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Zilch alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 8, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rankAll buy now, pay later apps

Top picks

Common reasons people leave Zilch: fees may apply outside partner stores, and better rewards sit behind paid monthly plans. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Zilch, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Klarna currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingVerified priceOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Klarna logoKlarnaFree—NoWeb, iOS, Android5 of 568.8
2Affirm logoAffirmFree—NoWeb, iOS, Android +15 of 557.5
3PayPal logoPayPalFree plan + paid—NoWeb, iOS, Android8 of 852.6
4Monzo logoMonzoFree plan + paid£3 a month (Extra)NoiOS, Android, Web8 of 851.2
  1. Klarna logo

    1. KlarnaTop pick

    Best for: Shoppers who want several payment options, including pay in 30 days, at a very wide range of stores

    FreeWeb, iOS, Android

    68.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Zilch

    The biggest BNPL name in the UK, with a wider range of plans and a large shopping app.

    Pros

    • Pay in 4 is interest-free when you pay on time
    • Several options: pay in full, in 30 days, in 4 or monthly
    • Available in many countries and at many retailers
    • Cashback offers in the app

    Cons

    • Late fees apply if a payment can't be collected
    • Monthly financing can carry APRs of up to about 36% in the US
    • Pay in 4 is not offered everywhere in the US, such as Hawaii
    Visit Klarna Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Klarna a good Zilch alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Pay in 4
    4 interest-free payments
    Checked Nov 8, 2026klarna.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Payment schedule
    Every 2 weeks
    Checked Nov 8, 2026klarna.com(opens source in a new tab)
    US late fee
    Up to $7
    Checked Nov 8, 2026klarna.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Credit check
    Soft check for Pay in 4
    Checked Nov 8, 2026klarna.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Monthly plans
    3–24 months
    Checked Nov 8, 2026klarna.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Affirm logo

    2. Affirm

    Best for: US shoppers financing larger purchases who want fixed monthly payments and no late fees

    FreeWeb, iOS, Android, Browser extension

    57.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Zilch

    Shows the total cost up front and offers longer monthly plans for bigger purchases, beyond Zilch's short pay-in-four model.

    Pros

    • No late fees or hidden fees from Affirm
    • Monthly plans for big purchases, not just pay in 4
    • Total interest is shown before you accept a plan
    • Works through Apple Pay, Google Pay and its own debit card

    Cons

    • Monthly plans can carry APRs up to 36% depending on credit
    • Plan options vary by merchant and purchase size
    • A down payment may be required on some purchases
    Visit Affirm Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Affirm a good Zilch alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Pay in 4
    0% APR
    Checked Nov 8, 2026affirm.com(opens source in a new tab)
    APR range
    0–36%
    Checked Nov 8, 2026affirm.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Monthly plans
    3, 6, 12 months and longer
    Checked Nov 8, 2026affirm.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Fees
    No fees from Affirm
    Checked Nov 8, 2026affirm.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Browser extension
    Google Chrome
    Checked Nov 8, 2026affirm.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. PayPal logo

    3. PayPal

    Best for: People who pay online often or send money to friends across iPhone and Android

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android

    52.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Zilch

    Pay in 3 is built into PayPal checkout, so there is no separate card or app to manage.

    Pros

    • Accepted at a very large number of online stores
    • Works on any phone and in the browser
    • Purchase Protection on eligible purchases

    Cons

    • Fees on some transfers, currency conversion and receiving payments
    • Not a full tap-to-pay phone wallet in most countries
    • Features like Pay Later and crypto vary by country
    Visit PayPal Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.346
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is PayPal a good Zilch alternative?

    Verified facts

    8 of 8 verified
    Account cost
    Free to open
    Checked Nov 8, 2026paypal.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    iOS, Android
    Checked Nov 8, 2026paypal.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Buy now, pay later
    Pay in 4, Pay Monthly (US)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026paypal.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Buyer protection
    Purchase Protection
    Checked Nov 8, 2026paypal.com(opens source in a new tab)
    PayPal Checkout fee
    3.49% + fixed fee (US)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026paypal.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Card payments fee
    2.99% + fixed fee (US)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026paypal.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Fixed fee
    $0.49 per US dollar transaction
    Checked Nov 8, 2026paypal.com(opens source in a new tab)
    International fee
    Extra 1.50% on international commercial payments
    Checked Nov 8, 2026paypal.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Monzo logo

    4. Monzo

    Best for: UK residents who want a phone-first bank account with strong budgeting tools

    Free plan + paidiOS, Android, Web

    51.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Zilch

    Monzo Flex lets UK Monzo customers split purchases into instalments straight from their bank app, with no separate BNPL card.

    Pros

    • Pots and salary sorting make budgeting simple
    • No fees from Monzo on card spending abroad
    • FSCS deposit protection like a high-street bank
    • 24/7 in-app support

    Cons

    • Only open to UK residents
    • Paying in cash costs a fee at PayPoint or the Post Office
    • Best savings rates and some tools need a paid plan
    Visit Monzo Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.341
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Monzo a good Zilch alternative?

    Verified facts

    8 of 8 verified
    Paid plans
    From £3 a month
    Checked Nov 8, 2026monzo.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Deposit protection
    FSCS up to £120,000
    Checked Nov 8, 2026monzo.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Eligibility
    UK residents only
    Checked Nov 8, 2026monzo.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Customers
    16 million
    Checked Nov 8, 2026monzo.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free plan
    Yes, Monzo Free (16+)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026monzo.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    £3 a month (Extra)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026monzo.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Perks plan
    £9 a month
    Checked Nov 8, 2026monzo.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Max plan
    From £19 a month, 3 months minimum
    Checked Nov 8, 2026monzo.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Zilch alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Klarna logo

Best Zilch alternative for most people

Klarna

The biggest BNPL name in the UK, with a wider range of plans and a large shopping app.

Affirm logo

Best Zilch alternative for a free option

Affirm

Shows the total cost up front and offers longer monthly plans for bigger purchases, beyond Zilch's short pay-in-four model.

PayPal logo

Best Zilch alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

PayPal

Pay in 3 is built into PayPal checkout, so there is no separate card or app to manage.

Monzo logo

Best Zilch alternative for iPhone and Android

Monzo

Monzo Flex lets UK Monzo customers split purchases into instalments straight from their bank app, with no separate BNPL card.

Klarna logo

Best Zilch alternative for working in the browser

Klarna

The biggest BNPL name in the UK, with a wider range of plans and a large shopping app.

Zilch alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Zilch?

Klarna ranks first right now. The biggest BNPL name in the UK, with a wider range of plans and a large shopping app. Affirm and PayPal follow it in our ranking.

Zilch vs Klarna: what's the difference?

Zilch is free with paid plans; Klarna is free to use. Only Klarna runs on Web.

Is Zilch free?

Zilch is free with paid plans. Free plan: Standard; Paid plans from: £2.99/month (Extra); Credit limit: £50 to £4,500. Checked on Zilch's own site, November 2026.

Is there a free alternative to Zilch?

Yes. Klarna (free), Affirm (free), PayPal (free plan + paid) and Monzo (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Zilch?

None of the 4 alternatives in this list is open source.

Why do people switch from Zilch?

The complaints we hear most: fees may apply outside partner stores; better rewards sit behind paid monthly plans; UK only.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Zilch, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.