Buy Now Pay Later Guaranteed Approval – What It Is And How Does It Work?

By Rory Ackerman •  Updated: 09/20/22 •  21 min read
Filed under: Buy Now Pay Later

These days, purchasing your favorite items and clothes online is much more convenient than doing it in-store. Along with that convenience and simplicity, there also comes one special option – buy now pay later guaranteed approval.

It enables even consumers with bad credit scores to get immediately accepted and get a loan for online shopping which is then repaid in monthly payments. However, there’s a catch or two as well – not all the lenders offer the same repayment conditions and interest fees. Stick with this guide to get to know all about the best BNPL options with guaranteed approval!

Key Takeaways

What’s Buy Now Pay Later Guaranteed Approval?

The buy now pay later option has been around for some time both in stores and for online shopping.

BNPL Guaranteed Approval

It’s a sort of an installment loan since you won’t be paying for the product at once, but rather in four or more installments.

However, creditors usually conduct at least a soft credit check to see if you qualify for this type of loan. 

In the case of the BNPL guaranteed approval, things are a bit different. These offers are made for those that have lower credit scores, but still wish to apply.

You’ll have the highest chance of getting approved this way, and in most cases, there’s no credit check either! 

It sounds captivating, but there are several things to keep in mind with these offers.

Since creditors that offer these installment debts take more risk with borrowers that have bad credit, interest rates can be higher. It’s not always the case, but you should check the loan terms before you agree to them.

On the other hand, a form of insurance to the creditor is to include sooner repayment dates, so you might only be able to delay the payment for a month or so. 

My advice would be to only take BNPL guaranteed approval loans if you have a planned budget.

If you wish to make a purchase now, but you are pretty certain you’ll obtain the funds in the meantime, it’s a perfect option for you. 

You can also build your credit score if the payments are made through a credit card that reports to major credit bureaus. In this case, it’s a win-win scenario.

Get A Manageable Payment Plan For Your Favorite Items

One of the best things about the BNPL options with guaranteed approval is the choice of payment plans. 

Most lenders give you a chance to pick a plan and choose the number of monthly payments as it suits you.

Most of the services that we’ll go through in a bit allow you to negotiate loan terms and arrange the monthly payments as it suits you. 

Of course, it all depends on the furnisher, as some of the instant approval services only give you up to 6 weeks for a repayment plan.

Still, there’s one important aspect of all such options – you can get a loan with a minimum credit score requirement and get 0% APR! It’s mostly related to services that give you 4 to 6 weekly payments, so you should expect to pay interest on all the offers with long-term payment plans.

There’s often a loan limit and other loan terms that are specific to the company’s payment plan. 

That’s why you should use the customer support option to inquire about the conditions before you take the loan. 

You can get a manageable payment plan with low interest paid, and still shop for all of your favorite items even without paying on the spot.

Our Favorite BNPL Services With Flexible Plans

If you are looking for an instant approval service with the most convenient payment plan, we have two great options for you – Affirm and Sezzle. We’ll discuss their features in a bit, but let’s take a moment to explain why their plans are the most flexible ones out there.

First, Affirm gives you an incredible span of monthly payments ranging from 3 months to 48 months.

BNPL Buy Now Pay Later Guaranteed Approval

You can buy now, and pay later in interest-free payments over the first 3 months, or choose a longer payment plan with interest included.

The only downside to this option is that you’ll have to go through a soft credit check for large purchases. Even so, smaller purchases should be instantly approved without any hidden fees. 

As for Sezzle’s payment plans, this company gives you the chance to repay installment debt in 4 payments throughout the 6 weeks upon purchase. 

While it doesn’t seem as convenient as Affirm’s plans, Sezzle lets you re-schedule the payments. You can do it the first time for free, and pay a small fee for re-scheduling payments from there.

If you are planning on using a BNPL service for lower loan amounts, these two options qualify as instant approval options with the most flexible payment plans.

Best Buy Now Pay Later Loans With No Credit Check

Now that you know the basics of the BNPL options with instant approval, it’s time to dig deep into the best options. We’ll first focus on those services that don’t even conduct a credit check before approving the loan.

These make the perfect options for borrowers with bad credit or those that wish to do some shopping and repair their credit score at the same time!

1) Splitit

For those of you looking for a responsible monthly payment plan with 0% interest and no hidden fees, Splitit makes the best option. It doesn’t conduct even a soft credit check, so you can rest assured that you’ll get approved.

All you need to use it is to have a credit card issued by VISA, MasterCard, Union Pay, or Discover. 

The payment service works by putting an authorized hold on your credit card until the purchase has been paid for. The service guarantees your payment to the shop so it’s only fair they place a hold on your credit card.

If you are certain of your repayment capabilities, you can buy your favorite items via credit card and select Splitit as a payment option. You’ll be able to choose from 3 to 24 installments, which makes the option even more convenient.

It’s a great option for those that wish to pay low monthly payments with no interest paid and no credit check for buying their favorite products.

Splitit allows you to shop in hundreds of shops, and Fashionette, Waves Audio, and Bed Mattress Store are just some of them.

2) Perpay

Another BNPL service that doesn’t check your credit history is Perpay. This app has its own marketplace with over 100 shops and brands you can shop at. 

Also, it lets you set your payment limit and adjust the payment plan as it suits you.

The limit is set based on your paycheck, and it prevents you from spending more than you initially planned to. 

Perpay will deduct the monthly installments from your paycheck, and everything is reported to the three credit bureaus. 

So, you can even build up your credit since all the on-time payments will be visible on your credit history. 

There are no interest charges, and no credit check is required to qualify for Perpay’s financing plans.

Perpay also offers dedicated mobile apps for Android and iOS users, so you can use the apps to track your limits and make purchases. Payments are automatically set, so the monthly payment amount will be deducted from your paycheck via the app.

With Perpay, you can shop at Fossil, Microsoft store, Guess, Bed, Bath & More, HP, and many more shops available on their marketplace.

3) Four

Four is one of the latest additions to the BNPL scene and it requires no credit checks and doesn’t impact your credit score. As the name suggests, this service will let you split your payments into 4.

The plans aren’t as rich as Perpay’s and Splitit’s in terms of monthly payment offers, but you can still use Four to buy now and pay over six weeks. 

The platform offers its Android and iOS apps, so you can use them to customize your purchases and browse shops.

You’ll be making the first payment on the day of purchase, the second one after two weeks, and the third one in four weeks. The final installment will be charged after six weeks after making the purchase. 

Four lets you shop in Fetch Eyewear, Hungry Apparel, Flyte, and other stores.

4) Zip (Quadpay)

Using the BNPL service called Zip (formerly known as Quadpay) can be one of the best choices for options that don’t require a credit check. Zip doesn’t do soft or hard checks, and it won’t report to credit reporting agencies.

Without a credit check, you can apply for this service even with poor credit scores and get convenient repayment terms. The good news is – there’s a 0% interest rate for Zip’s monthly payments!

Sounds too good to be true? Well, Zip found a way to still cash in on the loans without charging you a cent in terms of interest. 

You’ll be paying a small transaction fee for every loan and even each payment.

The more monthly payments you choose as a payment plan, the more transaction fees you’ll end up paying. 

However, the fees are $1 per payment and just $4 for individual purchases, so it shouldn’t harm your budget.

With Zip, you can browse thousands of shops and sites, including Target, Adidas, Amazon, Foot Locker, H&M, IKEA, and more. 

The only slight downside is that there’s a lack of customizable monthly payments, so you’ll mostly receive the option to pay in 4 installments over 6 weeks.

Buy Now, Pay Later Options With Bad Credit

Even applying for personal loans with bad credit can be hard, and making online purchases doesn’t make much of a difference.

A poor credit score prevents you from qualifying for all the loan types, and it’s a good thing that there are BNPL services for consumers with bad credit scores.

Bad Credit

Here’s our list of the top 5 buy now pay later options accessible for consumers with bad credit scores:

1) PayPal Pay In 4 With Bad Credit

PayPal’s “Pay in 4” system is one of the best options for all those that have a PayPal account. 

While the platform runs a soft credit check, you’ll usually get approved as long as you have at least some payment history on your PayPal account.

It’s an option worth considering since the soft credit check conducted won’t harm your credit score. Also, you can use this option in any store that accepts PayPal as a payment method. 

It allows you to spread your payments over 6 weeks, and pay in four interest-free payments.

If approved, you only have to pay for the first installment at the checkout. Other installments will be charged in 3 equal payments that follow up. 

The credit limit depends on your credit score, but you should be able to shop for clothes and similar items even if your score isn’t perfect.

2) Can You Get Approved For Afterpay With Bad Credit?

In short – yes, you can get approved for Afterpay with bad credit, and no credit check is even required to qualify for the loan. Among the bad credit lenders for BNPL service, Afterpay stands out as one of the best.

However, there are certain conditions for using Afterpay as your selected BNPL service. 

They are mostly what you would normally expect – you have to be over 18, and have an eligible credit card. 

You’ll pay for the selected product in shops where Afterpay is allowed as the payment method in 4 installments.

The good thing is – you can expect to make a payment every 2 weeks, which gives you a few more weeks than most of the other BNPL options for bad credit loans. 

There’s also a fee for being late on a transaction, so you can expect to be charged an additional $8 for being late.

3) Affirm Loans For Bad Credit Borrowers

We already mentioned Affirm as one of the most convenient options for BNPL purchases. 

They work with most renowned retailers and even Amazon’s payments can be managed monthly using Affirm.

Still, the soft credit check conducted somewhat spoils things for bad credit borrowers. It’s a good thing that you can get approved for Affirm even if your credit score is lower than a FICO 600. 

Affirm can’t guarantee instant approval until the check is conducted, but if you have bad credit, just limit yourself to lower payment amounts.

It should help get approved for the loan and you’ll be notified as soon as the credit score check is over. If you get approved for Affirm’s services with a bad credit score, you can even boost your credit rating.

Most of the purchases made with Affirm cards are reported to Experian, so major credit bureaus also receive information about payments.

 Affirm enables you to select your payment plan, but the APR can be anywhere between 5% and 25% depending on your credit score and the number of installments requested.

You can shop in stores like Adidas, Nike, Poshmark, Pottery Barn, The RealReal, Walmart, Peloton, and many more.

4) Bad Credit BNPL With Klarna

Klarna is yet another payment method that offers its BNPL services even to those with bad credit. That is, as long as you pick a suitable payment plan. 

Klarna uses a “pay in 30 days” option to delay your payments for a month, and you should be able to get approved even with bad credit.

BNPL With Klarna

After you select Klarna for payments, the company will conduct a soft credit check. If you are approved, you can select to pay in a month, or four installments over up to 3 months!

The interest rate for 30-day payments is 0%, and you can use a selection of Klarna’s partner brands to do the shopping via the app. 

Klarna also reports to Experian and TransUnion credit bureaus, so making timely payments will boost your credit score.

There’s no minimum credit score determined for Klarna purchases, so you can choose a plan that suits you and let the service run a soft check. 

It won’t affect your credit score, and you can get some of the best APR rates in the BNPL world if you get approved.

You can use Klarna’s BNPL service to shop in Reebok, Macy’s, Sephora, Lenovo, GameStop, Bloomingdale’s, Calvin Klein, Guess, H&M, and other stores.

5) Sezzle Bad Credit Loans

Sezzle gives you the chance to be the owner of your destiny. Well, at least financially speaking, since the service gives you a customizable buy now pay later plan. 

You can even re-schedule the payments, but a fee might be charged.

Also, Sezzle charges a $10 fee for account activation, so you should have that in mind when applying. Other than those fees, it’s quite a convenient option for those with bad credit. There’s no specified minimum credit rating for qualifying. 

As for the payment plan, you’ll be able to pay in 4 installments, which is great for low-scale purchases. The period of six weeks seems quite acceptable, while you only pay for the first installment on the day of purchase.

There’s also a payment plan for up to 60 months for larger payments with Sezzle, but it charges fixed interest. Upon payment plan selection, your interest rate will be calculated, so you should pay attention while applying.

Does buying now pay later affect your credit score?

In a sense, BNPL services are similar to debt consolidation loans, since you’ll be able to use the loan to relieve your daily budget and consolidate other debts. 

It’s also useful for buying more expensive house appliances and even clothes.

Still, it’s all in vain if it affects your credit score, isn’t it? It’s a good thing that there are many buy now pay later options that don’t affect your credit rating. 

You might even be able to boost your credit score by using BNPL services as well!

For instance, if you are doing some BNPL shopping on Amazon, the company won’t send a report to the credit bureaus. 

However, it’s all paid for via your credit card, and your credit card issuer probably reports to all three bureaus.

So, using the buy now pay later service can even positively affect your credit history as the on-time payments keep piling up. 

This demonstrates your creditworthiness to future lenders, so you can even get a lower interest rate on other types of loans this way.

The bad part is – if you miss a payment, it will also show up on your credit report. 

In the mentioned case of Amazon purchases, no late payment fees will be charged and you only risk losing your buy now pay later options. 

However, your credit card report will include a missed payment to Amazon, and it might stick on your report for up to 7 years.

Ways You Can Boost Your Credit Score With BNPL

Sometimes, it’s better to use a BNPL service than to apply for a new credit card. The credit card issuer might not want to allow you the card due to a bad credit score, and the credit line won’t give you much buying power.

However, the buy now pay later service will often give you a choice of a payment plan, so you won’t have to pay for the whole purchase at the end of the month, like with a credit card. 

Also, you can use a no credit check instant approval option to qualify for a bad credit loan. 

You can raise your credit score by choosing the service which reports to three major credit bureaus and obtain no credit check financing with a poor rating. 

Throughout timely payments, your installments will be reported to the bureaus and will become visible on your credit report.

Even if the service doesn’t report to the bureaus, some options like Splitit use your credit card for payments. So, the credit card issuer will report to the bureaus, and your score will jump. 

What’s The Easiest Buy Now Pay Later Service To Qualify For?

It’s been a long journey through the BNPL options, and now it’s time to decide on the easiest ones to qualify for. 

If you are looking for an instant approval option, these are the easiest buy now pay later services you can use:

  1. Zip – This one is a no-brainer when it comes to the easiest BNPL services to qualify for. 

Zip doesn’t perform any credit checks, doesn’t report to bureaus, and most importantly – it doesn’t include any interest fees for the loans. 

It’s all transparent in terms of how the system works since you only pay small fees for individual purchases and $1 for every monthly payment you make. 

On the other hand, the payment plan options are limited, so don’t use this option unless a short-term six-week payment plan works for you. 

It’s probably best to use Zip for retailer shops and clothing in case you wish to save a couple of bucks by not paying the entire amount at once.

  1. Splitit – With Splitit, you won’t have to worry about getting accepted, since it’s just a matter of putting a temporary hold on your credit card. 

With an authorized hold on your credit card, you shouldn’t risk it applying for the service if you aren’t certain you’ll be able to pay it back. 

It’s also impressive that you can qualify for such an option with bad credit, and still get up to 24 monthly installments. 

That being said, Splitit makes our top choice of the most convenient and easiest buy now pay later options you can find.

  1. Afterpay – Another service that doesn’t do any soft or hard credit checks is Afterpay, and you can get approved for it within minutes. 

You can even use your Afterpay card to shop in-store where the card is accepted. 

When it comes to online purchases, Afterpay is accepted in thousands of global stores and shopping brands. 

It doesn’t report back to credit bureaus, so you can’t improve your score by using it. Still, it’s convenient due to the 8 weeks given to consumers to repay the loan.

Buy Now, Pay Later Retail Stores

What can you get out of buy now pay later options if you can’t use them in well-known retail shops, right? To get you on the right track, it’s important to also discuss the list of retailers that accept buy now pay later options, both in-store and online.

Buy Now, Pay Later Retail Stores

You can use the credit limit approved by the buy now pay later service to shop with your card or the dedicated card of the platform to shop in-store. 

One example is Afterpay with its card, which allows you to shop in retailers like Macy’s, Target, Bed, Bath & Beyond, MAC cosmetics, Urban Outfitters, Finish Line, and many more.

Still, the credit line is somewhat limited by your previous purchases via the Afterpay app. 

Although you’ll get approved with no credit check, it doesn’t mean you’ll be able to use the card for major expenses right away.

The other option of no credit check financing that comes with buy now pay later services also allows in-store shopping. Here are some of the shops that allow you to use our listed options to shop with a BNPL plan:

Tips On Using Buy Now Pay Later Responsibly 

While it all sounds too good to be true with instant approval websites that offer buy now pay later services, not everything is so simple.

Tips On BNPL Buy Now Pay Later

You can get instant credit, but what good is it if you can’t afford to repay? Here are some tips for using BNPL services to get the most out of them:

  1. Only buy what you can afford – Some buy now pay later options to give you credit lines that might give you the temptation to buy more than you need. 

Remember, you are still taking a personal loan, so try to keep it limited and buy only essentials and items that you know you’ll be able to repay.

  1. Be wise with monthly payment plans – Remember how we compared buy now pay later services in terms of how they resemble debt consolidation loans? 

Well, if you use them wisely, and pick a monthly plan with low interest and the chance to split payments into 6, 12, or more months, you can use the loan to your advantage. 

Plan your budget, and use the cash you have at hand to repay other debts.

  1. Inspect the loan terms – Like other installment loans, buy now pay later options will come with a loan term or two. 

You should always examine these terms before you pick the best option for you. 

Consider the monthly plans, APR, interest paid, and even fees for being late or rescheduling the loan if such an option is available.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, buy now pay later options to give you the purchasing power and the chance to visit online stores and shop without having to pay all at once. 

It’s a great option for responsible shoppers, but there are always those that can’t resist the temptation.

Hopefully, this guide has given you an idea of the best buy now pay later options with guaranteed approval, and the only thing left for you is to set a spending limit and pick the option that suits you best.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

Which buy now pay later don't check credit?

Buy now pay later options like Afterpay, Splitit, Zip, Perplay, and Four don’t do any credit checks.
Even so, the payment reports can reflect your credit report the same as bank account listings and credit card payments.
After all, options like Splitit use your credit card and guarantee your repayment, so make sure to only go with what you can afford to repay.

What’s the easiest buy now pay later?

The easiest buy now pay later options to qualify for are Splitit and Zip. These two options give you instant approval without checking your credit background, and make the perfect options for consumers with bad credit.

Can you get approved for Afterpay with bad credit?

Yes, you can get approved for Afterpay with bad credit since the service provider doesn’t check your credit report.

Just make sure that you understand the terms of using the service and its payment plans.

Afterpay only gives you the chance to pay in four installments, so it’s not the best option for expensive purchases.

Which card allows you to buy now and pay later?

Cards from BNPL services like Affirm, and Afterpay give you the chance to shop now and pay later via monthly installments.
Also, you can use credit cards from prominent issuers like Chase or Citi to use the buy now pay later service.

Even some MasterCard cards give you this option, so it’s up to you to decide what works best for your needs.

Rory AckermanRory Ackerman

Rory Ackerman

Hi, I'm Rory! I've worked in the banking industry for quite some time and wanted to help provide my expertise with all things credit related. In my spare time I like to play video games and collect sports cards.

Keep Reading