5+ Best BNPL Apps Like Klarna

Highlights

  • Klarna, with its BNPL services, has helped people a lot with managing their finances, buying the stuff they need, and paying accordingly.
  • However, it has some limitations that prevent you from unleashing the full potential of BNPL services.
  • Here’s where you would be looking for Klarna alternatives, and I’ve covered you all with it.
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Buy Now Pay Later, or BNPL services, have changed how we shop. Speaking for myself, it has got me through a lot of stuff.

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As a student, there was no way I could buy my skincare stuff, sign up for online courses, or get some decent clothes all in a month, but that’s where BNPL comes into play. With just a little financial management, I could get all of that and still not be in a financial crisis. 

So, for today, we’ll be speaking of Klarna at first. Klarna is a BNPL platform providing users with a Pre-approved credit limit. This limit varies from user to user and is based on a soft credit check.

You can borrow an amount and have to pay it back in 30 days. You can also pay it in 3 installments. The best thing about Klarna is that you can use your approved credit Interest-free for 30 days. 

While it sounds like a great idea, it isn’t all green. Problems like limited acceptance, uncapped late fees, and implications remain. So, today we’ll see some apps like Klarna, and you get to choose which is best for you, deal?

Best BNPL Apps Like Klarna

1. Afiirm

Afiirm - BNPL Apps Like Klarna

Affirm is one of the leading BNPL services out there. It also supports way more businesses than Klarna does.

Affirm also offers their Card segment product, which helps you shop offline. Affirm has flexible tenures, so you wouldn’t have to squeeze too tight to buy those new shoes you’ve wanted for so long. And that, too, is interest-free!

Affirm has a transparent fee structure, which I’d suggest you go through once. While they have an APR (Annual Percentage Rate), an interest rate you must pay for the money you borrow, most of the payments you’ll make with Affirm will have 0% APR if you pay them in their short-tenure plan. 

Does that sound too good to be true? Meh, it’s still a very good service, but you have to know the cons, right? If you borrow money for long tenures, Affirm has higher APR rates than its competitors.

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A big con of BNPL services is they do periodic, if not frequent, soft credit checks, which might trigger a loan inquiry in your credit history and bring it down.

I don’t think it’s a con because that’s how businesses work, but if you default on any payment, Affirm strictly reports it to the credit bureaus, which will shoot down your credit score. 

Pros
  • Fees Transparency, you’ll be free from surprises

  • Offers a card for offline purchases

  • Thoughtful Application

Cons
  • Strict payment reports

  • High-interest rates, especially on long-term loans


2. Sezzle

Sezzle - BNPL Apps Like Klarna

Sezzle is another BNPL service that offers you Interest-free, unregulated credit lines. Sezzle has been helpful for people with low or no credit scores as it helps them build their credit scores.

If you don’t have a credit score, you’ll usually be given a small credit limit, and if you use and pay it back responsibly, your limit will increase over time.

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Sezzle is also transparent with its pricing, so you won’t have to deal with surprises or hidden fees. While we looked at all the good things, you might notice that not all merchants accept Sezzle, so you’ll look up which ones are supported.

Pros
  • Easy onboarding: you’ll not have to face any hard credit checks as the onboarding process is pretty easy and quick

  • Transparent fees, again, you don’t realize how much you’ll hate last-minute financial surprises until you get any

  • Credit score implication, in a good way, you can build your credit score in months instead of having to transact for years

Cons
  • Limited supported merchants, you’ll run into this problem when you’re trying to buy something that is exclusively available at only one store. Been there 🙁

  • Late fees: unlike Affirm, you’ll have to pay late fees with Sezzle if you miss your repayment due date, but trust me, the late fees will be the least of your concerns if they gets reported to the credit bureaus 


3. Afterpay

Afterpay - BNPL Apps Like Klarna

Afterpay is a globally accepted BNPL service currently operational in several countries. It supports some of the biggest brands like Nike and Target, which might be a big pro for some people.

With Afterpay, you can choose your repayment time-based or pay in 4 interest-free installments. Like most Pay Later services, you’ll not be charged anything if you pay on time, just how it should be.

Pros
  • Globally accepted, you’ll not have to miss out on exclusive deals anymore 🙂

  • 4 interest-free installments, or you can get a tenure of up to 6 months

  • Well-established in the market and highly reputed

Cons
  • Credit score implications, again, are not a con, but you have to face the consequences if you miss a payment

  • The credit limit might be less at first. You’ll have to be patient with it


4. Splitit

Splitit - BNPL Apps Like Klarna

Splitit is smart, using your existing credit line to create one. It sounds complicated at first, but let me explain.

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Splitit is just another BNPL service, but instead of performing a credit check on you and then authorizing you a credit limit, Splitit uses whatever you have at the moment. So, let’s say you have a credit card with a limit 40,000$. You’ll have a split limit of 40,000$ as well.

So, if you make a purchase, Splitit will create a Payment mandate or pre-authorization on your credit card, which will not register as a payment on your credit report unless you don’t complete the repayment.

Then, you must pay Splitit in the installment plan you chose. After you pay off all your balance in due time, Splitit will revoke the pre-auth they issue, and voila!

One thing I like about it is that in case of an emergency, if you miss your payment, instead of shooting down your credit score, Splitit will simply use your credit card to get your payment back, so it’s collateral. 

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Pros
  • Based on your existing credit, while it’s a pro for some people, it’s a con for some because if you’re someone without a credit history or you don’t have a credit card, you can’t use Splitit

  • While getting to spend most of your available credit sounds fun, it can lead you to overspend, always analyze, and only spend what you can pay back

  • Flexible tenure and installments: you can choose the number of installments and time of tenure more efficiently than the existing products in the market

Cons
  • Based on your existing credit, while it’s a pro for some people, it’s a con for some because if you’re someone without a credit history or you don’t have a credit card, you can’t use Splitit

  • While getting to spend most of your available credit sounds fun, it can lead you to overspend, always analyze, and only spend what you can pay back

  • Limited card support: Splitit is a bit picky with their card support, so you’ll have to look it up if yours is supported


5. PayPal

PayPal - BNPL Apps Like Klarna

I don’t think you need an introduction for this one. One of the biggest advantages of PayPal is that it is one of the most widely accepted services on this list.

The BNPL service is seamlessly integrated with its existing infrastructure, making it very convenient for its users.

While many users don’t usually trust third-party platforms when it comes to financing, this is not the case with PayPay due to its existing reputation in the market.

Another good thing about PayPal is that if you get lucky, you’ll get promotional financing offers a lot of times. With that, you’ll get interest-free credit lines and much more.

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Again, a bit too good to be true. If you don’t have an excellent credit history, PayPal might not be for you as they have variable interest rates based on a user’s credit history. Unlike some other services in the market, PayPal charges late fees for Payments after the due date.

Pros
  • Widely accepted. Come on, who doesn’t accept PayPal

  • Well established Infrastructure

  • Seamless Integration with Existing Infrastructure

Cons
  • Not the ideal option for everyone. You should calculate if it’s worth it for you based on the charges

  • Onboarding is not so easy. Additionally, a credit check is also performed, which might affect your credit history

  • Late fees: unlike many other BNPL services, PayPal imposes a late fee on missed payments

More Options to Choose From:

1. Zip: Another app on the list is Zip, previously known as QuadPay. In every pay, you need to clear its approval process and then start purchasing.

Every approval is made when you pay 25% of the initial payment. The remaining amount is within six months till your next salary cheque comes.

There are no hidden fees or any APR. Consequently,  you can be assured of a transparent payment plan for any purchase.

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2. Perpay: If you are looking for an easy-to-use app on this list, PerPay won’t disappoint you for it. You must sign up and answer a few questions to set up your account.

Further, you can send your Spending Limit between $500 to $2,500. After that, you can start searching their marketplace for shopping.

3. Viabill: If you are looking for a ‘Buy Now, pay later app’ charging 0% interest, Viabill can be your choice.

You need to go through a short application process. It will then get your approval for shopping, and you can pay it in 4 divided installments. The first one is paid at the purchase itself.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pay any charges for the money I borrow?

While most Buy Now Pay Later services have interest-free credit lines and zero interest if you pay on time, you still have to pay the APR, also known as Annual Percentage Rates, if you borrow a sum for longer tenures.

After how much time do I have to return the money I borrowed?

Again, it depends on your BNPL service. Generally, you get to choose the tenure you’re comfortable with.

Ranging from a month to 6 months, in which a period from a month to two months is interest or APR-free. After that, most companies will charge you an APR fee on your amount ranging from 0% to 30%.

Does using BNPL services affect my credit history?

A BNPL service registers itself as a Personal Loan to credit bureaus; using them too much shows that you’re too dependent on debts, which lowers your credit score.

Instead of using it too frequently, a way to balance it is to try to shop at once and repay the amount before the due date. If not improved, at least it won’t hamper your credit history.


The Conclusion 

We’re in an era where everything is just too easy; buy Now Pay Later might be heavenly for people with good financial management because they’re getting money that they can use interest-free. Get the stuff they want and pay it back without having to squeeze much and save up every time. 

But for a lot of people, it’s a very easy medium to create a hell-hole and debt trap. People without financial seriousness are easily trapped with the ease of these services.

It is important to know your requirements and budget well before going for them. But a basic rule would be to look out for these 3 key features-

  1. Interest Rate – Many BNPL providers provide a 0% Interest rate, an obvious requirement.
  2. Risk to Credit score – Make sure that your BNPL provider does not share your details with Credit rating agencies to avoid losing any credit points.
  3. Usability – A BNPL provider must have connections with large e-commerce companies and shops, so you do not get stuck. The one that covers the most retailers would be the best choice in this regard.

Not repaying on time, defaulting payments, all this can shoot down your credit score or, to be dramatic, even bankrupt you. Once your credit history is infected with this, it’ll take years for you to recover from it, and trust me, it’s not easy at all.

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Further Reading:

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