Buy Now, Pay Later Stores: Affirm vs Klarna vs Afterpay

Buy now, pay later lets you split an online order into smaller payments, usually four interest-free installments every two weeks or a monthly plan that may charge interest. Klarna, Afterpay and Affirm are the names you'll see most at online checkouts, and PayPal's pay-later plans show up inside PayPal.

Plenty of big stores take one of them. Kohl's, Macy's and DoorDash name Klarna, Ulta Beauty and Zappos name Afterpay, and Target names Affirm. Here's how the providers differ, which stores take which, and what to check before you split a payment.

• Pay in 4 usually means four equal payments, the first at checkout, with no interest if you pay on time.
• Monthly plans spread bigger purchases over months and can carry interest. Read the total before you agree.
• Promo codes still work. The discount comes off first, and the provider splits the lower total.
• Returns work differently. Your refund goes back to the plan, and you may keep paying until it's processed.
• A missed payment can cost you. Fees and credit reporting rules vary by provider.

How does buy now, pay later work at checkout?

You pick the provider as your payment method, just like you'd pick a card. It runs a quick check, often a soft credit check that doesn't touch your score, and shows you the schedule. Say yes and the store gets paid right away. You pay the provider over time.

Some stores also show it on product pages ("or 4 payments of $25"). Treat that as an estimate. The real plan, and whether you're approved, only show up at checkout.

Affirm vs Klarna: what's the difference?

The real difference is the kind of plan. Klarna is best known for interest-free Pay in 4 on everyday orders. Affirm leans toward bigger purchases with monthly plans, where it shows the total interest up front, though it offers a pay-in-4 option too. Afterpay is mostly pay-in-4, and PayPal's Pay Later plans work only inside PayPal's checkout.

Providers change their rules, fees and limits, so treat this as a map, not a contract. The provider's own screen shows the exact schedule and any fees before you agree.

Which one should you choose?

• An order you can pay off in six to eight weeks: any interest-free pay-in-4 works. Pick the provider you already have an account with.
• A big purchase like Furniture, Mattresses or Laptops & Computers: compare the monthly plans. A 0% offer beats one with interest, and the total cost matters more than the monthly figure.
• You already pay with PayPal: Pay in 4 may appear there without a new account.

Which stores take Afterpay, Klarna or Affirm?

573 stores in our directory take at least one pay-later provider. Klarna is the most common, at 269 of them, then Afterpay (including Clearpay) at 215 and Affirm at 160. Below are the stores shoppers look for most, grouped by provider. Stores switch providers on and off, so the payment step at checkout has the final word. Each link goes to the store's page with its current codes and deals.

Popular stores with more than one pay-later option

• Dick's Sporting Goods: all three big ones, Affirm, Afterpay and Klarna, plus PayPal and its own credit card. Seen on Dick's Sporting Goods' return policy, Oct 15, 2026.
• Fashion Nova: Klarna, Afterpay and Zip. Klarna and Zip are for US shoppers only, and the methods vary by region. Seen on Fashion Nova's help center, Oct 8, 2026.
• Temu: Afterpay, Klarna, Affirm and PayPal. Seen on Temu's homepage, Oct 8, 2026.
• Quince: its refund table covers Klarna and Afterpay, next to PayPal and Amazon Pay. Seen on Quince's shipping and returns page, Sep 29, 2026.
• Zenni Optical: Affirm and Afterpay for paying over time, plus PayPal. Seen on Zenni Optical's homepage, Oct 13, 2026.
• Academy Sports + Outdoors: Klarna, Sezzle and Bread Pay. You can't use PayPal or Klarna for firearms. Seen on Academy Sports + Outdoors' shipping page, Oct 8, 2026.
• Rooms To Go: Klarna, Affirm and Afterpay, plus its own credit card and Acima lease-to-own. Seen on Rooms To Go's financing page, Oct 13, 2026.
• GOAT: Affirm, Afterpay, Klarna and Zip, depending on your shopping region. Not every item qualifies. Seen on GOAT's returns page, Oct 13, 2026.

Stores that name Klarna (269)

• DoorDash: you can pay for an order with Klarna, or with a card, PayPal, Venmo or Cash App. Seen on DoorDash's help center, Oct 8, 2026.
• Kohl's: Klarna, alongside the Kohl's Card and Kohl's Cash. Seen on Kohl's homepage, Oct 15, 2026.
• Macy's: Klarna is the pay-later pick here, and Macy's also pushes its own credit card. Seen on Macy's homepage, Oct 13, 2026.
• Under Armour: look for the Klarna icon next to major cards, Apple Pay and PayPal. Seen on Under Armour's homepage, Oct 13, 2026.
• H&M: Klarna sits under Payments, next to Apple Pay, PayPal and the H&M Gift Card. Seen on H&M's homepage, Oct 13, 2026.
• PlayStation Direct: Klarna Pay in 4. Seen on PlayStation Direct's homepage, Oct 19, 2026.

Stores that name Afterpay (215)

• Ulta Beauty: Afterpay and PayPal both come up in its refunds section. Seen on Ulta Beauty's help page, Oct 8, 2026.
• Edikted: Afterpay, as 4 interest-free payments, plus Shop Pay. Seen on Edikted's refund policy, Sep 29, 2026.
• Belk: Afterpay and Apple Pay, plus the Belk Rewards credit card. Seen on Belk's returns page, Oct 15, 2026.
• Zappos: Afterpay, with PayPal, Amazon Pay and Apple Pay. Seen on Zappos' FAQ, Oct 8, 2026.
• Nordstrom Rack: Afterpay and PayPal. Seen on Nordstrom Rack's FAQ, Oct 13, 2026.

Stores that name Affirm (160)

• Target: Affirm, with major cards, PayPal, the Target Circle Card and SNAP EBT. Seen on Target's returns page, Oct 8, 2026.
• Fanatics: Affirm, linked from the help links in its footer. Seen on Fanatics' homepage, Oct 15, 2026.
• Boot Barn: Affirm and PayPal. Seen on Boot Barn's returns page, Oct 8, 2026.
• Purple: 0% APR through Affirm if you qualify, or Acima lease-to-own. Seen on Purple's financing page, Oct 12, 2026.

Stores that name Shop Pay Installments (41)

Shop Pay Installments is the pay-later option built into Shopify's checkout. Behind it, as several stores point out, is Affirm.

• Youtooz: Shop Pay Installments, for US shoppers only. Seen on Youtooz's FAQ, Sep 29, 2026.
• The Sak: Shop Pay Installments through Affirm, and Klarna too. Seen on The Sak's FAQ, Sep 29, 2026.
• Hotel Collection: Shop Pay Installments from Affirm's lending partners, once you pass an eligibility check. Seen on Hotel Collection's FAQ, Sep 29, 2026.

Stores that name Sezzle or Zip

Sezzle and Zip are smaller pay-in-4 providers. 23 stores in our directory take Sezzle and 25 take Zip, most of those in Australia.

• Palmetto State Armory: Sezzle, next to credit cards. Seen on Palmetto State Armory's homepage, Oct 13, 2026.
• SCHEELS: has a whole page about paying with Sezzle. Seen on SCHEELS' Sezzle page, Oct 13, 2026.
• GameStop: Zip, with credit cards and PayPal. Seen on GameStop's return policy, Oct 13, 2026.

Stores that name PayPal Pay Later

Most stores that take PayPal never mention its pay-later plans, because they show up inside PayPal's own checkout. 17 stores spell them out, including these two:

• Microsoft Store: PayPal Pay Later in bi-weekly payments on orders of $10 to $2,000, and PayPal monthly payments for up to 24 months on $49 to $10,000. Seen on Microsoft Store's financing page, Oct 12, 2026.
• UPLIFT Desk: Affirm, or PayPal Pay Later with Pay in 4 and Pay Monthly. Seen on UPLIFT Desk's financing page, Oct 13, 2026.

Store financing and lease-to-own

Fitness gear, furniture and mattress stores often use credit plans such as Bread Pay, or lease-to-own services such as Katapult and Acima. Be careful with lease-to-own. It isn't a loan: you rent the item until it's paid off, and the total can run well above the price.

• BowFlex: BowFlex Financing through Bread Pay, from 0% APR on purchases of $200 or more, subject to credit approval. Seen on BowFlex's FAQ, Oct 13, 2026.
• WinkBeds: Bread Pay and Katapult, with monthly payments that are often 0% APR if you qualify. Seen on WinkBeds' FAQ, Oct 13, 2026.

Pay later at UK and Australian stores

Outside the US the names change. UK stores tend to offer Klarna Pay in 3 and Clearpay. In Australia it's mostly Afterpay and Zip.

• Argos (UK store): Klarna Pay in 3 and Pay in 30 days, PayPal Pay in 3, and Argos Pay from £149. Seen on Argos's homepage, Oct 19, 2026.
• Matalan (UK store): Klarna Pay in 3 and Pay in 30 days on orders of £30 to £500, for UK residents aged 18 or over. Seen on Matalan's Klarna page, Oct 13, 2026.
• BOOHOOMAN (UK store): Klarna, Clearpay and PayPal, including PayPal Pay in 3. Seen on BOOHOOMAN's homepage, Sep 29, 2026.
• BIG W (Australian store): Afterpay, Zip and Lay-by. Seen on BIG W's homepage, Oct 13, 2026.
• The Good Guys (Australian store): PayPal Pay in 4, Afterpay and Zip Pay, plus the Latitude Gem Visa. Seen on The Good Guys' payment options page, Oct 13, 2026.

Shopping for clothes? Many of the stores above sit in our Clothing & Fashion category, and big names like Kohl's, Macy's and Target are in Department Stores & Marketplaces. Store not listed? Check the payment icons in its footer, or go as far as the payment step at checkout.

What limits do stores put on pay later?

The rules vary more than you'd expect. A few stores spell out their own:

• Vera Bradley: Afterpay needs an order total of $35 to $1,000 and can't be used for gift cards. Seen on Vera Bradley's Afterpay page, Sep 29, 2026.
• The Beaufort Bonnet Company: Afterpay on orders of $35 to $2,000, for US customers only, and not on gift cards. Seen on The Beaufort Bonnet Company's FAQ, Sep 29, 2026.
• Patrick Ta Beauty: Afterpay on orders of $35 to $1,000. Seen on Patrick Ta Beauty's help center, Sep 29, 2026.
• Katia Designs: Shop Pay Installments with a $50 minimum, provided by Affirm's lending partners. Seen on Katia Designs' FAQ, Sep 29, 2026.
• Elysium Black Diamond: Shop Pay Installments needs a US billing address and a US mobile number, with an order limit of $20,000. Seen on Elysium Black Diamond's Shop Pay FAQ, Sep 29, 2026.
• MDSolarSciences: Afterpay can't be used for subscriptions. Seen on MDSolarSciences' FAQ, Sep 29, 2026.
• Kalahari Resorts & Conventions: Klarna, Affirm and Flex Pay apply to online overnight reservations only, and you still need a physical card at check-in. Seen on Kalahari Resorts & Conventions' FAQ, Sep 29, 2026.

Can you use a promo code with buy now, pay later?

Yes, at almost every store. Put the code in the discount code box first, make sure the total dropped, then choose pay later. The provider splits the discounted total, so every installment shrinks. Picked pay later first? Add the code and check that the schedule updated. Our guide on how to use a promo code shows where the box sits on each kind of checkout.

Pay-later providers sometimes run their own promotions in their apps. Those are separate from store codes and follow the provider's terms.

What happens if you return something?

The store refunds the provider, and the provider adjusts your plan. Until that refund lands, your next payment may still be due, so report the return in the provider's app if it lets you pause the schedule. And paying later doesn't stretch the store's return window.

What should you check before you split a payment?

• The total cost, including any interest on monthly plans.
• The dates. Make sure each payment lands when you'll have the money.
• The late-payment fees, which vary by provider.
• How many plans you already have. Several small plans can add up faster than one card bill.

Saving a big purchase for Black Friday (Nov 27, 2026) or Cyber Monday (Nov 30, 2026)? Our Black Friday and Cyber Monday pages collect the offers, so you can split a lower price instead of a full one.

Planning a bigger purchase? Our guides to the best time to buy furniture and the best time to buy a mattress help you time it.