Unlock Higher Conversions with Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) for Shopify Merchants
Buy now, pay later (BNPL) platforms have transformed online shopping. By spreading costs over installments, customers access better payment optionality. Meanwhile, merchants unlock higher conversion rates and order values. This guide covers major BNPL providers for Shopify including offerings, integrations, and operational considerations when enabling installment plans. From driving more sales through flexible payments to reconciliation processes, learn best practices to successfully rollout deferred installments.
Quick Answer: BNPL increases conversion rates 27% and order values 21% for Shopify merchants through flexible installment plans. Top providers Klarna, Affirm, Afterpay allow customizable repayment models from 4 interest-free payments over 6 weeks to 12 months with fixed fees. However, additional costs like revenue sharing 10-15% and reconciliation workflow cut into margins.
Overview of BNPL Providers on Shopify:
1. Klarna
Klarna is the most popular buy now, pay later (BNPL) app available for Shopify merchants. With flexible repayment models and transparent terms, Klarna makes it easy for customers to pay over time with installments.
Rather than requiring full payment upfront, Klarna allows shoppers to pay for purchases in installments with zero interest. This creates a frictionless checkout experience that can increase conversion rates and order values for online stores.
Key Features
With Klarna, customers can pay later in 30 days or split their purchase into 4 interest-free installments. The app is seamlessly integrated into the Shopify checkout, enabling fast deployment with minimal effort required by the merchant.
Key features include customized installment plans, letting merchants decide how they want customers to pay. There are also various widget options allowing stores to prominently display Klarna messaging.
Additionally, Klarna provides detailed analytics on repayment rates, allowing merchants to optimize their installment plans over time. Fast learner models ensure qualified customers are approved rapidly.
Why We Liked It
As the market leader in BNPL with over 147 million global users, Klarna comes with widespread consumer awareness and trust. This establishes credibility for businesses that offer Klarna during checkout.
We also appreciate the flexibility Klarna provides to merchants. With the ability to customize installment plans, stores can strategically offer payment plans aligned to their average order values and target customer preferences.
Beyond the features, Klarna also drives real business results. Studies have shown Klarna increasing average order values by 21% and conversion rates by 27% for Shopify merchants. More flexible payments mean more customers can complete their purchases.
2. Afterpay
Afterpay provides a popular pay in 4 installment model, allowing online shoppers to split purchases across 4 interest-free payments over a 6 week period. The company charges merchants a fixed fee per order rather than interest fees.
With over 16 million global users, Afterpay is now offered by over 100,000 merchants. This makes Afterpay one of the largest BNPL payment platforms in the market today. Their transparent fee structure helps merchants understand costs upfront.
Key Features
The core Afterpay offering focuses on pay in 4 installments with payments due every 2 weeks. By spreading payments out over 6 weeks, customers can afford higher value purchases while still maintaining financial flexibility.
Merchants are charged a fixed percentage fee per order instead of variable interest rates. Fees are clearly laid out upfront so sellers can calculate costs ahead of time for better financial planning.
Afterpay also provides valuable customer and order analytics to help merchants optimize their installment plans over time. Detailed reporting covers purchase behavior, repayment performance, and more.
Why We Liked It
A key advantage with Afterpay is increased conversion rates stemming from more flexible payment options. With purchases spread out over 6 weeks, basket abandonment is reduced.
Afterpay also helps online merchants better compete with retail BNPL offerings. As in-store BNPL gains popularity, Afterpay gives ecommerce stores the ability to mirror the flexible payment experience.
Additionally, Afterpay iteration is faster than traditional credit products given the absence of complex credit checks. This provides a smooth customer experience that builds loyalty and repeat purchases.
3. Affirm
Affirm provides installment plans ranging from 3 to 12 months in length, with flexible eligibility criteria optimized for each merchant’s average order value. Customers can split purchases across several months, rather than paying entirely upfront.
Installment amounts and durations can be customized by the merchant for each product type and price point. This level of flexibility helps tailor installment options to a business's unique needs and customer base.
Key Features
Key features of Affirm for Shopify include the ability to set 3, 6 or 12 month installment plans with set repayment schedules. Affirm charges fixed interest rates to the customer rather than variable percentage fees.
Smooth app integration enables a simplified one-click checkout experience. Failures in scheduled repayments can also be automatically retried, helping merchants more easily secure collections.
Granular eligibility criteria takes into account purchase amounts, repayment history, and other analytics to balance flexibility with risk management for merchants. Custom qualification rules can be configured by the merchant as needed.
Why We Liked It
A major advantage of Affirm is the flexibility it provides merchants to determine their optimal installment lengths and amounts on a customer-by-customer basis based on order value. This customization provides more relevant payment options.
We also like how Affirm simplifies collections management by automatically retrying any missed scheduled payments before they become delinquent. With 3-12 month loans, this automation ensures more payments are captured successfully.
Finally, the ability to define custom qualification criteria helps balance offering installment flexibility while still limiting risk from non-repayment. Granular eligibility helps provide fair access while maximizing long-term customer lifetime value.
4. Sezzle
Sezzle is a buy now, pay later solution focused on automated rapid deployment. They enable customers to split purchases into 4 interest-free installments over a 6 week period.
By optimizing integration and simplifying required merchant effort, Sezzle emphasizes fast setup in hours rather than days. This allows smaller businesses to quickly offer flexible payments and compete with larger retailers.
Checkout conversion is also a key focus. Sezzle provides turnkey widgets and messaging to promote installment options throughout the customer journey. Their goal is enabling merchants to drive higher conversion rates through flexible payments.
Key Features
The core Sezzle product centers around 4 installment plans over 6 weeks with no interest or hidden fees. Automated underwriting provides fast approval decisions to facilitate quick checkouts.
Plug-and-play widgets and customization options make integration seamless. Detailed documentation and developer support helps merchants configure Sezzle for their unique workflows.
Analytics provide insight into installment plan performance, conversion rates by offering, and insights to optimize plans over time. Easy-to-use tools enable smaller merchants to enable BNPL without operational complexity.
Why We Liked It
A key advantage offered by Sezzle lies in accelerated deployment. Within hours, merchants can activate Sezzle's flexible payment options and begin offering installments to their customers.
For smaller businesses without dedicated technology staff, Sezzle also minimizes operational overhead. Automated underwriting, fraud management, and retries on failed installment payments simplifies BNPL management.
Additionally, conversion-centric messaging helps merchants promote Sezzle's flexible plans throughout their site. More affordable payment options lead to reduced abandoned carts and sustained revenue growth over time.
5. PayBright
PayBright focuses on longer 6 to 24 month installment plans better suited for higher price point purchases. With no setup, monthly, or hidden fees, PayBright is designed specifically for merchants selling big ticket items.
Installment solutions are tailored using soft check eligibility models personalized to each merchant's average order value and target customer preferences. Lower barriers to approval facilitate expanded access to credit services.
By incentivizing customers to pay over an extended period, PayBright empowers bigger one-time purchases that may have otherwise been avoided due to large lump sums required upfront.
Key Features
Core features include installment plans spanning 6 months to 24 months for individual purchases above $250. Instant approval decisions provide customers with a quick financing experience during checkout.
No fees or subscriptions are charged to merchants, with costs fully backed into customer repayment schedules and interest rates. This helps simplify operating expenses when offering longer-term installment solutions.
Custom eligibility criteria are configured per merchant based on order value, purchase history, and other datapoints. This balances flexibility in assignment while limiting risks of delinquency.
Why We Liked It
A key benefit to PayBright lies in the ability to finance large ticket purchases by spreading costs over 24 months. For expensive products, longer terms increase affordability.
We also like the soft check prequalification model that helps provide fair access to credit services for those that may fail hard credit checks. More inclusive approvals drive revenues.
And offering longer installment infrastructure requires no merchant fees or overhead. By embedding costs fully within customer fees, PayBright saves operating expenses while still providing flexible payments.
6. QuadPay
QuadPay focuses flexible installment plans optimized around 4 interest-free payments over 6 weeks. They tailor offerings around key segments like fashion, beauty, home decor, and other discretionary purchases.
With no hidden fees or compounding interest, QuadPay installments help split costs evenly across budget cycles. Automated order amount limits also allow customized plans tailored to each merchant's average order value.
Strong existing traction within target verticals provides an air of trust and confidence. As a well-known brand for installment payments in segments like fashion and beauty, QuadPay brings credibility.
Key Features
The core QuadPay feature splits purchases evenly across 4 payments over 6 weeks. Payments are automatically scheduled every 2 weeks with automated reminders before each installment is charged.
Merchants can customize the order amount thresholds eligible for installments, along with tailored messaging prominent in their checkout flow and product pages. No credit applications or redirects creates simplified buyer journeys.
While interest-free for customers, transaction fees are charged to merchants to facilitate the flexible payments. Fees help connect merchants and consumers in key segments where QuadPay holds brand strength.
Why We Liked It
A key aspect we like with QuadPay is the ability to set custom order amount limits and eligibility rules. This tailors plans to a merchant's average order values and repeat customer profiles automatically.
We also appreciate the strong existing traction in key segments like fashion and beauty. When customers recognize the QuadPay brand as a payment option, it establishes trust and credibility for the installment offering.
Additionally, no redirects or credit applications are required. Smoother checkouts let merchants convert more customers and reduce abandoned carts by presenting QuadPay seamlessly at checkout.
7. LatitudePay
LatitudePay focuses on accessible 6 month installment plans better suited for lower price point purchases. With no merchant fees, LatitudePay targets budget-conscious shoppers looking to finance smaller transaction sizes up to $1000.
By centering plans around more attainable order values under $200, LatitudePay encourages responsible lending amounts in line with applicant repayment history. This helps faciliate purchases from younger, less credit-established consumers.
With strong brand recognition in their regions, LatitudePay installments build trust and confidence with shoppers. Customers feel more comfortable splitting payments for larger buys they can pay over time.
Key Features
The core offering includes 6 month installment schedules for online purchases. Maximum order values eligible for installments range from $200 to $1000 based on the customer payment profile.
No setup, monthly, or hidden subscription fees are charged to merchants. Costs are embedded fully within customer repayment plans simplifying operating overhead for sellers.
Smoothed integrations provide a simplified single-click checkout process. Detailed analytics also help merchants optimize their installment rule configurations to balance risk and revenue.
Why We Liked It
A key LatitudePay benefit is strong regional brand recognition in North America establishing credibility during checkout. Broad consumer awareness facilitates buyer trust in the installment offering.
We also like the focus on accessible order value limits below $200. By targeting budget-focused buyers, LatitudePay encourages appropriately sized plans buyers can manage over 6 months given individual repayment history.
Additionally, zero merchant fees keep operating costs low. With no required subscriptions or overhead spend, LatitudePay installments provide pure transactional margin upside for online sellers.
8. Paytap
Paytap specializes in longer 6 to 24 month installment loans for higher price point online purchases. With no caps on order sizes, Paytap facilitates big ticket financing above $1000.
Sophisticated risk models allow dynamic qualification criteria balancing revenue with likelihood of repayment delinquency. Targeted promotional offers also help incentivize customers to finance large purchases through customized terms.
By focusing specifically on bigger ticket use cases, Paytap fills a gap in customers looking to finance more important one-time buys but unable to through traditional two-month BNPL apps.
Key Features
Core functionality includes installment loans ranging from 6 month to 24 month terms tailored to order value. Fixed interest charges apply based on customized qualification criteria.
Transaction fees are also charged to merchants with rates tiered by order amount. No hidden or recurring fees - all costs are fixed upfront with pricing models transparent.
Custom risk modelling leverages consumer behavior and past repayment data to pre-approve customers for specific loan amounts and terms. Targeted promotions can also be configured based on product type.
Why We Liked It
A major Paytap advantage is specialization on higher average order values above $1000. Longer installment loans facilitate financing considerations like electronics, furniture, travel, and more.
We also appreciate the bespoke risk algorithms balancing application approvals with likelihood of delinquency. More intelligent assignment helps provide fair access while maximizing revenue.
And transparency around merchant transaction fees and installment terms keeps operating expenses predictable. Fixed pricing models enable better financial planning and P&L management.
9. Snap Finance
Snap Finance focuses on bi-weekly installment plans over 6 month terms. This longer duration better accommodates larger or recurring purchases customers need extra time budgeting for.
A core goal of Snap is increasing customer lifetime value by incentivizing higher order sizes that can be paid comfortably over an extended period. Automated order amount limits tier maximum spends to repayment history.
Soft check eligibility models balance flexible assignment with risk management. Integrated collections workflow also secure repayments in case of missed installments over the 6 months.
Key Features
The core Snap offering covers fixed bi-weekly repayment schedules over 6 months for online purchases above $250. Customers pay every 2 weeks via automated bank debit.
Faster eligibility decisions are facilitated through soft credit checks prioritizing approval rates. This aims to provide fair access without impacting customer credit scores.
Snap also handles end-to-end collections for any missed payments over the installment term. Automated outreach and payment reattempts provide operational simplicity at scale.
Why We Liked It
A unique innovation we like is the longer 6 month "layaway" style installments. Bi-weekly terms over 6 months provide financial flexibility unattainable through standard 6 week BNPL apps.
We also appreciate the soft check prequalification prioritizing approval rates for those that may fail hard credit checks. Intelligent automation balances revenue with risk exposure from missed payments.
And by managing eligibility approvals and collections in-house, Snap simplifies merchant operations. Reduced time overhead helps small businesses scale BNPL without additional headcount.
10. Zip
As an early pioneer in BNPL, Zip focuses on extremely flexible installment plans ranging from 2 weeks up to 2 years in duration. Advanced risk algorithms facilitate customized plans for each customer.
With support for multiple interest-free and fixed interest plans, Zip provides maximum choice in finding the right payment schedule aligned to a customer's cash flow. This payment optionality helps connect consumers and merchants globally.
And by leveraging machine learning-based underwriting models, Zip can responsibly maximize addressable market opportunities and revenue potential for ecommerce businesses.
Key Features
The core of Zip's product lies in the ability to create multiple personalized installment plans per customer ranging from 2 weeks to 2 years in length. Everything is customized based on order amount, payment history, and other analytics.
Algorithmically-generated installments include both interest-free and fixed interest schedule options. Qualified customers can select their preferred plan balancing affordability with repayment duration.
Merchants are charged fixed transaction fees per order to facilitate the flexible installment administration and underwriting infrastructure. Fees vary based on plan duration and order amount.
Why We Liked It
A major advantage of Zip is unparalleled flexibility in possible installment configurations unlocking more choice for diverse customer preferences and budgets. More options drive conversions.
We also like the advanced risk modelling capabilities leveraging consumer behavior and product analytics to optimize market opportunities. Balancing growth and missed payment risks protects merchants.
And by pioneering over a decade ago, Zip has established trust through experience and reliability. Their capabilities and risk infrastructure provides confidence in the flexible payment plans.
11. Shop Pay Installments
Shop Pay Installments is Shopify's native buy now, pay later functionality allowing merchants to offer deferred interest-free payments without third party app integration.
As part of the trusted Shop Pay accelerated checkout, customers can split purchases across 4 installments over 6 weeks automatically. This simplifies enabling flexible payments with plans configurable directly within Shopify.
With no revenue sharing or additional fees, Shop Pay Installments provides an easy way for ecommerce businesses to build incremental conversions and order values through BNPL.
Key Features
The core functionality covers splitting orders into 4 equal installments with payments automatically captured from the customer’s saved payment method every 2 weeks.
No additional charges or monthly fees apply for merchants to enable Shop Pay Installments. Shopify absorbs the interest costs and infrastructure fees as part of their accelerated checkout offering.
Plans take seconds to setup directly within Shopify payments settings. Default BNPL messaging also allows plug-and-play activation across online storefronts driving conversions.
Why We Liked It
A major advantage of Shop Pay Installments is native integration with Shopify checkout eliminating the need to install, manage, and update additional third-party apps.
We also like the predictable interest-free installment plans automatically structured over 6 week periods. Default BNPL configurations simplify getting started while optimizing operating costs.
And built-in eligibility based on previous Shop Pay purchase history streamlines qualification checks to approve customers familiar with merchants and Shopify accelerated checkout.
12. PayPal Pay in 4
PayPal Pay in 4 allows merchants to leverage PayPal’s trusted brand recognition to enable buy now, pay later functionality. By integrating with PayPal checkout, installment plans can be activated for the merchant’s existing customer base with ease.
Using PayPal’s account analytics and previous order data, soft credit checks are performed to qualify consumers for BNPL loans at checkout. This balances flexible assignment with strong repayment confidence across plan duration.
With no redirects away from the online storefront, PayPal Pay in 4 installments simplify splitting costs over 6 weeks to drive higher conversion rates and order values through flexible payments.
Key Features
The core functionality involves splitting purchases into 4 equal installments charged every 2 weeks over 6 weeks, interest free. Customers check out with PayPal and repay loans via scheduled debits.
Installment plan eligibility automatically applies for order values between $30 to $1500 by default, with options to configure limits as needed. Qualification checks customers’ PayPal purchase history and credit data.
Merchants enable Pay in 4 directly within existing PayPal account and checkout settings. No additional subscriptions or revenue sharing to activate - installment fees are absorbed by PayPal.
Why We Liked It
A major advantage of PayPal Pay in 4 is built-in trust and confidence stemming from familiarity checking out with PayPal, providing a seamless BNPL experience.
We also appreciate flexible order size limits between $30-$1500 by default providing balance across average order values. Custom configurations also allow tailored bounds.
And smooth enablement for merchants leverages previous PayPal integration work and customer accounts. Minimal effort to activate installments facilitates frictionless incremental revenue growth.
Benefits of Offering Buy Now Pay Later
Increased Conversion Rates and Order Values
A major benefit of offering BNPL payment options is the proven ability to increase online conversion rates and order values. By providing more flexible installments, customers that previously abandoned carts due to lump purchase sums can now complete their transaction.
According to Zip, merchants offering installments through their platform see a 20-30% increase in cart conversion driving stronger revenues from larger basket sizes. And by incentivizing higher spend thresholds, BNPL unlocks larger one-time purchases and higher customer lifetime values.
The incremental sales from recovered abandoned carts and increased order sizes compounds over time as merchant discover the optimal installment plans tailored to their purchase flow. Intelligence installment offerings strategically lift average order value thresholds to balance customer affordability with business revenue goals.
Better Customer Experience
BNPL also benefits customers directly by improving buying experience through more affordable payments. With costs split responsibly across periods, shoppers enjoy greater financial freedom to pick their preference of installment plans aligned with individual budgets.
By feeling in control over customizable payment schedules, customers experience reduced financial anxiety during checkout. This drives greater satisfaction along with increased likelihood of repeat purchases after positive installment payment experiences.
Offering BNPL also conveys merchant empathy towards making sought-after products accessible to diverse consumer groups. Prioritizing fair BNPL eligibility helps provide opportunities for underserved communities to participate in digital commerce.
Drawbacks of Offering Buy Now Pay Later
Additional Fees and Revenue Sharing
While providing flexible installment plans can unlock business growth, BNPL solutions also introduce additional costs that cut into profit margins. These expenses primarily include:
- Per transaction fees charged by BNPL providers to merchants for each successful checkout. These range from 3-7% of order value depending on provider.
- Revenue sharing agreements where providers take 10-15% of each BNPL checkout as payment for financing and servicing loans.
There are also reconciliation costs required for detailed reporting on installment plans, collections, and revenue share totals. Monitoring statements and validating fees increases accounting overhead.
Managing these various BNPL expenses requires diligent P&L monitoring and optimization to balance incremental revenue from installments against the cut taken by financing providers.
Operational Overhead and Risks
Operational requirements also scale when offering deferred installments. Merchants must develop elevated collections infrastructure to handle payment reminders, overdue notices, and bad debt.
IT resources are also required for proper integrator with BNPL APIs, managing app performance, and monitoring uptime. Providers may also require UI/UX changes, impacting web development roadmaps.
And while rare, there are risks like sudden exclusions where providers blacklist certain products or merchants from their installment programs without notice. This can directly hurt conversions and require emergency contingency planning.
Balancing these operational risks requires careful vendor evaluation and SLA definitions when selecting BNPL partners. Continuity planning for exclusions or technical issues is also advised to limit business disruption.
Integrating Buy Now Pay Later Services on Shopify Plus
Using Recommended Apps for Quick Set Up
The easiest way to activate BNPL services for Shopify Plus merchants is by using recommended app partners available on the Shopify app store. These solutions provide simplified plugins and configuration workflows to get started quickly.
By using well-known partners like Affirm, Afterpay, Klarna etc. that provide standardized integrations, most basic BNPL capabilities can be activated using step-by-step configuration instructions within a few hours.
Merchants simply need to install the app, connect API credentials from their BNPL provider account, configure any styling changes, and activate default settings. Detailed merchant support and documentation from official partnerships simplifies basic deployment.
Custom Integrations for Advanced Configuration
For full control over customizable repayment logic, dynamic BNPL product eligibility, customized microservices, and other advanced configurations, custom API integrations may be required.
Custom builds allow the flexibility to version control loan generation systems, build test BNPL sandboxes, and handle proprietary analytics needs across repayment lifecycles and installment logic flows.
While flexible, custom integrations requires significantly more design and development effort across UX enhancements, backend logic, and API level connectivity. Dedicated developer resources should create repositories, credential storage protocols, testing environments, and operational runbooks for maintaining custom BNPL infrastructure long-term.
Leveraging Shopify Plus Certified App Developer Partners can provide development expertise while optimizing custom BNPL systems for scale and performance on Shopify platforms.
Displaying Buy Now Pay Later Options
Product Pages and Shopping Cart
Effective BNPL display starts on product pages and shopping carts indicating flexible payment options available during checkout. Dynamic badges like "4 interest-free payments" help qualified products stand out.
Cart-level messaging should reinforce installment plans available with details on providers, terms per plan, and any eligibility considerations around order values or customer status.
Tooltips explaining upcoming credit checks before formal approval are important for transparency. Personalized promotions to incentivize conversions based on cart contents also build excitement pre-checkout.
Optimized Checkout Messaging
As the final conversion opportunity, optimized BNPL messaging within modular checkouts is crucial. Installment provider logos prominently displayed establish trust and familiarity.
Descriptions for each available installment schedule offered by provider specifcally avoid confusing buyers when selecting preferences. Testing primary CTA language and visual presentation is key.
We also recommend A/B evaluations of BFCM seasonal promotions or custom discounts for choosing installments to lift conversions during high volume events.
Dynamic indicators sharing approval likelihood before proceeding streamline buyer confidence. Continuously experiment with personalized BNPL content placement across checkout to find the templates and display logic converting traffic best per audience.
Managing Orders and Repayments
Custom Payment Schedules by Provider
To scale order and repayment handling across multiple BNPL providers, custom repayment schedule logic can be configured per financing partner based on their unique installment plans.
For example, Affirm charges fixed interest while Afterpay focuses on a merchant fee model. Custom loan generation workflows allow calculating installment amounts, interest costs, and payment dates automatically factoring in fees per provider.
Syncing these payment schedules both on the merchant order management system and BNPL portal facilitates reconciliation. Dimensional analytics mapping installment performance across providers also enables optimization.
Tracking and Customer Communication
Careful tracking of installment payments scheduled vs. successfully captured allows proactive communication for missed payments. Payment statuses should sync across merchant and BNPL systems.
Email and SMS dunning flows can be activated automatically based on late payment thresholds by provider. Personalized notices listing outstanding installment amounts improves collections through urgency.
Communicating via multiple channels is key - progressively stringent notices spaced days apart combined with account holds, aggravated interest fees, and other policy enforcement mechanisms enacted by providers expedite late repayment.
Automating personalized communication for every missed installment payment avoids bad debt accumulation from BNPL purchases. Rules-based frameworks minimize operational overhead at scale.
