A complete side-by-side comparison of two popular buy now, pay later services.
| Feature | Sezzle | Afterpay |
|---|---|---|
| Payment Split | 4 payments / 6 weeks | 4 payments / 6 weeks |
| Interest Rate | 0% | 0% |
| Credit Check | Soft check only | Soft check only |
| Late Fee | Up to $10 | $8 (capped at 25%) |
| Credit Building | Limited (Pulse) | |
| Store Count | 47,000+ | 100,000+ |
| Virtual Card | ||
| In-Store Shopping | ||
| Reschedule Payment | 1 free reschedule | 1 free reschedule |
| Our Rating | 4.2/5 | 4.3/5 |
Afterpay wins on store count with over 100,000 partner retailers compared to Sezzle's 47,000+. Afterpay has partnerships with more major brands like Sephora, Ulta, Urban Outfitters, and Nike.
However, both services offer virtual cards that let you shop at non-partner stores, so this difference matters less than it used to.
Sezzle wins with their Sezzle Up program, which reports your payment history to all three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion). This can help build your credit score over time.
Afterpay's Pulse Rewards offers some credit-building features but is more limited in scope.
Afterpay wins slightly here. While both charge late fees, Afterpay caps total fees at 25% of the order value. Sezzle's fees can theoretically add up more, though both are reasonable if you pay on time.
Both apps are highly rated on app stores. Afterpay has a slight edge with its more established brand and smoother in-app shopping experience. Sezzle's app is solid but some users report occasional glitches.
You want to build credit, prefer a company with a credit-reporting program, or shop at stores in Sezzle's network.
You want access to more stores, prefer a more established platform, or shop frequently at major retail brands.
For most users, either service works well. Both offer 0% interest, soft credit checks, and similar payment structures. We recommend: