Tech

Sezzle Review: Your Guide to Interest-Free Shopping and Credit-Building Opportunities

By

Mohit Kamboj

Sezzle offers a convenient buy now, pay later (BNPL) service that allows you to divide your purchases into four equal payments. The first payment is due at the time of purchase, followed by three more payments at two-week intervals. If you ensure timely payments, this loan becomes essentially cost-free, with no interest or fees.

A Glance At Sezzle 

Loan format: Divide purchases of $35 or more into four equal payments. The first payment is required at checkout, with the remaining three payments due every two weeks.

Credit Limit: Different Per Person

APR: 0%

Payment fee: Up to $5 if you decide to make your Sezzle payments using a credit card, debit card, or prepaid card.

Reactivate Fee: There is a $15 fee to reactivate your account if it has been deactivated due to a missed payment.

Rescheduling Fee: The first reschedule is free, and any subsequent adjustments will incur a fee of $7.50 each.

Available In: Only available for purchases made through one of Sezzle’s 47,000 network merchants. 

Sezzle Pros and Cons

Pros Cons
  • Interest-free loans
  • Can help you build credit
  • No hard credit checks required
  • Special offers with some merchants
  • Simple fee structure
  • It’s not always easy to view your credit limit.
  • Concerns regarding credit reporting
  • Terms that are constantly changing and difficult to understand

Sezzle Best For

  • Discover the convenience of shopping at stores that offer Sezzle. Sezzle is only compatible with select merchants. With a vast network of over 47,000 stores, there is a wide array of options to choose from. However, if you have a specific store in mind that doesn’t offer Sezzle, you won’t be able to use it. Using Sezzle in the future may restrict your shopping choices.
  • Looking to boost your credit score? When you apply for a loan with Sezzle, they will conduct a soft credit check. However, unlike traditional lenders, your credit score doesn’t play as significant of a role in their decision-making process. Furthermore, Sezzle has the capability to report your payments to the credit bureaus once certain requirements are met, which can assist in establishing credit.
  • Payments for Sezzle are required every two weeks. If you are unable to make the payment, Sezzle will deactivate your account, impose a $15 fee to reinstate it, and notify the credit bureaus about the late payment.

Sezzle Not Good For:

  • If you have certain stores in mind, that would be helpful. Sezzle is compatible with select stores. On the other hand, certain BNPL lenders provide the flexibility to use their loans for a wide range of purposes.
  • Looking for additional payment choices? Various BNPL merchants provide a range of short-term loan options. Sezzle offers the standard pay-in-four option for your convenience.
  • Looking for a lender that provides clear and transparent information: Sezzle will provide you with a spending limit, but you may need to go through a few steps to discover it. Additionally, it provides numerous beta features that may or may not be accessible to you.

How Does Sezzle Works?

Sezzle provides a payment plan that is suitable for everyone. You make an initial payment of 25% when you buy, and then you pay off the rest in three equal installments, with each payment due every two weeks. Therefore, you will be able to repay the loan within a span of six weeks.

Pay Loan Without Interest

Sezzle does not impose any interest or loan fees as long as you consistently make your payments on time using the available payment methods. We suggest enrolling in automatic ACH transfers from your bank account.

You have the option to pay using a prepaid card, credit card, or debit card. However, please note that Sezzle applies a $5 fee per payment for these methods. In addition, there is a strict policy regarding late payments. If your payment is not received within two days, your account will be temporarily deactivated. To reactivate your account, you will need to make the late payment and pay a reactivation fee of $15.

Sezzle sets a spending limit for each individual, but it may not always disclose the specific amount. To access this information, you have two options. The first is to set up a bank ACH transfer as your default payment option. The second is to directly look up your spending limit with a specific merchant in the app. If you decide to upgrade to Sezzle Up, you’ll have the option to view your spending limit as well.

As you make timely payments on your previous Sezzle loans, your credit limit will gradually increase.

Provide Upgrade Options

Sezzle only reports payments to the credit bureaus if you choose to upgrade to Sezzle Up. Upgrading is simple and free, and all you need to do is meet these three requirements:

  • Please provide your Social Security number to verify your identity.
  • Choose a bank ACH transfer or debit card as your preferred payment method
  • Ensure timely or early repayment of at least one Sezzle loan

Sezzle also offers beta upgrades, perks, and features, including:

  • Sezzle Premium: With a paid subscription, you’ll gain access to additional merchants to use Sezzle with, as well as exclusive deals, rewards, and priority customer service.
  • Sezzle Rewards: Get rewarded with five points for every dollar you spend at select merchants. You can then redeem your points for $5 towards a future Sezzle purchase once you reach 1,000 points.
  • Sezzle Pay-in-Full: With a single payment, you can easily purchase something and even earn rewards while building a positive repayment history with Sezzle.

How Can Sezzle Be Used?

Many individuals discover Sezzle when they come across it as a payment choice during their online checkout process with a partner merchant. To get started, just click the link and follow the step-by-step instructions. It will walk you through creating your account, applying for a loan, reviewing the loan agreement, and setting up your payment.

Another option is to be more proactive and download the Sezzle app. This enables you to access a wider range of Sezzle’s features and view its network of merchant partners.

Sezzle Rating

We examined Sezzle using 11 data points across various categories, including loan details, loan costs, perks, customer experience, and accessibility. Our evaluation of Sezzle was determined by the importance given to each category:

  • Loan cost: 30%
  • Loan details: 25%
  • Accessibility: 20%
  • Perks: 15%
  • Customer experience: 10%

In each major category, we also took into account various characteristics, such as the loan amounts available, repayment terms, interest rates, and applicable fees. We assessed Sezzle’s customer support tools, borrower perks, and features that streamline the borrowing process.

Conclusion

In summary, Sezzle’s buy now, pay later service offers a straightforward payment structure with the potential for interest-free transactions. Users can benefit from its simplicity and credit-building opportunities. However, it comes with considerations, such as fees for certain payment methods and challenges in understanding credit limits. Depending on your needs, Sezzle can be a convenient option for budget-conscious shopping with a wide merchant network.