BNPL for Shopify: Unzer, Riverty, Alma, Klarna & PayPal (2026)

Shopify merchants in the DACH region are faced with a growing range of “Buy now, pay later” (BNPL) solutions. Which one suits your own shop depends less on brand recognition, and more on two factors: which BNPL models are offered, and how deeply the solution integrates into the Shopify checkout.

This comparison presents five BNPL providers for Shopify: Unzer, Riverty, Alma, Klarna, and PayPal. The focus is exclusively on BNPL payment methods such as invoice purchase, instalment payment, and Pay-in-3/4 from each provider. You will learn how the five solutions can be technically integrated into Shopify, which target groups they reach, and what to consider when making your choice.

BNPL on Shopify: Native Integration vs. App Ecosystem

Shopify fundamentally distinguishes between two integration methods for BNPL:

• Native in Shopify Payments: Klarna and PayPal Pay Later can be activated directly in Shopify Payments’ payment settings, with no extra app installation required.
• Via the Shopify App Store: Unzer, Riverty, and Alma provide their BNPL payment methods as separate apps, which merchants can install in addition to or instead of Shopify Payments.

With App Store solutions, it’s worth checking who actually developed and maintains the app: With a provider-owned app, development, maintenance, and support are handled by the payment provider itself, meaning one contact for integration, operation, and troubleshooting. With other solutions, an external partner agency handles technical implementation based on the provider's API. In this case, merchants may need to deal with two contacts for different issues.

Overview: 5 BNPL Providers for Shopify

Comparison: Integration and Setup

Comparison: BNPL Models and Target Group

In Depth: 5 “Buy now, pay later” Providers for Shopify

Unzer – Provider-Owned Apps, Fully Whitelabel Capable

Unzer offers an official Shopify app for invoice purchase and for instalment payment – both developed, operated, and supported by Unzer directly. No-code integration can be completed in under an hour and runs directly in the native Shopify checkout, with no redirection to an external payment page.

• No registration required: The solution works for any customer of legal age, as no prior registration with a wallet or provider is needed. Date of birth is sufficient for the credit check.
• Fully whitelabel capable: Checkout, invoicing, payment reminders, and instalment overview are all in the shop's branding, with no visible Unzer logo.
• Risk assumption and fast payouts: Unzer handles credit checks, claims management, and the risk of default; merchants receive their payout regardless of customer payment behaviour.
• Local support: 24/7 German-speaking customer service and a personal account manager for larger merchants.
• Free extra: Unzer Checkout Booster app: This allows merchants to display available BNPL options already on the product or cart page – for additional optimisation of order value and conversion.

Target audience: Shopify merchants in the DACH region who want to offer invoice purchase and instalment payment as independent, brand-consistent payment methods, suitable for both smaller shops and larger Shopify Plus stores.

Costs: Terms are agreed individually depending on payment method, volume, and contract.

Riverty – Integration via Partner Agency

Riverty provides invoice purchase and instalment payment through a Shopify app, developed and maintained not by Riverty itself but by Swiss partner agency TFTW.

• Risk assumption: Riverty takes over credit checks and the risk of default for invoice and instalment payments.
• Partly whitelabel capable: Checkout can be customised, but, depending on configuration, may also display visible Riverty branding.
• Two contacts: Payment processing via Riverty, app support and maintenance via TFTW – meaning possibly two different contacts for enquiries or issues.

Target audience: Retail merchants and marketplaces focused on Germany, Austria, and other European markets.

Costs: Transaction fees are agreed directly with Riverty; additional fees may apply to TFTW for app support.

Alma – Pay-in-2, Pay-in-3 and Pay-in-4 for Smaller Baskets

Alma specialises in BNPL with a focus on short-term, interest-free instalments. For Shopify, several provider-owned apps are available, each for a specific instalment model.

• Short instalment models: Pay-in-2, Pay-in-3, and Pay-in-4 split a purchase amount into two, three, or four interest-free payments.
• Account required: Purchase completion requires an Alma account; those unwilling or unable to register cannot use this payment method.
• No whitelabel: Checkout is visibly under the Alma brand.
• Separate displaying widget: The Alma badge displays instalment options on the product page.
• Credit card required: Consumers need a credit card to use Alma BNPL.

Target audience: Small to medium-sized shops focusing on short-term instalment payments for small to mid-size baskets.

Costs: Alma charges a transaction-based commission without monthly fees; merchants can pass costs on to customers or bear them themselves.

Klarna – Native Integration, Branded and Account-Based

Klarna can be activated directly via Shopify Payments settings and covers invoice purchase, Pay-in-3/4, and instalment payment.

• Account/login required: Purchase completion requires a Klarna account and login with a one-time password, which can take up to 50 seconds. Those without an account or unwilling to create one cannot use the payment method.
• No whitelabel: Invoices and reminders come clearly from Klarna, not from the merchant.
• Quick activation: No separate app needed; enabled directly in Shopify Payments settings.
• Separate messaging app available: Klarna On-Site Messaging shows invoice purchase and instalment options on the product and cart pages.

Target audience: B2C retail with a younger, smartphone-focused demographic already familiar with Klarna.

Costs: Fees vary by business profile and market conditions, and are individually agreed with Klarna.

PayPal – Part of Shopify Payments, Requires PayPal Account

PayPal Pay Later is natively integrated into Shopify Payments and covers invoice purchase, instalment payment, and Pay-in-3.

• Account required: Purchase completion requires an existing PayPal account; those without an account or unwilling to register cannot use PayPal Pay Later.
• No whitelabel: Checkout is clearly under the PayPal brand.
• Quick activation: No extra app necessary; enabled directly in Shopify Payments settings.
• Separate messaging app available: PayPal Pay Later Messaging shows instalment amounts alongside product prices.

Target audience: Broad B2C online retail with customers who already have a PayPal account.

Costs: Regular PayPal transaction fees apply for Pay Later; the additional instalment fee is usually borne by the customer, not the merchant.

Whitelabel vs. Branded BNPL Solutions in Shopify Checkout

With branded solutions like Klarna and PayPal, the payment provider features visibly at checkout: its own logo, communications, and direct customer relationship.

With a whitelabel approach like Unzer’s, the entire customer journey remains within the merchant's brand – from selecting the payment option, through invoicing, to payment reminders. For Shopify merchants who value consistent brand experience and a first-party customer relationship, whitelabel capability is therefore a key selection criterion, alongside setup effort and supported payment types.

Conclusion

Shopify merchants in the DACH region have two fundamentally different routes:

• The native, quick-to-activate integration of Klarna and PayPal Pay Later via Shopify Payments – both branded and account-based,
• Or a provider-owned app like Unzer's, which enables invoice purchase without a customer account, provides full risk assumption, and allows the entire process to remain fully in the merchant's branding.

Riverty and Alma each cover specific niches: Riverty focuses on Germany and Austria through the TFTW partner agency, while Alma is aimed at Pay-in-3/4 for smaller baskets outside the classic DACH invoice purchase model. The right solution depends on your target group, the desired level of brand control, and the setup effort your shop is willing to invest.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about BNPL on Shopify

What does BNPL cost for Shopify merchants?

Fees depend amongst other things on sales volume, the selected Shopify plan, and negotiated terms – comparing several providers is worthwhile.

Who assumes the risk of default for invoice and instalment payments?

All five providers in this comparison – Unzer, Riverty, Alma, Klarna, and PayPal – take on credit checks and the risk of default: The payout to the merchant is independent of customer payment behaviour. This distinguishes BNPL solutions from classic manual invoicing without a payment service provider, where the merchant bears the risk.

Which BNPL provider suits which Shopify shop?

This mainly depends on three factors: target markets, desired level of brand control at checkout, and whether a quick native activation or a deeper, whitelabel integration is more important. Those who value a consistently branded checkout without external logos will find this with a provider-owned app like Unzer’s, rather than with branded solutions. The comparison tables earlier in this article offer a structured overview by integration, setup, and BNPL models.

What happens in the case of a refund if BNPL was used?

The merchant initiates the refund as usual via Shopify; the money goes first to the BNPL provider, which then pays it to the customer. This extra step can slightly delay refunds compared to direct card payments. For Unzer, for example, this reconciliation runs automatically via synchronisation between Shopify and the Unzer Dashboard.

Do you always need a customer account for invoice purchase in Shopify checkout?

No, it depends on the provider. With some solutions, for example Unzer invoice purchase, a single data field such as date of birth is sufficient for the credit check, with no registration or login required. Other providers require an existing customer account or login before purchase, e.g. PayPal.