Zip — formerly Quadpay — is a buy now, pay later (BNPL) app with options to pay in four or eight installments. It offers flexible purchasing options and can be used online or in-store. You can even use it to pay your everyday bills. It also offers cash back on purchases and one free payment date change per month. But it charges origination and late fees, and it doesn’t have any longer term repayment plans like most BNPL apps.
Our 14 top picks for apps like Zip
If you want to explore similar apps like Zip, check our list of popular BNPL apps that may have fewer fees, higher borrowing limits or longer repayment plans. Or if you’d rather have access to cash rather than credit, we also included some top cash advance apps on our list of alternatives to Zip.
| EarnIn (cash advance) | Up to $150/day, with a max of $750 between paydays | Free to use or within minutes with a fee as low as $2.99 per transfer | 1 to 4 weeks | 1 to 2 business days or within 30 minutes for a fee | No |
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| Cleo (cash advance) |
Up to $250 | $5.99 monthly membership fee to access cash advances | Next deposit | 3 to 4 days or instant for a fee. | No |
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| Chime MyPay (cash advance) |
Up to $500 | No subscription fees | Until next deposit | Within 24 hours or $2 for instant transfers | No |
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| Brigit (cash advance) |
$50 to $250 | Brigit Plus: $8.99/month; Brigit Premium: $14.99/month | Until your next payday, but can extend | 1 to 3 business days or instant with a Premium subscription or for a fee. | No |
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| Katapult (BNPL) |
Up to $3,500 | 5% on 90-day plan, undisclosed rates on longer terms | Up to 18 months | Within minutes | No |
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| Dave (cash advance) |
Up to $500 | Undisclosed | Varies | Free instant transfers to Dave Checking, up to 3 business days for free, or within an hour for a fee | No |
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| Cash App Borrow | $20 to $200 | 5% flat fee | Same day | Same day | Yes |
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| Perpay (BNPL) |
Up to $1,000 initial spending limit | Up to six months | Within minutes | No |
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| PayPal in 4 (BNPL) |
$30 to $10,000 | 0% to 35.99% | Pay in 4, or 3 to 24 months | At purchase | No | |
| Affirm (BNPL) |
$50 to $20,000 | 0% to 36% | Pay in 4, or up to 60 months | At purchase | No | |
| Klarna (BNPL) |
No predefined limits | 0% to 33.99% | Pay in 4, within 30 days, or 6 to 24 months | At purchase | Yes | |
| Afterpay (BNPL) |
Limits start around $600 | 0% to 35.99% | Pay in 4, or 6 or 12-month terms | At purchase | Yes | |
| Sezzle (BNPL) |
Up to $15,000 | Service fee up to $5.99, 0% to 34.99% | Pay in 2 or 4, or up to 48 months | At purchase | Yes | |
| Splitit (BNPL) |
Depends on your credit card’s available balance | 0% (but your credit card rates and fees still apply) | Varies by merchant | At purchase | No |
How does Zip compare
Zip stands out from some of its competitors by allowing bill paying along with shopping — handy if you’re a little short this month. You can also earn cashback rewards and change your payment date for free once a month.
But unlike many other BNPL apps, it doesn’t offer a monthly payment plan for larger purchases. Plus, it charges origination fees and late fees, whereas some apps are basically free to use.
Pros
- Can use for bill paying
- Free payment date changes
- Cashback rewards
Cons
- Origination fees
- Late fees
- No longer repayment terms
Why choose a BNPL app?
A BNPL app can be a good option when you need to make a larger purchase but don’t have the cash up front. Most commonly, you’ll repay the loan in four interest-free installments, but many apps offer longer repayment plans as well. They’re also typically easy to qualify for and widely accepted at thousands of locations, both online and in person.
But there’s no access to cash, some apps charge fees and longer repayment plans can have steep APRs.
Pros
- Typically interest-free on short-term plans
- Widely accepted
- Easy to qualify for
Cons
- May charge fees
- High rates for longer repayment plans
- No access to cash
Why cash advance apps might be a good alternative
While BNPL apps can be handy when you shop, cash advance apps can put money in your pocket right now, offering much more flexibility on how you can use the funds. And they’re easy to qualify for. Almost anyone with a job and a bank account is eligible.
But loan terms are short, with repayment usually due on your next pay date. And some cash apps require a monthly subscription, although many are virtually free if you can wait a couple of days for the funds. There’s typically a fee for instant transfers, ranging from $2 to $10 or more.
Pros
- Fast access to cash
- No interest, late fees or credit check
- Easy requirements to qualify
Cons
- May require a monthly subscription
- Fees for fast transfers
- Loan terms are typically 2 weeks
- Borrow up to $5,000
- Get cash as soon as same business day
- Easy application
- Quick approval
- Not available in: CO, CT, GA, IA, MD, MA, NY, SD, VT, WV.
- Borrow up to $150/day, with a max of $750 between paydays
- No credit check
- No monthly fees or interest
- Connect bank account to access cash advance
- Loans from $300 to $5,000
- Accepts bad credit borrowers
- Funding as soon as the same day
- Not available in: AK, CO, CT, FL, GA, IL, IA, KY, ME, MD, MA, MT, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OR, VT, VA, WA, WV.
Other alternatives
Consider these other options if neither a BNPL nor a cash advance app is the right fit for you.
- Personal loan. For larger loan amounts, you may want to consider a personal loan instead of an app. But you’ll need good credit to qualify for the best rates and terms.
- Introductory rate credit card. Credit cards with 0% introductory rates can give up to a year or more of interest-free financing.
- Bad credit loan. If your credit is less than perfect, some lenders consider borrowers with a wide range of credit scores.
- Paycheck advance. Your employers may be willing to float you a loan and deduct it from your next paycheck. Some also offer paycheck advance apps as an employee benefit.
- Save up. Waiting to make a purchase until you have the cash can keep you from overspending and keep you out of debt.
Frequently asked questions
