How to finance a Nintendo Switch

With the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 scheduled for June 2025, gamers across Canada are eagerly anticipating the arrival of the new console. And if you don’t have enough cash saved to cover the upfront sticker price of $629.99, you might be wondering how to finance a Nintendo Switch in Canada.

In this guide, we’ll compare four Nintendo Switch financing options to help you find the most affordable way to get your hands on a new Switch.

1. Finance a Nintendo Switch through the store

• Best for: People with good credit looking for a convenient financing option.
• How it works: In-store financing is the most convenient way to finance a Nintendo Switch. These payment plans allow you to spread your Switch purchase price out into monthly installments, usually over 3 to 24 months, and 0% financing is available if you have good credit. It’s worth noting that many retailers also offer Buy Now Pay Later programs, which have interest-free installments over a shorter repayment period.

Stores that offer Nintendo Switch financing

Check the table below for details of selected stores that offer Nintendo Switch financing in Canada. For a more comprehensive list, check out our A-Z list of store financing.

Information above was last verified on May 6, 2025.

Fast Financing

Go to site

• Accepts bad credit borrowers
• Same day funding
• 100% online
• No prepayment fees

Flexible Terms

Go to site

• Accepts bad credit borrowers
• Easy online application
• Quotes from multiple lenders
• Access cash within 1-3 business days

Competitive Rates

Go to site

• Accepts bad credit borrowers
• Quotes from multiple lenders
• Pre-approval in 5 minutes
• Funds in as little as 24 hours

2. Finance a Nintendo Switch with a personal loan

• Best for: People who don’t qualify for 0% financing or who need to fund multiple purchases.
• How it works: You can take out a personal loan with a credit union or alternative lender to pay for your new Nintendo Switch. Personal loans have terms ranging anywhere from 3 to 60 months, but small loan amounts tend to have terms at the shorter end of the spectrum. You can expect to pay interest rates ranging from 6.99% to 35% depending on your credit score and income.

3. Finance a Switch with a credit card

• Best for: People who have a credit card with a low purchase interest rate.
• How it works: If you have a low-interest credit card, you could use it to pay for your Nintendo Switch purchase. Rates of around 8.99% to 12.99% are available on some cards, and it’s a simple and convenient way to pay for your Switch.

4. Finance a Nintendo Switch through a rent-to-own program

• Best for: People with bad credit and don’t qualify for other loan or payment plan options, but even then it’s not recommended.
• How it works: Rent-to-own plans let you lease a Nintendo Switch for a fixed period and make regular monthly payments. This makes it possible to finance a Nintendo Switch even if you have bad credit, and you get to use it while you pay it off. You then take full ownership of the console when the rental period ends. But the Financial Consumer Agency warns that you could pay up to two to five times more than the upfront purchase price, so rent-to-own programs are best avoided.

Can you finance a Nintendo Switch with no credit check?

Yes, no credit check Nintendo Switch financing is available in Canada. Buy Now Pay Later providers typically don’t conduct hard credit checks, so you can apply for a payment plan even if you have bad credit or no credit.

For example, Affirm conducts a soft credit check when you apply for a Buy Now Pay Later Plan, but this does not impact your credit score. Sezzle also indicates that it may undertake a soft credit check when you apply for a plan, but this won’t negatively affect your credit score.

But your credit score could take a hit if you miss a payment, as some providers may report late or missed payments to the credit bureaus.

Can you finance a Nintendo Switch with bad credit?

Yes, bad credit Nintendo Switch financing is also available. Most Buy Now Pay Later providers either perform soft credit checks or no credit checks at all, so you may be able to qualify for a plan if you have bad credit.

Many alternative lenders also offer bad credit personal loans. Rather than focusing on your credit score, they’ll look at factors such as your income and existing debt before deciding whether to approve your loan. But high interest rates apply, and you’ll also need to check the fine print for any fees.

Rent-to-own programs also allow you to fund a Nintendo Switch purchase with bad credit. But because they’re extremely expensive, you’ll be much better off setting money aside in a high-interest savings account to save up for a Switch.

Can you get 0% financing for a Nintendo Switch?

Yes, 0% Nintendo Switch financing is available in-store from some retailers. There are two options to consider:

• Buy Now Pay Later plan. These plans generally split up the cost of your purchase into four equal payments over six weeks. There are no interest charges to worry about and you can get approved without a hard credit check, but the short repayment period can be difficult to budget for.
• Payment plan. These plans allow you to split your purchase into monthly payments over terms ranging from 3 to 24 months. 0% financing is available on approved credit, so you’ll need strong credit to qualify. You’ll also need to watch out for any admin fees that apply.

Tips to get low-interest financing

• Pay off existing debts. Paying off any high-interest debts will improve your debt-to-income ratio. This will make your monthly payments more affordable and lower the risk to the lender, helping you qualify for a lower rate.
• No NSF transactions. A history of NSF transactions on your bank account indicates to a lender that you may struggle to make on-time payments. Showing at least 90 days without any NSF transactions will demonstrate that you can afford repayments.
• Have steady employment. If you’ve held the same job for an extended period, you’ll have a better chance of getting a low rate than someone who has just switched jobs.
• Consider a loan search platform. Loan search platforms like Loans Canada and LoanConnect allow you to fill out a single application and compare loan offers from multiple lenders. This gives you the flexibility to shop around for the best deal.

How much does the Nintendo Switch cost?

Check the table below for details of current prices of Nintendo Switch models and bundles.

Prices as of May 1, 2025

How much are the monthly payments?

The monthly payments when financing a Nintendo Switch vary depending on several factors, including:

• The Switch model you purchase
• The financing option you choose
• The interest rate
• The repayment period
• Any financing fees that apply

Your credit score and income can also impact the rate you get, so it’s worth shopping around to find the most affordable monthly payments.

Bottom line

There are several ways to finance a Nintendo Switch in Canada, with OLED Switch finance also available. 0% financing is offered in-store and by online retailers, but you may need good credit to qualify. Make sure you compare a range of financing options before deciding on the most affordable way to fund your new console purchase.

Frequently asked questions

• Can you buy the Switch from another country?

  Yes, it may be possible to buy a Nintendo Switch from another country as the console is not region locked. However, you'll need to be aware of any potential compatibility issues, such as if the product ships with a charger that won't fit wall sockets in Canada. It's also worth noting that the limited warranty on a Switch only applies in the country or region where the console was intended to be sold.

• How much are Nintendo Switch games?

  Nintendo Switch game prices range from free downloads to special edition games priced at up to $200. However, popular titles can generally be purchased for between $30 and $80.

• How much is the Nintendo Switch in other countries?

  Switch prices can vary substantially depending on where you live. For example, the Nintendo Switch 2 is priced at US$449.99 in the USA, CA$629.99 in Canada and AUD$699.95 in Australia.

• How much is a used Nintendo Switch?

  Used Nintendo Switch consoles are priced at around $350 on the official Nintendo Store, with refurbished OLED models priced at approximately $400. However, you may be able to get a cheaper price by shopping on other marketplaces such as eBay or Facebook Marketplace.

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Leanne Escobal as part of our fact-checking process.

Written by

Tim Falk

Writer

Tim Falk is a freelance writer for Finder. Over the course of his 15-year writing career, he has reported on a wide range of personal finance topics. Whether you're investing in stocks and ETFs, comparing savings accounts or choosing a credit card, Tim wants to make it easier for you to understand. When he’s not staring at his computer, you can usually find him exploring the great outdoors. See full bio