Sezzle Buy Now, Pay Later: 2024 Review

Sezzle offers "buy now, pay later" plans for online and in-store purchases. These plans let you split up your purchase at checkout, so you pay the total balance over a series of installments, instead of all at once.

Sezzle doesn't charge interest for some plans, but it may charge multiple fees.

» COMPARE: The best buy now, pay later apps

Sezzle at a glance

How does Sezzle work?

Sezzle works by dividing the total cost of your purchase into smaller installments when you check out with Sezzle online or in the Sezzle mobile app. There may be a few payment plans to choose from, including Pay in 4, Pay in 2 and Pay Monthly.

Sezzle doesn’t charge interest for Pay in 4 and Pay in 2, but Pay Monthly may include interest.

Sezzle Pay in 4 and Pay in 2 have multiple fees, including a convenience fee for using a debit or credit card after the first installment, a late fee for missed payments and a failed payment fee (more on these fees later).

Sezzle Pay in 4

With Sezzle Pay in 4, your balance will be divided into four interest-free payments, with the first payment due at checkout, and the remaining three due every two weeks until the loan is paid in full.

For example, if you have a cart totaling $200 and you opt in to Sezzle, you’ll pay $50 at checkout, followed by three installments of $50 spread out over six weeks. After the first payment, installments may be automatically billed to the debit or credit card you used to make the initial payment or withdrawn from your bank account if you opt in to that option.

Sezzle Pay in 2

In addition to its Pay in 4, Sezzle also offers an interest-free option to pay in two installments — meaning you split the purchase in half, with the first half due at checkout and the second half due two weeks later.

Sezzle Pay Monthly

Finally, Sezzle offers monthly financing with terms ranging from three months to four years. These longer payment plans may charge interest with annual percentage rates from 5.99% to 34.99%, though 0% offers may be available.

Unlike Sezzle’s other payment plans, you can’t make monthly payments with a credit card.

How to get approved for Sezzle

To be eligible for Sezzle, you’ll need to be at least 18 years old, have a U.S. or Canadian phone number that receives texts, be able to verify your email address and provide a payment method like a debit or credit card.

According to the company, approval decisions are instantaneous, and you’ll receive an initial spending limit based on what Sezzle thinks you can safely pay back.

Does Sezzle check credit?

Sezzle will conduct a soft credit pull when you apply for a payment plan. This doesn't affect your credit score, and there is no minimum credit score requirement to use Sezzle.

How to use Sezzle

Download the Sezzle app

The easiest way to shop with Sezzle is to download the Sezzle app. You can create an account, see what credit limit you’re approved for and shop at stores directly from the app.

Shop with Sezzle online and in stores

Once you have a Sezzle account, you’ll also have access to Sezzle Virtual Card, which is accepted at select stores. You can use this card to check out online or save the card to your mobile wallet and use it to complete your purchase in the store.

Is Sezzle safe?

Sezzle is a safe and reputable provider of BNPL loans. Weigh the pros and cons below to decide whether Sezzle is the right fit for you.

Where Sezzle stands out

Zero-interest loans: Sezzle Pay in 4 and Sezzle Pay in 2 let you split up a purchase for no additional cost, which is hard to find among traditional credit products, especially those that don’t have a minimum credit score requirement.

Free payment rescheduling: Sezzle lets you reschedule one payment per order for free, delaying payment up to two weeks. Not all BNPL lenders offer this flexibility, which can help you avoid missing a payment and being charged a late fee. Sezzle may let you reschedule multiple times per order, but additional reschedules each come with a fee up to $7.50.

Credit reporting: Sezzle shoppers can opt in to Sezzle Up, which gives Sezzle permission to report your payment history to the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion). This perk, exceedingly rare among BNPL lenders, can help you build credit by showing a history of on-time payments to your Sezzle account. However, late payments can hurt credit.

To qualify for Sezzle Up, you must pay off one purchase on time, link your bank account as the default payment method and verify certain information like your Social Security number.

Where Sezzle falls short

Charges multiple fees: Using Sezzle comes with the possibility of many fees. Though you can take action to avoid these fees — like making sure you have enough money in your account to cover all installments — if you slip up, it could cost you an extra $20 or more, on top of the price of your purchase.

• Late fee: If Sezzle is unable to acquire payment by the due date, plus any applicable grace period, it charges a late payment fee up to $15. This fee is high compared to other BNPL providers, and some providers don’t charge late fees at all. Sezzle’s late fees are capped at 25% of the order amount.

• Convenience fee: Sezzle may charge a convenience fee up to $2.50 for using a debit or credit card after the first installment. You can avoid this fee by connecting your bank account to pay off your remaining installments. Still, few BNPL lenders charge this type of fee.

• Failed payment fee: Sezzle may charge a failed payment fee up to $5 if your payment doesn’t go through. If you don’t have sufficient funds in your bank account to cover an installment, for example, you may be charged this fee. Depending on your bank’s policy, you could also be charged an overdraft fee, making this a particularly costly mistake. Though many BNPL lenders charge late fees, few charge failed payment fees.

Sezzle reviews

At the time of writing this review, Sezzle holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), though the company is not currently BBB accredited. More than 300 complaints were closed in the last year. Complaints against Sezzle mostly revolve around product issues, including missing refunds and inaccurate charges.

On Trustpilot, Sezzle is rated 4.3 out of five stars. Users praise the company’s helpful customer service representatives and the ability to build credit with on-time payments.

Sezzle’s mobile app pages are another good resource for reading Sezzle reviews. In the Apple app store, Sezzle is rated 4.9 out of five stars, with over 160,000 ratings. In the Google Play app store, Sezzle is rated 4.6 out of five stars, with over 70,000 reviews.

Frequently asked questions about Sezzle

• How trustworthy is Sezzle?

  Sezzle is a trustworthy provider of buy now, pay later loans. However, it’s important to thoroughly research the company and understand the app’s features before opting into a Sezzle loan.

• What is the catch of Sezzle?

  The catch with Sezzle is that you may be tempted to overspend, since you don’t have to pay for your purchase all at once, and you could be charged multiple fees if you fall behind on payments.

• Is Sezzle good for credit?

  Sezzle may help build credit if you opt into Sezzle Up, which reports your payment history to the three main credit bureaus. But if building credit is your top priority, there are better options, like applying for a secured credit card or getting credit for the bills you already pay, such as rent.

• What happens if you don’t pay Sezzle at all?

  If you don’t pay Sezzle at all, your account will be deactivated. You may also be charged fees, including a late fee up to $15.

• Can you use a bank account for Sezzle?

  You can use a bank account for Sezzle. This helps you avoid the convenience fee Sezzle charges for paying with a debit or credit card after the first installment.

Compare Sezzle with other BNPL lenders

Sezzle’s pay-in-four is similar to the pay-in-four plans offered by BNPL providers like Klarna and Afterpay, which have no interest but may charge some fees, especially if you miss a payment. Both Klarna and Afterpay also have monthly financing options.

Alternatives to Sezzle

If you have good or excellent credit (690 credit score or higher), you may consider a 0% APR credit card. These cards offer introductory periods of up to 21 months and charge no interest during that period. You may also receive a sign-up bonus or access to a rewards program.

If you’re looking to fund a large, essential purchase, you could apply for a personal loan. Personal loans have fixed interest rates and longer repayment terms, and there are options for borrowers with fair or bad credit (689 credit score or lower).