Best Apps Like Klarna: Top Klarna Alternatives To Buy Now Pay Later

Searching for the best Apps like Klarna that offer flexible payment options? Shop smartly with the top payment apps like Klarna to buy now and pay later without any hassles:

Klarna is definitely one of the most popular BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) apps out there. Launched in 2005, Klarna now caters to over 1 million active merchants. Merchants that have stuck with the platform occasionally rave about its financing and flexible payment options.

That said, not everyone in the industry is smitten by Klarna. Some businesses look down on the app due to its higher merchant fee, less lenient approval process, and lack of cryptocurrency support.

Top-Rated BNPL Payment Apps Like Klarna

Thankfully, Klarna isn’t the only BNPL app out there. My goal with this article is to recommend apps like Klarna that are better in some way or another.

Key Takeaways of Sites Like Klarna

Here are some of the key takeaways from this article:

Klarna is a Buy Now, Pay Later app that helps merchants offer flexible payment options (pay over time, pay in installments, etc.) to their customers.
Companies that seek lower transaction fees, greater rescheduling flexibility, cryptocurrency support, and a simpler approval process may find an alternative app better suited to their needs.
Cherry Payment Plans is best for healthcare providers, especially those specializing in dental, aesthetic, chiro, plastic surgery, and veterinary care.
NOWPayments is best for merchants that seek global reach and cryptocurrency support
Affirm is best for merchants selling high-ticket items.

Why Look for Similar Apps Like Klarna

As I mentioned before, Klarna isn’t without its flaws, which would justifiably cause a merchant or shopper to look for better alternatives.

For starters, Klarna’s merchant fee is quite expensive. Merchants have to pay anywhere from 3.99% to 5.99% on top of $0.30 per transaction.
The absence of cryptocurrency support renders businesses unable to reach out to crypto-holders.
Klarna’s onboarding process leaves a lot to be desired and is unnecessarily complicated, with approvals taking weeks.
Klarna is not available worldwide. This makes the app unsuitable for businesses that want to reach a global customer base.
It lacks credit-building features and therefore isn’t ideal for credit-conscious shoppers.
It also doesn’t offer rescheduling flexibility with regard to payments.
User reviews for Klarna aren’t great. It currently has a score of 3.2/5 on G2 and 3.7/5 on Capterra.

What Does Klarna Do Well

Some of the most prominent features of Klarna are enlisted below:

Klarna offers globally available flexible payment options like Pay-in-4 or Pay Monthly.
Makes online and in-store shopping easy by letting shoppers create a virtual card via its app.
Offers robust seller protection to merchants by assuming credit and fraud risk.
Help merchants boost their conversions with on-site messaging and offering express checkout via their app.
Its app makes tracking orders and upcoming payments simpler.
Merchants and shoppers get round-the-clock support 7 days a week.

Check the video guide below to understand how to use Klarna:

List of the Best Apps Like Klarna

We have reviewed some of the top apps like Klarna to simplify your selection process:

Cherry
NOWPayments
Affirm
PayPal Pay Later
Afterpay
Sezzle
Zip

Comparing the Top Competitors to Klarna

Name	Best for	Pay-in-4	Supports Financing	Fees
Cherry	Healthcare providers.	Yes	Yes	Varies depending on payment plan. Typically in the range of 1.7% – 13.95
NOWPayment	Crypto payment support	No	No	Standard Single Cryptocurrency deposits start at 1%, Multi-currency and auto-conversion deposits start at 1.5%.
Affirm	Merchants and e-commerce stores catering to high-intent shoppers.	Yes	Yes	6% on top of $0.30 per transaction
PayPal Pay Later	Merchants that are already using PayPal.	Yes	Yes	4.99% on top of $0.49 per transaction
Afterpay	Retailers catering to high-intent Gen Z and Millennial shoppers.	Yes	Yes	4-6% on top of $0.30 per transaction.

Detailed Review of Klarna Alternatives

#1) Cherry

Best for Healthcare providers.

Cherry distinguishes itself from Klarna and all the other BNPL apps on this platform by being healthcare-first. It mainly caters to healthcare providers who specialize in dental, aesthetic, plastic surgery, physical therapy, and veterinary care.

Healthcare businesses that choose Cherry can offer flexible payment plans to their patients. These plans could range from short-term interest-free payments to longer installments with 0% APR for qualifying patients.

Pros	Cons
Soft Credit Check that doesn’t hurt a patient’s credit score.	Specifically for healthcare providers. Not suitable for other businesses.
80% Approval rate with applications taking less than a minute	APRs can be higher for interest-bearing long-term plans for individuals who don’t qualify for the 0% APR.
Very low merchant fees
No hidden charges like deferred, retroactive, or compounding interest.
Providers can get paid within 2-3 business days
Patients can secure instant funding of up to $65000 for costlier treatments.
US-based quick phone, email, and chat support.

Why is Cherry better than Klarna?

Cherry was tailor-made for healthcare providers, a major blind spot for Klarna
Cherry also stands out for offering the lowest merchant fees in the industry right now.
Cherry offers better long-term installment options that could extend up to 60 months, a benefit that proves invaluable when expensive care is involved.

Loan Amount Range: Instant funding of $200 – $65000 offered.
Cost/APR Range: 0% APR for qualified patients. Otherwise, the APR can be as high as 35.99%.
Repayment Terms: Subject to approval, the platform offers repayment leeway that can extend up to 60 months.
Approval Turnaround: Quick approval, with the application process taking less than 35 seconds to 48 hours.
Late Fees: No

Transaction Fees: Providers are charged a low merchant processing fee on each transaction. This fee will vary depending on the payment plan offered by the practice and typically ranges from 1.7% to 13.9%. On the other hand, Patients can qualify for 0% APR or witness APR as low as 5.99% for interest-bearing long-term plans.

Website: https://withcherry.com/

#2) NOWPayments

Best for businesses that wish to serve a global audience and accept crypto payments.

NOWPayments is one of those rare payment gateways out there that are crypto-friendly. Any business that wants to offer its customers the option to pay via cryptocurrency they hold will adore NOWPayments.

As of 2026, the app supports more than 300 cryptocurrencies across various market chains. NOWPayments was also tailor-made for e-commerce stores, as evidenced by the fact that it integrates seamlessly with most e-commerce platforms like WooCommerce, Magento, etc.

Pros	Cons
Integrates with major eCommerce platforms and incorporates features like checkout widgets, plugins, etc.	Susceptible to the volatile Cryptocurrency market.
Supports 300+ cryptocurrencies.	Risk of fraud is very high due to the unregulated nature of Cryptocurrencies.
Instant transaction processing speed depends on the network being used.
Allows businesses to set up recurring payments and launch subscriptions
Create and manage invoices.

Why NOWPayments is Better than Klarna

Sites like Klarna do not support cryptocurrencies. This is where NOWPayments has a clear edge over its modern competitors.
The merchant rate it charges is relatively low, ranging between 0.3%-1.5% as opposed to the 6% charged by Klarna.
It also facilitates auto-conversion of crypto-coins at a very favorable rate.

Loan Amount Range: N/A
Cost/APR Range: N/A
Repayment Terms: The platform is meant for crypto financing.
Approval Turnaround: N/A, as there is no BNPL credit approval involved.
Late Fees: N/A

Transaction Fees: The fee you are charged will largely depend on volume and the currency chosen. The breakdown is as follows:

Standard Single-Cryptocurrency deposits start at 1%
Multi-currency and auto-conversion deposits start at 1.5%

Website: https://nowpayments.io/

#3) Affirm

Best for merchants and e-commerce stores catering to high-intent shoppers.

I considered Affirm for this list because of its reach. Hundreds and thousands of Merchants already use Affirm to offer flexible payment options to their customers. I am talking about big brand names like Walmart, Gucci, Expedia, etc.

Merchants can offer their customers personalized payment options. This could range from 4 interest-free payments made every 2 weeks to long-term installments that extend up to 36 months. Affirm also ensures that payments to merchants are always upfront. They can expect funds to be transferred to their account within 1-3 business days.

Pros	Cons
Easy and quick application process	Long-term installment plans can carry interest as high as 36%
No hidden fees	Shoppers can see their credit score being affected.
No interest on Pay-in-4 plan	Some users don’t favor its customer support.
Partner with major stores across America like Walmart and Samsung
Great mobile app

Why Affirm is Better than Klarna

Affirm is considerably better for merchants who demand transparency from their financing solutions.
It is ideal for merchants selling high-ticket items.
It doesn’t charge a late fee.
Its mobile app is better.

Loan Amount Range: Could be anywhere from $35 to $30000
Cost/APR Range: 0% on Pay-in-4 options to 36% fixed APR.
Repayment Terms: Repayment terms can range from 30 days and extend to 60 months.
Approval Turnaround: Instant, real-time approval at checkout.
Late Fees: No

Transaction Fee: Merchants can expect to be charged 6% on top of $0.30 per transaction. For shoppers, the APR can be as high as 36% for long-term installments.

Check our Review of the Top Affirm Alternatives

#4) PayPal Pay Later

Best for merchants that are already using PayPal.

PayPal Pay Later benefits from the fact that PayPal is one of, if not the most popular, payment gateways used in America. PayPal Pay Later is available at most merchant shops across the USA.

If you are already using PayPal, you can find this feature inside the app’s checkout infrastructure. Similar to payment apps like Klarna, PayPal Pay Later also lets merchants offer flexible payment plans like the option to pay in 4 installments or pay monthly, and the best part, customers choosing to pay in 4 installments won’t see any impact on their credit score.

Pros	Cons
Available at millions of Merchant stores across America	APRs on long-term installments can be as high as 36%
Built-in purchase protection on select items.	Imperative security features like auto-pause of accounts after missed payments are missing.
Offers long-term installments extending up to 24 months	Pay in 4 is only available for online stores.
0% APR on short installments
No late or sign-up fees
Facilitates auto-pay

Why PayPal Pay Later is Better than Klarna

The app benefits from being a part of PayPal, a staple in American culture at this point.
Simply better for merchants who are already using PayPal.
Very low merchant processing fee compared to Klarna.

Loan Amount Range: Up to $1500 on Pay-in-4 and up to $10000 on Monthly options.
Cost/APR Range: 0% on Pay-in-4 options. 9.99% to 35.99% APR on monthly payment options.
Repayment Terms: Repayment terms can range from 30 days and extend to 60 months.
Approval Turnaround: Instant approval within seconds
Late Fees: No

Transaction Fee: Merchants are charged 4.99% on top of $0.49 per transaction. There are no hidden fees for sign-up or setup.

Website: https://www.paypal.com/us/digital-wallet/ways-to-pay/buy-now-pay-later

#5) Afterpay

Best for retailers catering to high-intent Gen Z and Millennial shoppers.

Afterpay offers some of the same benefits that other apps like Klarna offer. For instance, merchants using Afterpay can offer their customers the option to pay in 4 short-term installments or opt for long-term payment plans that extend up to 12 months.

Afterpay is heavily app-based and therefore works best for retailers whose customer base is largely made up of younger shoppers. Gen Z and Millennials can basically use the Afterpay app to discover new brands and offers.

Pros	Cons
Available with online and in-store retailers.	Late fees charged on Pay-in-4
User-friendly app with features to track payments and discover new brands	Many stores don’t use Afterpay
In-app advertising solutions	Volatile spending limits
Access live results from a central dashboard
Get in-depth insights on shoppers
Lets merchants boost conversions via dynamic on-site messaging

What Makes Afterpay Better than Klarna

Afterpay is better than Klarna for merchants targeting a younger generation of shoppers.
Afterpay integrates with Cash App.
It features a relatively more intuitive mobile app.

Transaction Fees: Merchants are charged in the range of 4-6% on top of $0.30 per transaction.

Website: https://www.afterpay.com/en-US/for-retailers

#6) Sezzle

Best for merchants catering to credit-conscious customers.

Among the alternatives to Klarna we’ve discussed so far, Sezzle sets itself apart by offering intriguing credit-building features. You get the Sezzle Up feature, which basically ensures that on-time payments are reported to credit bureaus.

Like Afterpay, I believe that Sezzle is also perfect for merchants that wish to appease the Gen Z or Millennial population. Another interesting aspect of Sezzle is its integration with prominent e-commerce platforms. It facilitates plug-and-play support for apps like Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, etc.

Pros	Cons
The Sezzle Up feature can help users build credit history	Some users have reported glitches during transactions
Facilitates Pay-in-2, Pay-in-4, Pay-in-5, and Pay monthly options	Poor customer support
Available for online and in-store shopping	Not as feature-rich as other apps like Klarna mentioned here.
Plug-and-play integration for many eCommerce stores.
Manage automatic recurring payments

What Makes Sezzle Better than Klarna

Thanks to the Sezzle Up feature, it is a better option for Credit-concious buyers.
Sezzle offers an app with a better interface aesthetic.
Sezzle also facilitates free payment rescheduling.

Transaction Fees: Merchants can expect to be charged 6% on top of $0.30 per transaction. Moreover, merchants that process less than $300 in less than a month are charged $15/month.

Check our Detailed Review of Apps Like Sezzle

#7) Zip

Best for merchants that prefer simple pay-in-4 payment options.

Zip is yet another BNPL app that works across American online and in-store merchants. Merchants using the platform can offer their customers the chance to pay in 2,3,4, or 12 installments.

Zip makes shopping a more attractive prospect for buyers by offering rewards like Cashback or the ability to earn more spending power with on-time payments. Shoppers can also create a virtual card via the Zip app for streamlined payment management on the go.

Pros	Cons
Integrates with various shopping platforms via API	Better for short-term installments than long-term payments
Shoppers can create a virtual card via the Zip app	A late fee of $7 may apply
Merchants are paid upfront within 1-2 business days	No autopay flexibility
Longer grace period offered to shoppers who miss payments
Easier approval process

How is Zip better than Klarna?

Zip is far more graceful and lenient to shoppers who miss payments than Klarna.
Its app facilitates tap and pay as well as many other shopping rewards.
The approval process is simpler and quicker on Zip than Klarna, even for shoppers with poor credit scores.

Transaction Fee: Merchant fee may vary by industry and largely depends on risk profile. Charges start at 5.9% on top of $0.30 per transaction.

Website: https://zip.co/us

How to Pick Alternatives to Klarna

Picking the right tool would entail weighing a tool’s features against your own requirements.

To make sure you don’t end up regretting your decision, I suggest considering the following alternatives:

Go for alternatives that charge you a reasonable merchant fee, preferably at a flat rate.
Merchants should pick an alternative that adheres to a stricter but simple approval process.
Go with an app that offers flexible payment plans that range from short-term interest-free installments to long-term plans.
Make sure the app you choose is active worldwide just in case you want a global reach.
Choose an app that is speedy when it comes to approving shopper requests.
Merchants should choose apps that promise upfront payments in full within 2-3 business days.
Go with an app that supports multiple different payment methods. This includes card, net banking, wallets, crypto, etc.
Choose an app that facilitates integration with ecommerce platforms via API or plugins.
Finally, the app you choose must have a good number of positive reviews on online sites like Capterra, G2, and Trust Radius.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are other apps like Klarna?

There are a plethora of BNPL apps out there that are similar to Klarna. You need to go with apps that are better than Klarna when it comes to functionality, fees, and user experience.
In that regard, I would recommend the following apps:
1. Cherry
2. NOWPayment
3. Affirm
4. PayPal Pay Later
5. Afterpay

2. Is Klarna struggling financially?

The answer to this question isn’t exactly clear. The rumors regarding its alleged financial struggles began after the company announced losses of $99 million in the first quarter of 2025.
Folks should also reckon with the fact that Klarna went public on the NYSE on September 10, 2025, while managing to successfully raise $1.37B at a valuation of $15.1 billion.
The platform still exists, and news of its imminent shutdown now seems far-fetched.

3. Which Pay Later app is better?

Well, that will depend on your requirements. For Healthcare providers, there isn’t an option that is better than Cherry right now. On the other hand, NOWPayment might be a better option for merchants that want to cater to crypto-holders, while Affirm does a good job of serving merchants selling high-ticket items.
In hindsight, there isn’t one right answer to this question. What app serves you best will largely depend on whether or not it is able to meet your requirements.

4. Is Klarna high risk?

Despite its many shortcomings, Klarna is still a reputable BNPL service provider with decades of goodwill under its belt. However, one must practice caution when using any BNPL app, as they are used for debt. Not clearing your debt on time could hurt your credit score, result in penalties, and even lead to jail time.

5. Why is Klarna so hard to get approved?

Klarna is infamous for its strict and slow approval process for buyers. This is largely because of the blueprint it follows, which entails reviewing customer data acquired from the credit bureau. Klarna’s team takes its sweet time to review each shopper’s request, going so far as to review their credit history and find out whether an individual has outstanding debt.

Conclusion

Klarna, despite being a popular BNPL app, may not be everybody’s cup of tea. Merchants and shoppers should immediately look for alternatives instead of sticking with an app that has left them unsatisfied.

Hopefully, the apps I’ve mentioned in this article can be the perfect fit for you. I’ve made sure to include an app here to cover a diverse range of use cases. If you are a healthcare provider, choose Cherry without hesitation. If you want to reach crypto-holders, then NOWPayment may be the right choice.

Know what your requirements are, and you’ll have an easier time settling on a BNPL solution that’s perfect.

Research Process: The total time involved to complete and publish this article is approximately 42 hours. This content was created through a structured research approach to ensure accuracy and reliability.

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