Buy now, pay later (BNPL) usage is growing fast in the UK so we carried out some research to see if buy now, pay later providers are disrupting the credit card industry. Here are the latest BNPL statistics.
According to a 2026 Finder survey, more than half of UK adults (54%) have used BNPL at some point, which equates to around 29.9 million people. This number is up from an estimated 19.1 million (36%) at the start of 2023.
45% of Brits used BNPL in 2025, and 17% used BNPL services for the first time in this period.
The research by Finder also revealed that 46% of Brits have never used BNPL and only 10% of this group are currently considering using it in the future. 13% admit they will not consider it, while 22% are still unsure.
| Have you used BNPL? | Percentage |
|---|---|
| I have used BNPL | 54% |
| I have not used BNPL and do not intend to use it | 22% |
| I have not used BNPL, but I might use it | 13% |
| I have not used BNPL and am unsure about future use | 10% |
Around 380 million people use BNPL services globally, according to 2024 figures. This is predicted to grow to 670 million by 2028, an increase of 107% in 4 years.
Our research shows that BNPL is most popular with millennials (aged 30-45) – 73% have used buy now, pay later services at some point, with two-thirds (65%) using BNPL in the past year. It’s also popular with generation Z (aged 18-29) as 65% have used BNPL with 55% using it in 2025.
BNPL is relatively popular with generation X (aged 46-61), as more than half of this group (51%) has used it before. However, the payment service is less popular among the older generations, with 3 in 10 baby boomers (29%) and 17% admitting to using it.
| Generation | Percentage using BNPL |
|---|---|
| Generation Z | 65% |
| Millenials | 73% |
| Generation X | 51% |
| Baby boomers | 29% |
| Silent generation | 17% |
Many BNPL providers have introduced late repayment fees, including Klarna, which began charging them in March 2023.
Our 2024 survey found that in the last 12 months, more than half (53%) of those who had used BNPL had been charged fees, with average fees per person at £23.50.
This means an estimated 10.6 million Brits could have paid late fees in the previous 12 months, shelling out an eye-watering total of almost £250 million.
The use of buy now, pay later is highest in London, where more than 3 in 5 (63%) have used it at some point, and lowest in the South West of England, where 2 in 5 residents (40%) have used it at some point. Aside from this, there is not too much regional variation when it comes to BNPL usage.
| Region | Percentage using BNPL |
|---|---|
| Greater London | 63% |
| Scotland | 62% |
| Wales | 62% |
| West Midlands | 61% |
| North East | 58% |
| North West | 57% |
| East of England | 56% |
| Northern Ireland | 55% |
| East Midlands | 52% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 46% |
| South East | 46% |
| South West | 40% |
Buy now, pay later (BNPL) now accounts for 8% of all physical and online payments in the UK. This is forecast to grow to 9% by 2030.
Finder commissioned Censuswide to carry out a nationally representative survey of adults aged 18+. A total of 2,000 people were questioned throughout Great Britain between 3 January and 6 January 2026, with representative quotas for gender, age and region. The online survey has a margin of error of ±2.2% at a 95% confidence level. Censuswide follows the MRS Code of Conduct, ESOMAR principles, and is a member of the British Polling Council.
Sophie Barber
Communications Manager
Klarna and PayPal are two of the biggest names in the online payment industry. So which should you use for your next purchase? We compare the two.
Zilch allows consumers to pay for goods over time, almost anywhere. But what are its pros and cons and how does it compare to other card issuers or BNPL providers?
Looking to buy now and pay later? Spread the cost of your purchase across a specified time period with DivideBuy.
Read our review to see how Payl8r works and decide if it’s the right choice for you.
Check out our review of Laybuy, to see whether this buy now pay later interest-free plan could work for you.
Wondering where you can shop using your new Clearpay account? Check out our full list of Clearpay shops here and buy now, pay later.
Discover which UK retailers accept Laybuy, a retail payment platform that allows you to buy now and pay later for your next online shop.
What is Klarna? We discuss how the buy now, pay later platform works, the pros and cons of using it and what happens if you miss a payment.
Find out which shops take Klarna and how the buy now, pay later scheme works. Browse your favourite UK shops that offer this way to budget your online shopping.
