: As long as every payment is made on time, the consumer pays exactly the sticker price of the item.
: Interest-free periods are usually short-term. Longer-term plans (e.g., 6–24 months) frequently do carry interest, sometimes reaching 36% APR . Leading Providers and Specializations (2026) What Is Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL)? - NerdWallet
: Since they don't charge you interest, providers make money by charging merchants fees (often 4%–6% per transaction) and collecting late fees from users who miss deadlines.
Report: The Landscape of "Interest-Free" Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL)
Standard "Pay-in-4" models typically divide a purchase into four equal installments over six to eight weeks.