How do payments on Katapult work?

Your first payment is due at checkout, which can vary depending on the product, how much it costs and the retailer. After that, it deducts your payments from the same card you used at checkout. You can also make payments by logging in to your Katapult account.

Does Katapult hit your credit?

The company may do a soft inquiry to check your credit history, but that won't impact your credit score.

Are Katapult and Affirm the same?

No, one is a lease-to-own app and the other is a buy-now-pay-later app. Both apps allow you to shop for items without having to pay the full amount up front. But with Katapult, you're only leasing the item until you've paid the full price. With Affirm, by contrast, you buy the goods outright, but you'll pay for them later.

Katapult Review (2026): Higher Purchasing Power Comes With a Cost

Finder makes money from featured partners, but editorial opinions are our own. Advertiser disclosure

Our verdict

Katapult’s lease-to-own app has generous spending limits, but long-term leases may be pricey.

Katapult is a lease-to-own service that allows you to spend up to $3,500 at hundreds of retailers, such as Best Buy, Walmart, Wayfair and Sears. It differs from a buy now, pay later (BNPL) app, because you're leasing the item with an option to purchase it. It has a number of different payment plans, but you’ll save the most if you pay in full within 90 days. The 90-day early purchase option with Katapult includes whats called a 5% EPO fee for the 90-day plan, but it doesn’t disclose the fees for long-term leases. Also, the nature of the leasing model means not all consumer goods are eligible for lease-purchase.

Best for: Purchasing durable goods such as furniture, electronics and appliances.

Pros

Spending limits up to $3,500
Accepts poor credit
Flexible payment plans

Cons

5% EPO fee for early purchase
Not transparent about long-term rates
Limited shopping options compared to BNPL apps

Is Katapult legit?

Yes, Katapult is a legit, publicly traded (NASDAQ: KPLT) fintech company. It was founded in 2012 and is based in Plano, Texas. It specializes in connecting retailers with underserved consumers who may not qualify for traditional financing.

Katapult works to ensure the safety of your data by using standard security measures and only working with reputable third-party businesses. You can learn more by viewing its privacy and security policies on its website.

What makes Katapult shine?

Katapult stands out by offering lease-to-own purchasing options to borrowers who may not qualify for more traditional forms of funding. There’s no hard credit check to qualify, and no established credit history is required, so even borrowers with poor or no credit may be eligible.

Its most affordable option is the 90-day early purchase option, which includes a 5% EPO fee of the cash price. For example, if you buy something for $1,000, the fee is only $50 (minus any lease payments already made, plus tax.) If you need more time, you can extend your payment plan up to 18 months, depending on how much you spend.

It also offers a generous spending limit up to $3,500, although not all borrowers will qualify for the highest amount.

Where Katapult falls short

Katapult operates on a renewable weekly lease structure rather than fixed-term payment plans. You won’t find the costs for plans longer than 90 days on its website. However, the lease agreement discloses the toal cost to own, cost of lease services and early purchase option formulas. If you don’t use the early purchase options within 90 days, you continue with weekly renewable lease payments, up to 18 months. Customer reviews say you could end up paying double the price of the item if you lease it over a longer term.

The app also has more limitations on what you can buy compared to other financing options such as BNPL apps. Katapult only allows you to purchase durable consumer goods that can be returned, such as electronics, furniture and appliances. For example, you can’t use it to purchase concert tickets, clothing, food or other consumable products or services.

It also doesn’t give you access to cash, although that’s a standard restriction for these kinds of apps. If you need some money to make ends meet between pay periods — like for gas money to get to work — a cash advance app might make more sense. There’s no interest or credit checks, and they’re available to practically anyone with a job and a bank account.

Katapult app details

Product name	Katapult
Min amount	Not stated
Max amount	$3,500
Loan term	Renewable weekly lease up to 18 months with Early Purchase Options
Turnaround time	Within minutes
Costs	5% EPO component for 90-day terms Longer lease costs undisclosed
Requirements	18 and a US resident Valid credit or debit card Social Security number or ITIN Home address (no PO boxes) Valid cell phone number and email address

Katapult contact info

Phone number	833-528-2785
Customer service hours	Weekdays: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. CT Saturday: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. CT Sunday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT
Email	help@katapult.com
X, formerly Twitter	@katapultpay
Facebook	Get Katapult

How to qualify for Katapult

Here’s the information you’ll need to provide to qualify for Katapult’s lease-to-own financing:

Credit or debit card in purchaser’s name
Current US address (no commercial addresses or PO boxes accepted)
Cell phone number that accepts SMS texting
Valid Social Security number or taxpayer ID number (ITIN)
Valid email address
Valid photo ID proving you’re at least 18 years old

Katapult reviews and complaints

BBB accredited	Yes
BBB rating	A+
BBB customer reviews	1.32 out of 5 stars, based on 37 customer reviews
BBB customer complaints	92 customer complaints
Trustpilot Score	4.4 out of 5 stars, based on 29,000 customer reviews
App Store Score	4.8 out of 5 stars, based on 24,000 customer reviews
Google Play Score	4.5 out of 5 stars, based on 8,000 customer reviews
Customer reviews verified as of	13 February 2026

Katapult has mostly negative reviews on the Better Business Bureau (BBB), although a couple of people said it’s a good option for those with bad credit who need a payment plan. Complaints were mostly about financial issues, including trouble getting refunds, extra or unauthorized payments and being charged even when the transaction was denied.

The company has more positive reviews on Trustpilot, with customers saying it’s easy to sign up and approval is quick. But others report problems with the app, high fees if you don’t pay within 90 days and being charged full price on incomplete orders.

Customers on Google Play and the App store share similar Katapult reviews and complaints as you’ll find on Trustpilot.

What do people on Reddit say?

Some Redditors say using Katapult isn’t a bad deal as long as you pay it off within 90 days, otherwise you could end up paying double the price. A few compare it to Rent-a-Center, and others suggest using apps like Affirm, Klarna or others for more reasonable rates if you need a longer-term payment plan.

Compare cash advance alternatives to Katapult:

7 of 7 results

Finder Score	Max. amount per pay period	Turnaround time	Costs
9.4 Excellent Chime® MyPay®	9.4 Excellent	Up to $500	Instant transfers: 3% of the advance amount ($2 minimum, $5 maximum)	No subscription fees; Instant transfer fee: 3% of the advance amount ($2 minimum, $5 maximum)	Access up to $500 of your pay before payday fee-free within 24 hours. See Chime terms and conditions. MyPay is only offered in select states.	Important information MyPay® line of credit provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A. MyPay services provided by Chime Capital, LLC (NMLS 2316451). MyPay eligibility: To be eligible for MyPay, you must receive Qualifying MyPay Direct Deposits to your Chime Checking Account as set forth in the MyPay Agreement. A Qualifying MyPay Direct Deposit is a deposit from an employer, payroll provider, gig economy payer, government benefits payer, or other permitted source of income by Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) or Original Credit Transaction (“OCT”). Your MyPay Credit Limit and Available Advance Amount may change at any time. MyPay is a line of credit and available limits are based on estimated income and risk-based criteria. Eligible members may be offered a $20 - $500 Credit Limit per pay period. Your Credit Limit and Maximum Available Advance will be displayed to you within the Chime app. MyPay is currently only available to eligible Chime members in certain states. Other restrictions may apply. See Bancorp MyPay Agreement or Stride MyPay Agreement for details. Instant funds: Option to get funds instantly for a fee of 3% of the advance amount ($2 minimum, $5 maximum) per advance, or get funds for free within 24 hours. See Bancorp MyPay Agreement or Stride MyPay Agreement for details. SpotMe: SpotMe® on Credit is an optional, no interest/no fee overdraft line of credit tied to the Secured Deposit Account. SpotMe on Debit is an optional, no fee service attached to your Chime Checking Account (individually or collectively, "SpotMe"). Eligibility for SpotMe requires $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to your Chime Checking Account each month. Qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their Chime Checking Account and/or their Secured Deposit Account up to $20 in total, but may be later eligible for a higher combined limit of up to $200 or more based on member’s Chime account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. Your SpotMe Limit will be displayed to you within the Chime mobile app. You will receive notice of any changes to your SpotMe Limit. SpotMe for Credit and SpotMe on Debit share a single SpotMe limit. Your SpotMe Limit may change at any time, at Chime or its banking partners’ discretion. Although there are no overdraft fees, there may be out-of-network or third-party fees associated with ATM transactions or OTC cash withdrawal fees at retailers. SpotMe won’t cover non-card transactions, including ACH s, Pay Anyone s, or Chime Checkbook transactions. SpotMe terms and conditions. Early Pay: Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. We generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date. Savings: Chime® Checking Account is required to be eligible for a Savings Account. The 3.75% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is only available to members with Chime Prime status, otherwise, either the 3.00% APY for members with Chime Plus status or the standard rate of 0.75% APY will apply. The APYs are effective as of 02/26/2026, are variable and may change at any time. No minimum balance required. Must have $0.01 in savings to earn interest. See Chime Membership Tiers Terms and Conditions for more details. Credit Builder: Based on a representative study conducted by Experian® in Sept 2025, the top 10% of members who made their first purchase with Credit Builder, an earlier version of Chime Card, between April and August 2024, observed a FICO® Score 8 increase of 71 points after approximately 8 months. Average increase of 28 points across all participants in the study. Credit score improvement not guaranteed. Paying on time may increase your score, while late payment may decrease your score. Other credit activity can impact your score. Credit score is one of many factors creditors may consider in evaluating credit applications.	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
9.5 Excellent EarnIn	9.5 Excellent	Up to $150/day, with a max of $1000 between paydays	1–2 business days standard; minutes with Lightning Speed	Free to use or within minutes with a fee as low as $3.99 per transfer	Access up to $150 per day, with a max of $1000 between paydays. Not available to CT or Washington, D.C. residents. Subject to EarnIn terms & conditions.	Important information EarnIn is not a bank. Access limits are based on your earnings and risk factors. Available in select states. Terms and restrictions apply. Visit EarnIn.com for full details. Expedited transfers available for a fee. Visit Earnin.com for full details.	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
8.2 Great Cleo	8.2 Great	$20 to $250	3 to 4 days or instant for a fee.	$5.99 monthly membership fee to access cash advances	Automatically monitor your spending plus access cash advances up to $100 at a time.	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
9.4 Excellent OppLoans Installment Loans	9.4 Excellent	$500 to $5,000	As soon as the same business day	99% - 195% APR	Not available in: CO, CT, GA, IA, MD, MA, NY, SD, VT, WV. Comes with the option to change your due date so you won’t fall behind on repayments.	Important information The advertised APR is an estimate based on currently available information, is not final, and is subject to change. If approved, your actual rate will be determined and assigned based on your creditworthiness, income, application information, and other relevant factors. Applications submitted on the OppLoans platform will be originated by one of our bank partners and serviced by OppLoans. Please see the Rates and Terms for details regarding the availability of products in your state of residence. Subject to credit approval and verification. Actual approved loan amount and terms are dependent on our bank partners’ standard underwriting guidelines and credit policies. Funds may be deposited for delivery to your bank via ACH as soon as the same business day if verification is completed and final approval occurs before 12:00 PM CT on a business day. If approval occurs after 12:00 PM CT on a business day or on a non-business day, funds may be delivered as soon as the next business day. Availability of the funds is dependent on how quickly your bank processes the transaction. Installment loan amounts typically range from $500 to $5,000. Annual percentage rate (APR) ranges from 99% to 195%. Installment loan lengths range from 9 to 18 months. Example: A $2,000 installment loan repayable in 9 monthly payments with an APR of 160% would have monthly payments of $394.58. Loan amount, APR, and repayment terms may vary by state, please see https://www.opploans.com/rates-and-terms for additional information. Approval is not guaranteed. If approved, your actual rate will fall within the marketed range of rates, and will be determined and assigned based on your creditworthiness, income, application information, and other relevant factors. Not all applicants will qualify for the lowest available rates. This is an expensive form of credit and you should determine whether the offered product(s) meets your financial needs. OppLoans’ Bank Partners may use credit report information provided by Clarity Services and Experian as part of the application process to determine your creditworthiness. The credit inquiry will appear as a soft credit inquiry on your Experian credit report and a hard credit inquiry on your Clarity report. Therefore it will not affect your FICO credit score. OppLoans and its Bank Partners report customer payment history to the three major credit bureaus. On-time payments may improve credit score.	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
8.8 Great Albert Instant	8.8 Great	$25 to $1,000	Within minutes	No subscription required	Advance up to $1,000 in minutes with Albert Instant.	Important information Albert is not a bank. Savings account provided by Wells Fargo, N.A., Member FDIC. Albert plans start at $19.99/mo. Try for 30 days before you're charged. Fees auto-renew until canceled. Cancel in the app. Terms apply. Albert Instant Line of Credit is an unsecured line of credit issued by FinWise Bank, a Utah chartered bank, Member FDIC. Limits range from $25-$1,000. Draw fees apply. Terms and eligibility criteria including geographic restrictions apply. In some states, Albert may offer you an Albert Instant Advance instead. Limits range from $25-$1,000, subject to terms and eligibility criteria. No Albert subscription is required for Albert Instant Line of Credit or Albert Instant Advance. See Albert Terms of Use for additional important terms.	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
9.4 Excellent Varo Cash Advance	9.4 Excellent	Up to $250 today. Build up to $700 over time with direct deposit at Varo. Average loan: $195. Qualifications Apply.	Instant, once qualified	No membership fees, Flat Fees of $1.60 to $100	Important information Varo Advance qualification is subject to evaluation of consumer reports and Varo account activity. If approved, initial limits range from $20- $250. Unlock higher limits up to $700 over time when you bring your qualifying direct deposit to Varo and build a positive history with us. Negative repayment history may impact credit. Fees range from $1.60 - $100 based on loan amount, and deposits to your Varo Bank Account. Your current limit and applicable fees can be viewed in the Varo App. Qualifying direct deposits are electronic deposits of your paycheck, pension or government benefits (such as Social Security or unemployment) from your employer or government agency to the extent that can be identified. Tax refunds and government stimulus payments, Person-to-Person payments (such as Venmo or Varo to Anyone), and funds deposited using a Varo routing number are not considered a direct deposit.	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
9.1 Excellent CreditNinja Installment loan	9.1 Excellent	$300 to $5,000	1 to 2 business days	APRs over 36% plus fees	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. Fast online funding up to $5K, but you won't know about rates and terms until after you apply.	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading

Showing 7 of 7 results

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