7 of the Best Buy Now Pay Later Apps for Shopify

In today’s complex economy, the best “Buy Now Pay Later” apps could be the key to increasing your store’s profits, and earning customer loyalty. After all, even if your marketing and sales strategies have convinced customers they “want” your items, they can’t necessarily afford to buy them. 

All the abandoned cart emails in the world won’t speed up a sale as quickly as giving your customers the option to explore a different type of payment method. 

Buy Now Pay Later options allow customers to act on their impulse to purchase something, even if they don’t have the cash on hand. This means you still get a sale, and your customers don’t have to worry about making a payment straight away. 

So, how can you add Buy Now Pay Later to your Shopify store? All you need is the right app.

What is BNPL? A Quick Insight into Buy Now Pay Later

Before we review some of the most popular and best Buy Now Pay Later apps for Shopify, it’s worth quickly establishing how BNPL works for ecommerce retailers. A “BNPL” payment option essentially allows customers to borrow the money they need to make a purchase, without a credit card. 

Most BNPL providers run a soft credit check on a customer (to ensure they can make the repayment), then release funds instantly for a point-of-sale loan. Customers can then choose from various options for repaying the balance, depending on the company in question. 

The good thing for retailers is that with most options, you get paid instantly, so there’s no waiting around for installments. 

Shopify also offers numerous plugins and apps that support this payment method. Here are some quick tips on what to look for in a Buy Now Pay Later app:

• Easy integration with Shopify
• Full upfront payment for your store (Regardless of the plan)
• Order tracking functionality
• Ease of use and customization
• Excellent security features
• Integrations for other tools (like cashback apps) 

The Best Buy Now Pay Later Apps for Shopify

Shopify offers a range of great Buy Now Pay Later options to choose from within its app market. Plus, there’s even a Shopify approved solution too (Shop Pay Installments). Here are some of our favorite options worth checking out. 

1. Shop Pay Installments

Probably the easiest option for Shopify vendors, Shop Pay Installments is a feature of the “Shop Pay” service that gives your customer more flexibility at the checkout. They can pay what they owe for a product in interest-free installments (for up to 24 months), while you get paid instantly.

You can activate this feature instantly within your Shopify admin page, without the need to download any additional tools. Plus, there are no hidden fees or costs to worry about. As an added bonus, because the app is designed for Shopify, there’s no lag or speed optimization issues.

Pros:

• Flexible payment plans for your customers
• Easy to install and manage within your admin page
• Fraud protection and security
• Quick checkout feature
• Instant payments for retailers

Cons:

• Only available to certain Shopify merchants

2. SpurIT Installment Invoices

Taking a slightly different approach to the Buy Now Pay Later process, SpurIT allows companies to let customers pay for purchases over time with recurring invoices. This means you essentially manage how much your customers pay you each month, so you don’t get the full payment straight away. 

However, you can set your own interest rates and repayment requirements, giving you a lot more control and flexibility. Plus, there are easy customization tools built into the app, which allow you to change the widget’s text and placement. 

SpurIT also supports most Shopify themes, and certain plans (starting at $4.95 per month) come with dedicated customer support. 

Pros:

• Versatile and customizable payment plans
• Easy to use environment for beginners
• Automated invoices to streamline payments
• Control over branding
• Excellent compatibility with Shopify

Cons:

• Paid monthly plans detract from your profits

3. Klarna

One of the better-known options in this list of the best Buy Now Pay Later solutions, Klarna offers support to major merchants all over the world. It’s used by some of the top-selling brands, including Adidas and Sephora, so you know you’re getting a secure and reliable service. 

You’ll need to sign up for a Klarna partnership on the company’s website, but there’s a dedicated “on-site messaging” app for Shopify which informs customers of what they can expect from the service. 

For customers, Klarna offers an extremely flexible service, with various payment options to choose from. For retailers, you benefit from getting the full payment for every product instantly. 

Pros:

• International presence and recognition
• Low APRs for customers
• Integrated app for Shopify
• Good security and privacy

Cons:

• Limited customer service
• High processing fees

4. AfterPay

Another excellent option if you want to encourage customers to hit the “buy button” on your store straight away, AfterPay has a fantastic global presence. Not only is it one of the best Buy Now Pay Later apps for Shopify, it’s also one of the leading solutions worldwide. 

It’s extremely popular with younger shoppers, with flexible payment schedules, a convenient app, and interest-free payments. It also doesn’t require a credit check. 

There’s also an “on-site messaging” app for Shopify available on the Shopify marketplace (though it doesn’t have the best reviews). 

Pros:

• 0% APR on short-term loans
• Easy integrations with your Shopify store
• Quick approval for customers
• Secure and private payments
• Various repayment options

Cons:

• Customer support isn’t great
• The messaging app for Shopify has bad reviews

5. PayPal

If you’re already using PayPal as one of the payment methods on your Shopify store checkout, you can also consider offering customers a “Buy Now Pay Later” option. PayPal allows customers to pay for products in three installments, via an “unregulated credit agreement”. 

This might sound daunting, but PayPal does promise no late fees, global accessibility, quick approval, and access to PayPal Buyer Protection. 

Just keep in mind you may have more processing fees to pay if you install PayPal on Shopify store, compared to using Shopify Payments.

Pros:

• Worldwide accessibility for customers
• PayPal protections and security
• Lower merchant fees than some alternatives
• No interest or late fees for customers
• Free access for PayPal customers

Cons:

• Extra fees on Shopify for using an external processor
• Limited support

6. Sezzle

Another of the best Buy Now Pay Later apps that can integrate with Shopify, Sezzle allows users to break payments into four installments. It promises flexible financing to every customer, with no interest rates, and allows users to grow and improve their credits. 

Plus, there’s even a handy back-end interface where merchants can track information about their sales. While there’s no app for Sezzle on the Shopify marketplace, it’s relatively easy to integrate into your store, and even offers a useful “setup checklist” for beginners.

The company also offers excellent levels of customer service. 

Pros:

• Easy installation and setup
• Payment rescheduling for customers
• Integrated security and privacy features
• Helpful insights and analytics
• Good customer service

Cons:

• Requires an immediate downpayment from customers

7. Affirm

With 0% APR, and no interest fees on their repayment plans, Affirm is one of the most popular BNPL vendors in the world. The company gives users a simple no-hidden-fee solution for paying for purchases with monthly installments, based on their specific needs. 

It also offers higher purchasing limits than most alternatives, making it a good choice for Shopify retailers selling big-ticket items. 

Affirm negotiates specific terms with each retailer, and has a unique checkout feature that allows you to show your customers their repayment options in real-time. 

Pros:

• Excellent checkout experience
• 0% APR and no late fees
• Integrations with a range of ecommerce platforms
• Fantastic high purchasing limits

Cons:

• Not available in all regions
• Interest rates can be high

Unlock New Revenue with a BNPL App

The best Buy Now Pay Later apps for Shopify give retailers an incredible way to increase revenue and generate more conversions for their online stores. There are plenty of easy-to-use options to choose from, both inside and outside of the Shopify app marketplace.

Of course, once you’ve chosen your BNPL app, you need to ensure you’re making the most of it. That means updating your checkout page and product pages to highlight the variety of payment methods you have to offer. If you need help customizing your website product pages, or your checkout, contact Storetasker today for assistance from a Shopify Expert.

Alternatively, take a look at our latest Checkout page examples for inspiration. 

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