout screen carefully, since service fees and rescheduling charges may apply depending on how and where you use it.
Klarna: Best for Multiple Ways to Pay
Klarna gives shoppers more repayment choices than the typical Pay in 4 app. Depending on the purchase and approval decision, you may be able to pay immediately, divide the cost into four payments, wait up to 30 days, or use longer-term monthly financing.
Pay in 30 can be especially useful when you want to receive and inspect an order before paying for it. Klarna says the 30-day period starts when the merchant ships the order, with no interest or fees when the balance is paid on time.
Shoppers who want flexible due dates should read Sezzle vs Klarna before picking a single provider.
Key Details
- Payment Options: Pay in 4, Pay in 30, pay in full, and monthly financing
- Standard Schedule: Varies by selected plan
- Interest: Pay in 4 and Pay in 30 may be interest-free, while financing may charge interest
- Fees: Pay in 4 or purchases outside partner stores may include a service fee
- Credit Check: Klarna generally uses a soft credit check for Pay in 4, Pay in 30, and monthly financing, which doesn’t affect your score
- Best Feature: Wide selection of short- and long-term plans
Where It Beats Afterpay: Klarna offers more than one basic repayment schedule. Pay in 30 lets you delay the entire payment, while financing can spread larger purchases over several months.
Where Afterpay Is Better: Afterpay’s standard plan is more straightforward. Klarna’s One-time Card and certain card-based Pay in 4 purchases may include a service fee from $1.29 to $5.99. Standard merchant checkout terms can differ, so review the offer before confirming.
Bottom Line: Klarna is a strong choice when you don’t want every purchase locked into four biweekly installments. It gives you more ways to pay, but you’ll need to check the specific cost and terms offered at checkout.
Affirm: Best for Larger Purchases
Affirm works well when four payments over six weeks would still leave each installment too high. Eligible shoppers may receive an interest-free Pay in 4 offer or monthly plans lasting three, six, 12 months, or longer.
Monthly plans may charge interest, but Affirm shows the rate, payment amount, and total cost before you accept the offer. Rates can range from 0% to 36% APR based on eligibility and the merchant. Affirm doesn’t charge late, annual, account-opening, or prepayment fees.
Key Details
- Payment Options: Pay in 4 and longer monthly plans
- Standard Schedule: Every two weeks or monthly
- Interest: Pay in 4 is 0% APR, while monthly plans may charge up to 36% APR
- Fees: No late fees or prepayment penalties
- Credit Check: Checking eligibility doesn’t affect your credit score, but accepted Pay in 4 and monthly plans are reported to Experian and TransUnion
- Best Feature: Longer terms for higher-cost purchases
Where It Beats Afterpay: Affirm is better suited to furniture, electronics, travel, and other purchases that may be difficult to repay within six weeks. It also doesn’t charge a late fee if you miss a payment.
Where Afterpay Is Better: Afterpay’s interest-free plan is easier to budget for when you can comfortably handle four payments. With Affirm, longer repayment terms can mean paying interest and carrying the balance for months.
Bottom Line: Affirm is the better option for expensive purchases that need smaller monthly payments. Check the APR and total repayment amount before accepting, since not every plan is interest-free.
Zip: Best for Shopping Beyond Partner Stores
Zip offers the familiar four-payment schedule but gives you several ways to use it. You can shop through participating merchants, create a virtual card in the app, use a browser extension, or pay through an eligible digital wallet.
That flexibility can make Zip useful when Afterpay isn’t listed at checkout. Zip says its app and card options can be used at many locations that accept Visa, Apple Pay, or Google Pay, subject to eligibility and purchase restrictions.
Key Details
- Payment Options: Pay in 2, Pay in 4, and Pay in 8 may be available
- Standard Schedule: Pay in 4 divides the purchase over six weeks
- Fees: An origination fee may apply and is disclosed at checkout. Late fees can reach $7, and additional payment-date changes may cost $2.
- Credit Check: Zip uses a soft credit check that doesn’t affect your score
- Best Feature: Virtual card and digital wallet availability
Where It Beats Afterpay: Zip can work at more places because you aren’t always limited to stores displaying a Zip button. The app, browser extension, and virtual card make it easier to create an installment plan at other eligible retailers.
Where Afterpay Is Better: Zip isn’t necessarily free, even when you pay every installment on time. An origination charge may be added at checkout, and a late payment may trigger another fee.
Bottom Line: Zip is worth considering when store availability matters more than getting a fee-free plan. Its checkout tools are convenient, but always compare the total repayment amount with the original purchase price.
PayPal Pay Later: Best for PayPal Users
PayPal Pay Later adds installment options to an account many shoppers already use. Eligible purchases may qualify for Pay in 4 or a longer Pay Monthly plan.
Pay in 4 is available for qualifying purchases from $10 to $2,000. The first payment is due at checkout, followed by three payments every two weeks. It’s interest-free, and applying doesn’t negatively affect your credit score.
If Klarna’s checkout button isn’t available, apps like Klarna lists other providers with similar pay-over-time plans.
Key Details
- Payment Options: Pay in 4 and Pay Monthly
- Purchase Range: Pay in 4 may be offered on purchases from $10 to $2,000
- Standard Schedule: Four payments over approximately six weeks
- Interest: No interest on Pay in 4
- Monthly Financing: Pay Monthly currently carries a fixed APR from 9.99% to 35.99%, based on creditworthiness
- Fees: No late fees
- Best Feature: Integrated into the existing PayPal wallet
Where It Beats Afterpay: PayPal Pay Later is convenient when you already use PayPal and don’t want to create another shopping account. PayPal also offers in-store Pay Later options through a virtual card for eligible users.
Where Afterpay Is Better: Afterpay has its own shopping directory and is more visibly integrated with many fashion and lifestyle retailers. PayPal Pay Later only appears when the purchase, merchant, account, and applicant qualify.
Bottom Line: Existing PayPal users should check Pay Later before signing up for another BNPL app. Pay in 4 is simple and interest-free, although approval is still required for each transaction.
Shop Pay Installments: Best for Shopify Purchases
Shop Pay is Shopify’s accelerated checkout service, while Shop Pay Installments is its buy now, pay later option. The financing is provided through Affirm.
Eligible shoppers may receive biweekly or monthly payment options, depending on the purchase, location, merchant, and approval decision. You can manage the order and checkout through Shop Pay, but repayments are made to Affirm.
Key Details
- Payment Options: Biweekly and monthly installments
- Standard Schedule: Depends on the offer shown at checkout
- Interest: Some plans are interest-free, while others charge interest
- Fees: No unexpected or late fees
- Credit Check: Depends on the financing offer
- Best Feature: Fast checkout at participating Shopify stores
Where It Beats Afterpay: Shop Pay Installments can provide longer repayment periods and works smoothly for shoppers who already have their information saved through Shop Pay.
Where Afterpay Is Better: Shop Pay Installments is limited to eligible stores that support the feature. It isn’t a general-purpose BNPL app you can expect to use across unrelated retailers.
Bottom Line: Shop Pay Installments is convenient when it appears during checkout, especially for a higher-priced Shopify purchase. However, it’s essentially another way to access Affirm rather than a completely separate financing service.
Splitit: Best for Using an Existing Credit Card
Splitit takes a different approach from Afterpay. Instead of issuing a new loan, it lets you divide a purchase into installments using the available credit on a card you already have.
There’s no new loan application or separate account to open. You can also continue earning any rewards provided by your credit card. Splitit charges the first installment and places a temporary authorization on the card for the remaining purchase balance.
Key Details
- Payment Options: Merchant-selected installment schedules
- Payment Method: Existing eligible credit card
- Interest and Fees: Standard Splitit plans don’t add interest, but Digital Wallet Installments carry a finance charge. Your credit card’s normal interest terms may also apply.
- Credit Check: No new credit check
- Available Credit: The unpaid balance may be temporarily authorized on your card
- Best Feature: Keeps existing card rewards and protections
Where It Beats Afterpay: Splitit doesn’t require a separate BNPL loan or new credit account. It can also preserve your card’s rewards, purchase protection, and fraud coverage.
Where Afterpay Is Better: You need enough available credit to cover the entire purchase, not just the first installment. The temporary authorization may significantly reduce the credit you have left for other expenses.
Bottom Line: Splitit is useful for shoppers who already have a credit card with enough available credit and want to keep earning rewards. It won’t help someone who is using BNPL because their card is close to its limit.
How to Choose an App Like Afterpay
Start with the repayment period. Pay in 4 plans work best when you can comfortably cover one-quarter of the purchase every two weeks. A monthly plan may be safer for a larger expense, but interest can increase the total cost.
Next, check where the service works. Some apps are limited to partner merchants, while others use virtual cards, browser extensions, digital wallets, or existing credit cards to support more stores.
Afterpay makes it easy to split a purchase into four payments, but it isn’t your only option. Other buy now, pay later apps may give you more time to pay, work at more stores, offer better payment-date flexibility, or skip late fees altogether.
The right alternative depends on what you’re buying. Some services stick to four payments over six weeks, while others offer monthly financing for larger purchases. You’ll also find options that work through virtual cards, PayPal checkout, Shopify stores, or the credit card you already have.
Compare every option here against our Afterpay review for the benchmark app’s store list and late-fee policy.
You should also check for charges that aren’t labeled as interest. Service fees, origination charges, membership costs, rescheduling fees, and late fees can make an apparently interest-free purchase more expensive.
Finally, look at the payment dates for every active plan before opening another one. Four small payments may seem manageable on their own, but several overlapping BNPL orders can create a much larger withdrawal week than expected.
Final Verdict
The best app like Afterpay depends on how much you’re spending, how quickly you can repay it, and where you shop. Pay in 4 works well for smaller purchases, while monthly plans may be more manageable for larger expenses. Before choosing an option, compare interest, fees, payment dates, and store availability so the purchase doesn’t cost more than expected.
Before you choose a provider, read our full Sezzle review to compare fees, store coverage, and repayment plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do apps like Afterpay work?
Buy now, pay later apps divide an eligible purchase into several scheduled payments. The first payment may be due at checkout, with the remaining balance collected automatically.
Do buy now, pay later apps charge interest?
Many Pay in 4 plans don’t charge interest, but longer monthly plans may include an APR. Other fees may also apply even when the plan is advertised as interest-free.
Do buy now, pay later apps check your credit?
Some services use a soft credit check that doesn’t affect your score, while longer financing plans may involve a more detailed credit review. Requirements depend on the provider and payment plan.
Can buy now, pay later affect your credit score?
It can. Some payment activity may be reported to credit bureaus, and missed payments or unpaid balances may affect your credit depending on the provider.
What should you look for in an Afterpay alternative?
Compare the payment schedule, total fees, interest rate, late-payment policy, store availability, and flexibility to move a due date. Choose a plan you can repay without relying on another installment service.
