PayPal Pay Later is less of a standalone buy now, pay later app than it is an extension of PayPal’s many services. Pay Later allows you to choose between its Pay in 4 plan, which divides online purchase amounts into four equal payments, and its Pay Monthly option with terms of 3, 6, 12, or 24 monthly payments.
PayPal Pay Later is one of very few BNPL services that charges no fees, not even for making late payments, ever. However, if you choose the monthly payment schedule, you’ll need to pay interest on your purchase, ranging from 9.99% to 35.99%.
Pros
Easily accessible if you have a PayPal account
No fees, no late fees
Excellent purchase protection
Widely accepted
Cons
For online purchases only
Use limitations in some states
No grace period or payment rescheduling available
Cannot use a credit card for monthly payment plan option
PayPal Pay Later: Features and Benefits
PayPal Pay Later is available for those who have the PayPal app or an account. Its pay later options include Pay in 4 or Pay Monthly selections, each with its own benefits. PayPal will never make a hard pull on your credit report. Instead, it relies on a soft credit check that doesn’t impact your credit score to determine your eligibility.
Pay Later is available with some limitations, including minimum and maximum purchase amounts. Pay in 4 is available for online purchases only in amounts between $30 and $1,500. The monthly payment option is also only available for online shopping but in amounts of between $199 and $10,000.
- Pay in 4 and monthly payment options available
- Pay no fees ever other than interest on long-term borrowing
- Use for online shopping only
- Pay no interest in Pay in 4 plan
- Spending minimums and maximums apply
- Soft credit inquiries only, will not affect your credit score
- 3, 6, 12, and 24-month term borrowing is available
- No late fees
PayPal Pay Later: Editorial Rating
Trusted Company Reviews Rating Score for PayPal Pay Later: 8.7
Pay Later makes our list of the best BNPL apps despite being a secondary product of a major financial service operation. Our rating criteria award the service 8.7 out of 10 points. Despite its limited payment options, it scored best in areas like convenience, interest-free payment availability, ease of use, and lack of a hard inquiry for credit approval.
While PayPal is generally widely available, its Pay Later offers have some availability limitations. The monthly payment option isn’t available in Alaska, Connecticut, Hawaii, Nevada, and North Carolina, while the Pay in 4 selection can’t be used in Missouri and Nevada.
| Payment Options | Checkout Details | Interest | Limits |
| Pay in 4 | 25% down payment, make 3 additional interest-free payments in two-week increments until paid | 0% | $30 to $1,500 |
| Pay Monthly | Pay monthly with 3, 6, 12, or 24-month terms | Up to 35.99% | $199 to $10,000 |
What We Like
PayPal offers several services that we like. The Pay Later offers stand out due to a complete lack of fees, including late fees. However, significantly late payments will wind up in collections, according to PayPal. We also like that PayPal, in general, is widely accepted. There are also no penalties for paying off your balance in full before the due date. No hard credit check is required to use the service, regardless of which payment option you choose.
What We Don’t Like
While PayPal is widely accepted among retailers, Pay Later is only available for online purchases. There’s no virtual credit card availability like most other BNPL providers offer. Additionally, while no late fees are associated with using Pay Later, Pay Pal won’t lock your account or spending if you fall behind in your payments. This fact can lead to financial trouble and potentially harm your standing with the company and credit bureaus.
What Is PayPal Pay Later
PayPal Pay Later is a relatively simple BNPL solution that allows you to choose one of two ways to make payments after your purchase. The Pay in 4 option requires a 25% down payment at the time of sale, followed by three equal interest-free payments every two weeks for the next month and a half.
The Pay Monthly option requires a purchase of at least $199 and not more than $10,000. The plan allows you to pay over time in equal monthly payments for 3, 6, 12, or 24 months. Choosing this option will require you to pay interest on your purchase with rates between 9.99% and 35.99%.
PayPal accepts payments from your debit card, credit card, or bank account for the Pay in 4 option. However, you can’t make payments with a credit card if you choose the Pay Monthly plan. You can also use your PayPal account balance to pay for your BNPL purchases. However, this isn’t an automatic default, and you’ll have to manually choose the option in the app.
How Does PayPal Pay Later Work
Pay Later is just one service that PayPal offers. There are two plan options when choosing to buy now and pay later through the PayPal app.
Pay in 4
The interest-free payment option when using PayPal Pay Later is its Pay in 4 selection. You’ll pay 25% upfront at checkout and make the remaining three equal and interest-free payments bi-weekly for six weeks until the purchase is paid in full.
Pay Monthly
Choosing the Pay Monthly option through PayPal won’t subject you to a hard credit pull, as it does with many other BNPL providers. However, you will have to pay interest on your purchase to the tune of between 9.99% and 35.99. Credit cards aren’t accepted as a form of payment with this plan option. You’ll need to use a debit card, bank account, or PayPal balance.
PayPal Pay Later Requirements
While PayPal Pay Later will never do a hard credit pull, customers must meet a few basic requirements to use PayPal’s Pay Later service.
- Be at least 18 years old
- Live where your payment plan is allowed
- Have or open a PayPal account
- Have a positive credit history
Does PayPal Pay Later Check Credit?
PayPal Pay Later will never perform a hard inquiry on your credit report. However, the company will collect your Social Security Number to perform a soft credit check. The soft check won’t affect your credit score or appear on your credit report.
PayPal Pay Later Reviews
PayPal, in general, receives mostly lackluster reviews from consumers and experts, scoring just 1.3 stars on Trustpilot and holding just a B+ grade at the Better Business Bureau. However, PayPal offers numerous services, and its Pay Later feature does better in reviews than many of its other offerings.
Who PayPal Pay Later Is Best For
PayPal Pay Later is an excellent BNPL option for those who don’t wish to download yet another app just to split up their payments. Because PayPal charges no service, transaction, or even late fees, it’s a solid option to more traditional buy now, pay later alternatives. Additionally, using Pay Later grants consumers all of the purchase protections that paying with traditional Pay Pal methods does.
Alternatives
PayPal Pay Later offers a good solution for breaking up payments into more easily manageable chunks, especially if you already have the app. However, other BNPL apps provide more payment options and more functionality.
Additionally, consumers can also choose from a range of other financing options, such as using one of the best credit cards for fair credit or, pursuing a personal loan to make a large purchase or consolidate debt. Each option has various benefits.
Here are some other buy now, pay later reviews to help you decide which is best for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PayPal Pay Later only for the US?
Does PayPal Pay Later affect your credit score?
Source
Logo image source: paypal.com
Deane Biermeier is a respected authority in financial research, writing, and editing, renowned for his in-depth analyses and expert advice. With a distinguished career that previously spanned home improvement, real estate, and finance topics, Deane's role at Trusted Company Reviews focuses exclusively on finance.
Deane continues his contributions to leading publications such as Forbes Home, US News and World Report, Newsweek Vault, and others.
Since joining TrustedCompanyReviews.com in 2023, he has solidified his reputation as a crucial resource for clear, factual financial guidance.
Deane is currently enhancing his expertise by studying at the University of Minnesota to become a certified financial educator. This new qualification is set to further enrich the advice and insights he provides, bridging the gap between academic financial theory and practical application.
Deane Biermeier
Last Updated: February 1, 2025
Editorial Reviews
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