Sezzle buy now, pay later: 2024 Review

Written by
Denny Ceizyk
Edited by
Rhys Subitch
Updated on April 17, 2024

At a glance

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Check rate with Bankrate
5.0
Bankrate Score
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Availability
5.0
Affordability
4.9
Customer Experience
5.0
Transparency
4.8

About Bankrate Score

Full methodology

Sezzle offers buy, now pay later payment plans that allow you to split the cost of a purchase into four interest-free payments paid over two or six weeks. Sezzle partners with thousands of stores and products with payment options available for small purchases. 

Premium subscribers have access to well-known brands, and can message Sezzle customer service representatives 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you need to spread your payment out longer, Sezzle offers personal loans with terms as long as 48 months.

Lender Details

Moneybag

Loan amount

$10 to $15,000

Rates

APR from

0% to 34.99%

Clock Wait

Term lengths

2 weeks-48 months

What’s new with Sezzle?

In late 2023 Sezzle was ranked the number one buy now, pay later brand among Canadian consumers, and ranked third in the global BNPL market, according to BuiltWith.com, a website that tracks payment technologies of the top one million visited websites. 

Sezzle is best for no interest payment plans for small purchases

If cash is tight and you want to spread the cost of a purchase out without paying interest, Sezzle is worth a look. It offers buy now, pay later plans with two interest-free payments over two weeks or four interest-free payments for up to six weeks. 

If you need more time, a personal loan option is available with payoff terms between three and 48 months. You’ll pay interest rates ranging from 5.99 to 35.99 percent, if you qualify. 

Sezzle buy now, pay later purposes

You can spread the payments out on goods and services you purchase from over 47,000 brands that partner with Sezzle’s platform. You can use the service to budget for hotel and Airbnb costs on an upcoming vacation or to buy clothes, beauty supplies or groceries. 

If the payments for the two- or four-payment plans are too high, you can finance the purchase for up to 48 months. However, you’ll pay a rate of 5.99 to 34.99 percent, and will need to meet the credit and income requirements set by the lender that approves Sezzle loans.

Where Sezzle stands out

  • Two interest-free payment options: You can choose a two- or four-payment option which evenly splits the payments out over two to six weeks. This can be a great tool if you need to purchase something, but want to avoid depleting your savings. It’s also a great alternative to credit cards or personal loans because there are no interest charges. 
  • Longer term finance options available: If the payment is too steep on the interest-free payment plan, you can apply for a personal loan option with three to 48 month terms. However, you’ll pay a rate of up to 34.99 percent depending on your credit score and other factors. 
  • Easy qualifying: The app gives you a minimum spending power to start that can be increased as you pay on time. No hard credit inquiry is required unless you apply for a longer term loan. 
  • Highly rated app: Sezzle’s app scores 4.9 out of 5 stars on the App Store.

Where Sezzle falls short

  • Requires a down payment to qualify: Your first payment typically needs to be made the day of your purchase. That means you’ll need to have enough cash on hand to pay 25 to 50 percent of the item’s cost the day you buy it. 
  • Qualifying requirements not disclosed: Sezzle’s website doesn’t provide much detail about how your spending power is determined. That means you may be limited to a small amount at first until you have a track record of buying and paying items off. 
  • May have limited brand access for free service: In order to use Sezzle for more recognizable brand names, you may need to purchase the premium paid subscription membership that you can’t access with the free option. 
  • Payment history may not be reported to credit bureaus: Unless you enroll in the company’s Sezzle Up program, your payment history isn’t reported to the credit bureaus. You may want to choose a credit-builder loan if you’re trying to improve or build a credit score. 

Sezzle customer experience

Customer support

Sezzle offers messaging support 24/7 on its online dashboard or through its 4.9-start rated phone app. Phone support is available 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday. An email contact form is also offered on the website. 

Digital experience

Sezzle’s digital app scores 4.9 out of 5 with over 148,000 ratings posted on the App Store. Users can shop a variety of different brands. However, access to well-known brands may require enrollment in Sezzle’s monthly subscription service, which is $12.99 per month. 

What people are saying about Sezzle

Trustpilot gives Sezzle an average rating of 4.4 stars out of 5. Users consistently cite the ease of setting up the account and responsive customer service as reasons for the high ratings. 

Low ratings appear to show some confusion regarding the difference between Sezzle’s free service and its premium paid subscription service. Sezzle proactively responded to negative feedback and offered to have a representative speak to the users.

How this lender compares

logo
5.0
Bankrate Score
APR from
0% to 34.99%
Loan Amount
$10 to $15,000
Term Length
2 weeks-48 months
Min Credit Score
Not disclosed
logo
4.5
Bankrate Score
APR from
0%
Loan Amount
No set maximum
Term Length
30 days to 24 months
Min Credit Score
Not disclosed
Read our reviewArrow Right
on Bankrate
logo
4.6
Bankrate Score
APR from
0%-36%
Loan Amount
Starts at $50
Term Length
1 to 48 months
Min Credit Score
Not disclosed
Read our reviewArrow Right
on Bankrate

Sezzle vs. Klarna

Sezzle offers the quickest repayment option, allowing you to pay your balance in two installments over two weeks, versus 30 days minimum with Klarna. If you need a personal loan instead, you can pick a term as long as 48 months with Sezzle — double what you have access to at Klarna. 

Klarna doesn’t set a maximum amount on its website, which means you may have access to more than the $15,000 limit at Sezzle. Klarna users can also use the BNPL service to purchase well-known product brands without subscribing.

Sezzle vs. Affirm

Sezzle offers two payment plan options for its interest-free options compared to a single four-payment plan at Affirm. Sezzle also scores much higher with user Trustpilot reviews, coming at 4.4 stars compared to Affirm's 2.9-star rating. 

Affirm doesn’t charge any fees — not even late fees. Affirm users also have access to all of the stores the company’s partners with no subscription requirements for well-known brands.

Do you qualify for a Sezzle buy now, pay later plan?

Sezzle’s website indicates that your buying power is based on a soft pull of your credit score. Over time the amount you’re approved for may change depending on your payment history and how often you use the service. 

If you apply for a Sezzle personal loan, you may have to provide proof of your income and authorize a hard credit pull for the lender to determine if you qualify. The hard credit pull also helps it determine your interest rate and how much you can borrow.

How to apply for a personal loan with Sezzle

  1. Download the application: You’ll need to input your legal name, address, email address and Social Security number to set your account up. Once you okay the soft credit pull, Sezzle will tell you what your initial borrowing power is. 
  2. Shop different stores and pick your item: You can search through Sezzle’s merchants to decide what you want to buy. If the store is marked “Premium” on the app, you’ll need to enroll in Sezzle’s subscription program to make the purchase.
  3. Review the payment plan details: You’ll typically have a two week or six week payment plan to choose from. Make sure you understand the due dates. If you don’t pay on time, you may lose your spending power.

How Bankrate rates Sezzle 

Overall Score 5.0 Explanation
Availability 5.0 Multiple interest-free options and very low minimum net Sezzle a perfect availability score.
Affordability 4.9 While Sezzle has fees for late payments, it also has affordable rates and a rewards program.
Customer Experience 5.0 Highly rated app, 7 day a week electronic customer service access and high customer ratings earn Sezzle a perfect score for customer experience.

Methodology

The Bankrate team did a complete analysis of the features and services offered by the most well-known buy now, pay later apps in the industry. Then our experts developed a scoring system to rate these apps, focusing on three main areas:

  • Availability: We look at the minimum and maximum loan amounts offered by the apps, as well as the number of interest-free plans they offer. Apps offering more than one interest-free plan and the most flexible loan amounts rank higher in this category.
  • Affordability: We evaluate the APR ranges apps assess on purchases once the interest-free period ends and personal loan options, if offered. Additional fees, exclusive perks and discounts are also rated. Apps with the lowest APRs, fewer fees and more perks obtain the highest scores in this category.
  • Customer experience: Purchasing flexibility, as well as return, exchange and refund policies are vetted in this section. Mobile app rating, number of consumer complaints with the CFPB and customer support are also taken into account. Apps with more flexibility and lower complaints rate higher in this category.

Editorial disclosure: All reviews are prepared by Bankrate.com staff. Opinions expressed therein are solely those of the reviewer and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including rates and fees, presented in the review is accurate as of the date of the review. Check the data at the top of this page and the lender’s website for the most current information.