- 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.
Perpay is a buy now, pay later (BNPL) service that provides fee-free and interest-free financing. While it doesn’t state its maximum spending limit, you could qualify for up to $1,000 in purchasing power as soon as you sign up. You choose your payment amount based on how much time you want to pay it back. If you sign up for Perpay+, the company reports your payments to all three major credit bureaus, which can help boost your credit score.
But your spending limit can only be used on the Perpay marketplace, while most BNPL apps have more flexibility in where you can shop. Plus, Perpay only accepts applicants who are full-time W-2 employees — so gig workers and self-employed individuals have to look elsewhere. You’re also required to make payments through direct deposit payroll deductions, which may not be everyone’s cup of tea.
If you want more options when you shop — or don’t meet Perpay’s eligibility requirements — you may want to consider one of these other BNPL apps. Or, if you prefer cash rather than a spending limit, we also included some popular cash advance apps that could spot you up to $1,000 and offer more flexibility than a BNPL.
| Financial institution | Loan amount | Cost | Terms | Turnaround time | Late fee? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chime MyPay (cash advance) | Up to $500 | Free | Until next deposit | Within 2 days or instant for a fee | No | |
| EarnIn (cash advance) | Up to $750 | Free | Until next paycheck | 1 to 2 business days or instant for a fee | No | |
| Brigit (cash advance) | $50 to $250 | $8.99 to $14.99/month | Next payday, but can extend | 1 to 3 business days or instantly with a Premium subscription or for a fee | No | |
| Cleo (cash advance) | Up to $250 | $5.99/month | Within 14 days but can extend | 3 to 4 days or same day for a fee | No | |
| Varo (cash advance) | Up to $500 | Free | 15 to 30 days | Instant, once qualified | No | |
| Affirm | $50 to $20,000 | 0% to 36% | Pay in 4, or up to 60 months | At purchase | No | |
| Dave (cash advance) | Up to $500 | Up to $5/month | Next payday or nearest Friday | Up to 3 business days or instant for a fee | No | |
| Cash App Borrow | Up to $1,000 | 5% of advance amount | Typically within 4 weeks | Same day | Yes | |
| PayPal in 4 (BNPL) | $30 to $10,000 | 0% to 35.99% | Pay in 4, or 3 to 24 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 | |
| Zip (BNPL) | Varies | $0 to $78 | Pay in 4 or 8 installments | 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 |
Perpay never charges interest or late fees, and you get to choose how much you want to pay each month. You can also use it to help you build credit if you sign up for Prepay+ for $3 a month. But you must be a full-time W-2 worker to qualify, and it automatically deducts payments from your paycheck. Another drawback is that you can only spend your approved limit on the Perpay marketplace, which offers items like electronics, home goods and apparel.
When you want (or need) to make a purchase but don’t have all the cash on hand, a BNPL app lets you pay over time in four equal installments. These apps typically don’t require a hard credit check and are generally easy to qualify for.
In most cases, you won’t be charged any interest, although some apps may charge a small service for the convenience. For larger purchases, you can often extend the payment plan to an interest-bearing installment loan. But BNPL apps don’t give you access to cash, and rates for installment loans can be as high as 36%.
One of the biggest advantages of a cash advance app versus BNPL is the access to cash, which gives you more flexibility in how you use the funds. Plus, like most BNPL apps, there are no hard credit checks, and the requirements to qualify are fairly lenient.
But some cash apps require monthly fees, advance amounts may be smaller than you could qualify for with a BNPL app and you’ll typically have to repay it within two weeks.
If you decide that neither a BNPL or cash advance is the right move for you, consider these alternatives instead.
Typically your item is shipped after Perpay receives your first payment. However, some members may qualify for “instant shipping,” where your order can be shipped before you’ve made a payment.
All Perpay orders are non-recourse, meaning if you don’t repay the full loan amount, there are very few consequences. More specifically, Perpay can’t send your account to collections if you cannot pay. However, if you fail to repay your loan, you won’t be allowed to place new orders on the marketplace.
If you want more shopping options, apps like Affirm, Klarna and others give you more flexibility because they’re widely available and don’t limit you to one marketplace. Sites like Perpay may offer a wide variety of merchandise, including clothing, electronics, home goods and more, but your purchasing power is limited to that site.
A review of Snap Finance, a lease-to-own app that offers up to $5,000 in spending power and flexible repayment options.
Alternatives to Zip, including other BNPL apps and cash advance apps.
A review of Katapult, a lease-to-own app that offers up to $3,500 in spending power and flexible lease agreements.
Perpay lets you pay for items in interest-free installments. We analyze the fine print so you can decide if it’s worth using.
Compare BNPL sites like Klarna with similar apps or cash advance providers.
Compare BNPL sites like Afterpay with similar apps and cash advance apps.
A comparison of BNPL apps like Sezzle and cash advance apps.
Alternatives to Affirm, including other BNPL apps and cash advance apps.
These 100+ online stores accept PayPal. The list includes online retailers like F21 and ASOS, travel booking agents like Expedia and Uber and more.