The best Klarna alternatives for offering purchase on account & instalment payment (2026)

Klarna is one of the best-known “Buy now, pay later” (BNPL) providers in Europe. Nevertheless, many merchants are actively seeking a Klarna alternative. Reasons include the lack of white label capability, limited data sovereignty, and a desire for greater control over brand presence and the customer journey.

At the same time, the BNPL market in Germany is growing rapidly: by 2026 it’s expected to reach a volume of 83.5 billion US dollars, with a forecast annual growth rate of 11.7% until 2031.

It is therefore increasingly important for merchants to select the right solution for invoice and instalment purchases—especially with regard to conversion, customer loyalty and omnichannel capability.

This comparison article shows you which Klarna alternatives exist in the DACH region, which providers support purchase on account and instalment payment and why White label BNPL can be decisive for your business model.

Why are merchants seeking an alternative to Klarna?

Klarna is established and widely used, but for many merchants these structural disadvantages outweigh the positives:

• No white label: Klarna always appears at checkout with its own branding. In practice this means: third-party brand presence, a redirect to the Klarna app, and no seamless checkout experience for customers.
• Less control over customer data: Customer data such as purchase history or creditworthiness remains with Klarna. Merchants have no access to valuable first-party data.
• Direct customer communication: Klarna communicates directly with your customers and largely manages the customer relationship itself.
• Slower checkout: Klarna requires customers to log in to the Klarna app and enter a one-time passcode to complete the purchase, which can take up to 50 seconds and negatively impact conversion rates.
• Transparency concerns: Both merchants and end customers sometimes have concerns about fee transparency and data privacy.

The most important Klarna alternatives at a glance

These providers offer merchants in Germany and the DACH region alternative BNPL solutions:

• Unzer – White label, for SMEs & mid-market
• Ratepay – White label, purchase on account, focus on large merchants
• Riverty – Purchase on account and instalment payment with European presence
• PayPal – High reach and well-known wallet solution
• Alma – Focus on Pay-in-3/4 and small merchants
• EasyCredit – Instalment purchase solution for POS & e-commerce

Klarna alternatives compared

The following table compares the listed providers according to relevant criteria. Klarna is included as a reference in the last row.

Alternative providers for purchase on account & instalment payment in detail

Unzer – White label BNPL for the mid-market

Unzer is a European payment service provider headquartered in Berlin, with offices in Germany, Austria, Denmark and Luxembourg. More than 90,000 merchants in Europe use Unzer solutions. The provider is specifically aimed at mid-sized businesses.

It supports the following BNPL models:

• Purchase on account (payment term 14–30 days)
• Instalment payments
• Direct debit
• POS financing: digital, real-time, paperless

White label BNPL specialist: Unzer is one of the few providers offering true white label BNPL. The solution appears entirely under the merchant's brand: no third-party logos, no third-party app, no customer account required for end customers. For merchants, this means:

• Seamless checkout experience within their own corporate identity
• Complete control over customer data and communication
• Higher customer retention and better repeat purchase rates

Unzer handles credit checks, risk and receivables management. Merchants are paid out regardless of when end customers pay. According to Unzer’s internal analysis, integrating white label BNPL can increase conversion by up to 18%—especially among customers who do not wish to use wallets or third-party logins.

Ratepay – White label solution for large merchants

Ratepay (part of the Nexi Group since 2023) is one of the leading BNPL providers in the DACH region. As a white label solution, Ratepay is invisible at checkout. There is no dedicated app and no account required for end customers.

BNPL models

• Purchase on account
• Direct debit
• Pay-in-3 (3 interest-free instalments)

Ratepay mainly serves larger merchants with high transaction volumes and focuses on e-commerce. For more complex omnichannel or POS scenarios, Ratepay is less suitable.

Riverty – Flexible BNPL solution

Riverty (part of the Bertelsmann group, formerly AfterPay) offers purchase on account, instalment payments, and direct debit for merchants across Europe. A special feature is "consolidated invoices", where multiple purchases can be merged into one bill.

BNPL models

• Invoice purchase
• Instalment payment
• Direct debit

Riverty assumes the default risk and is particularly suitable for large retail and platform models. White label capability is only partially available.

PayPal – broad user base, but no white label

PayPal combines wallet functionality with BNPL products such as invoice or instalment purchase. The main advantage lies in its high brand recognition and rapid integration. However, checkout sometimes takes place outside the merchant’s website—in the PayPal environment. For merchants, this means: no white label, less control over the customer journey, restricted data ownership, and dependency on PayPal accounts.

BNPL Models

• Invoice purchase (30 days)
• Instalments, Pay-in-3

Alma – Pay-in-3/4 for DTC and Shopify

Alma is a French BNPL specialist focused on Pay-in-3 and Pay-in-4—splitting a payment into three or four interest-free instalments.

The solution is especially suited for smaller webshops, younger target audiences, and higher basket values. Alma is less suitable for classic invoice scenarios or complex omnichannel models, and does not offer a white label solution.

BNPL Models

• Pay-in-3, Pay-in-4
• Longer-term instalments for larger baskets

EasyCredit – Instalment solution with a banking customer model

EasyCredit, a TeamBank AG product, offers BNPL solutions online and at the POS. Designed for high-value goods, with terms from 3 to 36 months. The business model’s distinctive feature: EasyCredit uses instalment purchases as entry to a broader banking relationship—end customers actively receive offers for further TeamBank products. For merchants, this means customer contact post-purchase is owned by the provider, not the merchant. White label is only partially possible—EasyCredit is visible at checkout and mainly focused on Germany and Austria.

BNPL Models

• Instalment purchase (3–36 months)
• Invoice purchase

What is white label BNPL and why do merchants benefit?

With branded BNPL solutions like Klarna or PayPal, the payment provider is visible at checkout. This not only influences brand perception but also conversion and customer loyalty.

White label BNPL takes a different approach: the entire payment process and customer communication are under the merchant's brand.

Buy now, pay later: White label vs branded solutions compared

White label BNPL is not just a matter of branding. It is a strategic decision for data sovereignty, brand control and sustainable customer relationships. This distinction is increasingly relevant for merchants focused on repeat purchases, CRM, and omnichannel strategies.

Providers like Klarna and PayPal communicate directly with your customers and build their own relationships with them.

Conclusion: The right BNPL solution depends on your business model

The BNPL market is evolving dynamically—along with the demands on modern payment processes. For merchants, it’s no longer just about offering additional payment options. More decisive are factors such as conversion, brand presence, data ownership, and a seamless customer journey.

It is in particular increasingly important to consider how visibly the payment provider appears at checkout and how much control the merchant retains over customer data, communication, and brand perception.

White label BNPL solutions offer clear advantages here: they enable a consistent shopping experience under your own brand and reduce breaks in the customer journey. At the same time, online and offline processes can increasingly be connected within a single integrated solution.

For merchants using BNPL strategically to drive conversion and strengthen their brand, flexible and integratable solutions are ever more important.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about Klarna alternatives

Which Klarna alternative provides secure instalment payments for online shops?

Unzer, Ratepay and Riverty offer secure instalment payment models with risk management and payment guarantee. Merchants are paid out regardless of when end customers pay.

Which Klarna alternative is most suitable for flexible instalments and purchase on account?

For merchants wishing to offer both invoice and flexible instalment models, providers which centrally map both types of payment and integrate them seamlessly into checkout are ideal—such as BNPL specialist Unzer.

Which Klarna alternatives enable instant instalment payment directly at checkout?

Unzer and EasyCredit offer instant instalment payment options directly at checkout—without media disruption or third-party app redirects. Credit check and approval are performed in real time.

Which Klarna alternative also accepts customers with weaker credit?

This depends heavily on each provider’s risk engine. For example, Unzer uses a multi-dimensional risk analysis (creditworthiness, shopping behaviour, fraud indicators) to optimise for high approval rates while maintaining low default risk. Specific approval rates are agreed individually.

Which Klarna alternative offers buyer protection and easy refunds?

Most established BNPL providers offer buyer protection mechanisms. For white label solutions like Unzer, returns and refunds are handled under the merchant's brand—no third-party branding, no redirects to third-party apps.

Which instalment provider is suitable as a Klarna alternative for high-value products?

For larger basket values and longer payment terms, instalment solutions with flexible financing models such as EasyCredit and Unzer are particularly suitable. These models play an important role especially in the furniture, electronics, and household sectors.

Which Klarna alternative supports both purchase on account and direct debit?

Unzer, Ratepay and Riverty all offer both payment methods: purchase on account and direct debit. Unzer combines these options with full white label branding. Both payment options are in high demand, especially in the DACH region.

Which Klarna alternative is suitable for international online purchases?

Unzer focuses on the DACH region and the Netherlands. Riverty and Ratepay are also active in several European countries and are suitable for e-commerce within Europe. PayPal offers the broadest global coverage, but without a white label approach. Alma focuses on selected European markets such as France, Spain, and Germany.

Which Klarna alternative is suitable for digital products and subscriptions?

Digital products and subscriptions have particular requirements for credit checks and risk management. Unzer and Ratepay cover these use cases. Note: For digital goods without a right of return, different legal requirements apply, so merchants should consult with each provider.