Buy now, pay later with this app

A brand new Macbook for work, a fresh pair of Pumas for running, or a replacement Android smartphone – sometimes big purchases can be a brutal financial blow. That was until Sezzle came along to spice up the shopping.

A buy-it-now, pay-later service, Sezzle helps make big purchases more accessible. Whether you’re shopping online or in person, Sezzle can help you split one large payment into four smaller, more manageable payments.

For more on the finance department, let’s dive into this Sezzle review.

What is Sezzle?

Sezzle is one of many buy now, pay later services. If you find yourself with a purchase that is too big for your wallet, you can choose to buy the product now and pay for it later.

For half a decade, Sezzle has been providing shoppers with a more accessible shopping experience; since then, there have been almost 8 million registrations on the platform. There’s no shortage of traders either, with over 40,000 available for shoppers.

How does the Sezzle purchase process work? Let’s take a closer look at the approval and purchase processes, as well as the payment schedule.

How does Sezzle work?

To start using Sezzle for your purchases, visit the Sezzle website or download the app for iOS or Android devices. We strongly recommend downloading the mobile app for the best shopping experience.

Sezzle app download

Once the Sezzle app is downloaded, you can launch it for the first time to begin the registration process. Sezzle will ask you for personal information to create an account; we found the overall process simple.

During the registration process, Sezzle will perform a soft credit check, which will have no effect on your credit score or credit report.

Once your Sezzle account is created, you can immediately start shopping. But first, you might want to know how much money you were allowed to spend. We feel that Sezzle hides this a bit more than other services.

You will need to activate your Sezzle virtual card to see your pre-approved spending amount (credit limit), which requires providing a standard credit card for payments. At the bottom of the app screen, tap the Virtual Card tab to begin this process.

You will need to provide a physical card, such as a debit card, to activate your Sezzle virtual card. Your physical card will be the card used to pay for any accumulated purchases; it can be replaced later with a different card if desired.

Once your Sezzle virtual card is active, you can head to the Shop tab at the bottom of the screen. Select any store, then tap Pay with Sezzle at the bottom of the screen to view your pre-approval amount; it will be listed under your map graphic.

Shopping with Sezzle

Unlike some buy-it-now and pay-later services that work with any retailer, Sezzle is limited to its network of authorized merchants. Fortunately, there is more than 40,000 options availablebut you might miss some of your favorites, like Amazon and Best Buy.

Visit the Shop tab to begin your shopping adventure. We recommend using the search bar at the top of the screen to find potential stores or brands that you might be interested in exploring.

Once you tap on the retailer you want to shop from, Sezzle will take you to a mobile version of the store’s website. Begin shopping on the Website as you normally would, by adding items to your shopping cart.

Once you have reached the payment page, tap the Pay with Sezzle button at the bottom of the screen. Use the virtual card number, security code and expiration date provided to proceed with your purchase using a Sezzle loan.

Sezzle will split your total transaction into four equal payments. The first payment is due at the time of purchase, while the others will be due over the next few weeks in installments.

Manage your Sezzle purchases

Once you’ve made your purchase, any Sezzle Loan you have will appear in the Orders tab at the bottom of the app. Upcoming payments for the current month (as well as payment history) can be viewed by tapping on the Payments tab.

With the first payment occurring on the day of purchase, the remaining payments will occur every two weeks for six weeks. This process splits your one-time purchase into four total payments over six weeks without any interest.

One factor we like about Sezzle is the ability to reschedule your payments at no additional cost. It is important to note that you can only reschedule once for free. a fee is added to your next payment if you reschedule a second or third time.

Sezzle may charge a small convenience fee if you pay the installment balance using a credit or debit card. To avoid these charges, connect a bank account to your Sezzle account.

Sezzle also charges a fee if your payment method is declined. You will be charged late fees, and this will be noted in your payment history, so be sure to make your payments on time and make sure your bank account has sufficient funds.

Overall, we find Sezzle’s fees to be reasonable. Make payments on time with a bank account, and your buy now, pay later will have no additional cost.

Alternatives to Sezzle

During our Sezzle review process, we found the company to be worth buying now, paying later for buyers. But there are some disadvantages associated with its use, such as the inability to make purchases from any merchant.

If you need a few other major purchase financing options, we’ve got you covered.

Other services Buy now, pay later

Sezzle isn’t the only buy-it-now, pay-later service available to consumers. Other important options include Affirm, Afterpay, Zip (formerly Quadpay), Klarna and PayPal.

Here’s a comparison chart to see how some of the more popular options stack up against each other:

Zero rate personal loans and credit cards

If a Buy Now, Pay Later service doesn’t sound like the right option, more traditional choices are available to help you finance your purchases. Foremost is the idea of ​​a personal loan, which allows you to borrow money and build your credit simultaneously.

For those looking for a personal loan, check out our guide to the best personal loans, where we break down the competitors with the best interest rates and fees.

If you’re entirely new to the loan process, you can also dive into our step-by-step personal loan guide for further assistance.

Another solid option is to finance your purchase with a zero rate credit card. Check out our Credit Card 101 course at Penny Hoarder Academy. Just be sure to keep your payment history positive, as these options will fall under the three major credit bureaus.

The pros and cons of Sezzle

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Michael Archambault is a senior technology writer at The Penny Hoarder.