Afterpay VS Sezzle: Which Buy Now Pay Later Service Is Best For You? [2025]

Buy now and pay later service is the new hype in the e-commerce industry – a service that allows you to buy whatever you want now and pay for it in a few installments over a bunch of months.

Now, there are quite a lot of providers for their service in the market, and although they all work similarly, there are differences in interest, number of months, etc.

Currently, Afterpay VS Sezzle are at the top – being compared by several users who are interested to know which of the two is a better buy now pay later option for them.

As for you, why are you also searching for the same? If yes, then continue reading our comparison battle between Afterpay VS Sezzle mentioned right below, in this article.

Afterpay VS Sezzle: A Detailed Comparison 

Afterpay 

Afterpay is one of the first providers of buy now and pay later service and has a large merchant network, and it also has a huge customer base for being one of the most trusted labels.

With Afterpay, your purchased total will be divided into equal installments, and with a few eligibility points, you can use Afterpay’s buy now and pay later service whenever you want. 

Sezzle

Although Sezzle is the same as Afterpay, its focus is more on responsible spending, and for the same reason, it has joined a flexible repayment option along with the buy now and pay later service, one of the first ones to do that in this industry. 

Along with that, the label follows the same installment criteria, allowing you to split purchases into different installments, and of course, has a set of eligibility points you need to confirm. 

Fees & Interest Rates

Afterpay 

Fortunately, since Afterpay offers interest-free payments, you don’t have to worry about the interest rate, as long as you pay your purchase amount completely within the allocated time frame. 

However, if you are not able to pay the installment before the deadline, then you will have to deal with the late fee of $10, which is capped at 25% of the total price or $68, whichever value is less.

Sezzle

Similar to Afterpay Sezzle does not charge you any kind of interest on your installments, however, if you are not able to pay the complete amount within the allocated time, that may change how much more you can use its buy now and pay later service in the future. 

Additionally, Sezzle does not have a thing called late fees, but it still charges a service fee of 2.9% of the total installment sum on all transactions.

Eligibility Requirements 

When it comes to eligibility requirements, not only Afterpay and Sezzle, but most of the buy now and pay later service providers in the industry have the same points to consider, although you can still find a few differences here in there. 

Afterpay 

• You have to be a legal resident of Canada or the United States.
• You must be 18 years old or older.
• You have to verify your email address beforehand.
• You must possess a valid credit or debit card.
• Your card must go through a quick check by Afterpay and pass the test.

Sezzle

• You need to be a legal citizen of Canada or the United States.
• You must be 18 years old or older.
• You have to verify your email address.
• You must have a valid credit or debit card.
• You must allow Sezzle to perform a soft credit check on your card, to check your credit history and similar details.

Installment Plans & Purchase Limits

Afterpay 

For installment plans, Afterpay usually offers 4 equal payments charged to your card every 2 weeks, so that you will be able to pay the complete amount within 2 months.

However, if you have opted for a large purchase, then you might get an option for 8 equal payments, which will be charged every month so that you will have 4 months to make the complete payment.

As for the purchase limit, you get to spend up to $2000, and rest assured this amount will not fluctuate based on your spending unless Afterpay decides to change it for some other reason. 

Sezzle

Here, unlike Afterpay, you will get a bit more freedom since Sezzle supports flexibility, and so, it has offered flexible payment options as follows:

• 4 equal payments over 6 weeks.
• 6 payments over 8 weeks.
• 12 payments over 12 weeks. 

Along with that, you get to spend up to $1000 as your purchase limit, and although it is half the amount you can spend with Afterpay, it is still good for small yet urgent purchases. 

Note: Although the limits mentioned above are generally for everyone – you might receive a bigger or smaller purchase limit because of your credit history and similar reasons.

Customer Service & Merchant

Afterpay 

Compared to Sezzle, Afterpay seems to have better customer service. Many users have reported that its customer service team is helpful and responsible, and they are also quick on their feet.

Additionally, Afterpay offers a good list of contact options to choose from, including a phone number, live chat, and email. 

When it comes to its merchant network, since Afterpay is one of the first providers of the buy now and pay later service it is widely accepted by clothing, beauty, and other category merchants.

For instance, Adidas, American Eagle, AMR Hair and Beauty, Anaconda, and more such brands except Afterpay, and it is available in Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Australia, the US, and more countries. 

Sezzle

In the beginning, Sezzle seemed to have received a negative response for each customer service, and although since then its customer service has improved, it is still not as good as Afterpay. 

As for common negative points – many customers have reported that the team is not as helpful as they’re supposed to be while the waiting lines are longer than expected. 

Talking about its merchant network, although Sezzle is doing good in business, it is not as famous as Afterpay, although it is actively expanding its merchant network. 

As for some examples of what kind of labels accept Sezzle, the list includes – Walmart, Barnes and Noble, Dr Martens, IKEA, Lowe’s, and more.

Interest-Free Periods & Customer Reviews

Afterpay 

As you might have already read above, Afterpay does not charge a single penny as interest, so all the payments and payment plans are interest-free.

As for customer reviews and feedback, Afterpay has commonly received positive feedback since it is convenient, has a bigger purchase limit compared to most of its competitors, and has simple requirements for eligibility.

Sezzle

Similar to Afterpay, even Sezzle does not charge a single penny as interest. So all your payments will not only be flexible but also interest-free every time.

Talking about customer reviews and feedback — Sezzle has received positive feedback where customers loved its flexibility, while a few customers even stated that using its BNPL services has improved their credit scores. 

Final Words: Which Platform Is Right For You?

Starting with the overview, both Afterpay and Sezzle work in the same industry and have very similar criteria – although, Afterpay is a bit more experienced than Sezzle.

Moving ahead with the interest fee and additional charges, you will not have to pay interest to any of the two options, but while Afterpay charges a late fee, Sezzle has a service fee and all transactions, so as long as you don’t pay late to Afterpay, it scores. 

As for the eligibility requirements, there is barely any difference, but when it comes to purchasing limitations, you can clearly see Afterpay winning over Sezzle, although when it comes to flexibility, it is Sezzle that is snatching the victory.

Moving ahead with customer service, an institution needs to offer better customer service especially since we are dealing with money, and so, in comparison with Sezzle, Afterpay’s customer support team wins.

Talking about the merchant network, Afterpay is widely famous and has more brands and networks compared to Sezzle, although both brands are actively pursuing more affiliates.

Lastly, rest assured you do not have to care about interest when it comes to both Afterpay and Sezzle, because whenever you choose to use their services, it is going to be interest-free. 

In the end, the final decision lies in your hands – whether you want to go with Afterpay for a bigger purchase limit or Sezzle for flexibility payments.

If you ask us, we would recommend Afterpay, because, as long as you don’t pay installments late, you can skip the service fee you wouldn’t need to pay at Sezzle.

That is all for this article, and we hope our comparison battle between Afterpay VS Sezzle was helpful to you.

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