Apps Like Afterpay: Buy Now, Pay Later Alternatives Compared

The main apps like Afterpay are Klarna, Affirm, Sezzle, Zip, PayPal Pay Later and Splitit. Most split a purchase into a few installments, while Affirm and PayPal also offer longer monthly plans and Splitit runs installments on a card the shopper already has. For merchants, the choice comes down to which provider your customers already use, how it fits your checkout, and what it costs you per transaction.

This guide compares the leading buy now, pay later (BNPL) options in the US, explains the different models behind them, and covers when a business should build its own installment experience instead of relying only on a third party.

What Afterpay does today

Afterpay lets shoppers split a purchase into installments, paid over a few weeks, at participating retailers. It is owned by Block, and in March 2025 it became Cash App Afterpay for US shoppers, while keeping the Clearpay name in the UK and Afterpay in markets such as Australia and Canada. The merchant pays a fee on each sale, and the shopper pays nothing extra when installments are made on time.

Apps like Afterpay compared

Terms, fees and eligibility change often, so treat the descriptions below as an overview and read each provider's current terms before signing up as a shopper or merchant.

Klarna

Klarna offers several ways to pay, including installments, pay later options and longer financing at some retailers. It also runs a shopping app with deals and order tracking. Its wide merchant network makes it one of the most common alternatives to Afterpay at checkout.

Affirm

Affirm is known for longer monthly payment plans on larger purchases alongside short installment plans. It shows shoppers the total cost before they commit, and some plans carry interest depending on the merchant and the shopper's credit. It suits higher value items such as furniture, travel and electronics.

Sezzle

Sezzle offers short installment plans for online and in store shopping, aimed at budget conscious shoppers. It also offers subscription tiers with extra features. Merchant coverage is narrower than the largest providers but strong in fashion and lifestyle retail.

Zip

Zip, formerly Quadpay in the US, lets shoppers split purchases into installments and offers a virtual card that works at many stores that do not integrate it directly. That flexibility is its main draw.

PayPal Pay Later

PayPal offers short installment plans and longer monthly options to eligible US customers, along with a separate credit line. The advantage is reach: shoppers who already check out with PayPal can choose to pay over time without creating a new account.

Splitit

Splitit works differently. Instead of lending money, it splits a purchase across the shopper's existing credit card, holding the amount against the card's available limit. Shoppers need enough credit available, and their card's own terms still apply. Merchants with higher priced items sometimes prefer it because it avoids a new credit application.

How BNPL regulation stands in the US

Rules for installment products are still settling. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued an interpretive rule in 2024 that treated many BNPL products like credit cards, then withdrew it in May 2025, as noted on the CFPB's BNPL compliance page. State regulators may still apply their own lending and disclosure rules. If you plan to offer installments yourself rather than through a licensed provider, get legal advice on lending licenses before you design the product.

Choosing a provider as a merchant

For most retailers, the right first step is to add one or two established providers rather than build anything. Use these questions to choose.

1. Which providers do your customers already use? Familiar names at checkout reduce friction. Look at your analytics and ask customers.
2. What is your average order value? Short installment plans suit smaller baskets; longer monthly plans suit larger purchases.
3. How does it integrate? Check plugins for your platform, whether it is Shopify, WooCommerce or a headless build, and whether on site messaging is included.
4. What does it cost you? Compare merchant fee structures, settlement times and refund handling, not just the headline rate.
5. Who carries the risk? Most providers take on the credit and fraud risk once they approve a shopper. Confirm this in the contract.

Our payment integration team adds BNPL providers to checkouts on Shopify and other platforms. For example, the EGO Sustainable store is a bilingual Shopify build with Tabby and Tamara at checkout across five markets.

When a custom installment app makes sense

Building your own BNPL product is a bigger step than adding a provider. It makes sense in a few situations:

• You are a lender or fintech with the licenses and capital to fund installments, and BNPL is your product.
• You sell high value items with your own financing, such as education, healthcare or home improvement, and want installment plans managed in your own customer portal.
• You run a marketplace or platform and want payment plans tied to your own accounts, rewards or subscriptions.

What a custom build involves

• Onboarding and checks. Identity verification, affordability or credit checks, and fraud screening.
• Plan logic. Installment schedules, interest rules if any, late handling and early payoff.
• Payments. Card and bank collection, retries, refunds and partial refunds that adjust remaining installments.
• Customer app or portal. Upcoming payments, reminders, payment method changes and support.
• Merchant tools. Checkout plugins, settlement reports and dispute handling.
• Compliance and security. Payment card data handled through a compliant processor, encryption of personal data and clear disclosures.

Codeeo built Purpose Payment, a payments app where every purchase sends a share to the customer's chosen charity and earns reward points, with an app, portals and an API. Projects like this show how much of a payments product sits outside the shopper's screen: portals, ledgers, APIs and admin tools.

Mistakes to avoid

• Starting with the app, not the rules. Lending terms, licensing and risk policy shape every screen, so settle them first.
• Underestimating collections. Failed payments, retries and customer contact need clear flows from day one.
• Weak refund logic. Partial returns that do not recalculate installments create support tickets and complaints.
• Hidden costs to shoppers. Unclear fees damage trust and attract regulatory attention.

The practical answer

For most stores, adding one or two of the apps like Afterpay listed here is the fastest way to offer flexible payments. A custom installment product is worth considering only when financing is central to your business and you have the licenses and risk appetite to run it. Codeeo's fintech and mobile app development teams can help you scope either route.