PayPal Pay in 4 Reviews – Pros and Cons in 2024

Consumers love having options. 

Whether it’s color variations, sizes, updates, or vintage, you name it. Consumers enjoy having a variety to choose from. 

So why not have options when it comes to paying? 

PayPal Pay in 4 is fantastic because it’s an option to pay differently. 

Keep reading to find out more about this growing buy now, pay later (BNPL) service. 

I’ll also explain how to use PayPal Pay in 4 and examine some PayPal Pay in 4 reviews with you. 

What is PayPal Pay in 4?

PayPal Pay in 4 is a buy now pay later (BNPL) service that lets you make purchases between $30 – $1,500 and pay them off in four installments over six weeks. 

What’s even better is this feature comes without interest or late fees. 

You pay the first installment at checkout and the remaining three every second week following.

It’s available everywhere in the U.S. except Missouri, Nevada, and New Mexico. However, this may change as PayPal is constantly expanding.

So if you’re struggling to qualify for personal loans with bad credit but have a PayPal account in good standing, PayPal Pay in 4 is a handy alternative. 

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How To Use PayPal Pay in 4

Are you considering using PayPal Pay in 4? Follow this five-step guide on how to use PayPal Pay in 4 responsibly:

1. Sign up for a PayPal account
2. Shop at your favorite stores
3. Select “PayPal Pay Later”
4. Confirm your purchase
5. Manage your purchases

Step 1: Sign Up For A PayPal Account

If you already have a PayPal account, skip this step and start shopping at your favorite stores. But if you’re new to PayPal, head to PayPal.com, sign up for a free account and link your bank account or credit card.

This only takes a few minutes. Unlike other buy now, pay later services, you won’t have to complete an entire application process and confirm your identity. PayPal approves each purchase individually, so once you have an account, feel free to shop around.

Step 2: Shop At Your Favorite Stores

PayPal Pay in 4 works with thousands of retailers worldwide. A few famous examples include:

• Best Buy
• Nike
• The Home Depot
• GameStop
• Adidas

But keep in mind that PayPal will reject most recurring subscriptions. You won’t be able to use PayPal Pay in 4 to sign up for services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Hulu. 

The same goes for internet and electricity bills. Even if your provider accepts PayPal on their website, PayPal Pay in 4 will rarely approve a recurring bill. This is to prevent consumers from overusing and abusing the buy now, pay later option. 

PayPal Pay in 4 typically works with online retailers for one-time purchases. So shop like you usually would, and after adding something to your cart, go to checkout.

Step 3: Select “PayPal Pay Later”

Under payment options, you’ll find a PayPal pay later button. Select this button, and you’ll be prompted to log into your PayPal account and choose your shipping address and credit card.

If you want to pay off your personal loan over six weeks, click the PayPal Pay in 4 option. You can spend between $30 and $1,500 at once, but it’s rare for PayPal to approve you for $1,500 immediately. They’ll start you off with smaller totals, and as you build trust, you can borrow more.

Step 4: Confirm Your Purchase

Before completing your purchase, PayPal will present you with a summary of your payments. 

For example, if you’re buying something worth $100, PayPal tells you that you’ll pay $25 every two weeks starting today. You’ll also find the exact date that each payment is due so you can add it to your calendar as a reminder.

Once you’ve confirmed everything, PayPal takes a few seconds to approve your purchase. 

If PayPal rejects your purchase, they’ll forward a detailed email letting you know the reason why your purchase was declined. This allows you to improve and increase your chances of approval next time.

Step 5: Manage Your Purchases

After you’ve made your purchase, head to your PayPal mobile app or website account, and you’ll be able to track your buying history and the dates of future payments.

But I recommend using PayPal Pay in 4 to only make one-time purchases. 

This is because PayPal withdraws money from your bank account every second week. These frequent withdrawals can be overwhelming, especially if you’re already in credit card debt.

PayPal Pay in 4 Vs. PayPal Credit

When checking out, you’ll notice an option to pay with PayPal Credit. This is another financing tool that allows you to make bigger purchases. 

Here are the primary differences between PayPal Pay in 4 and PayPal Credit:

PayPal Pay in 4	PayPal Credit
Make four payments every second week for six weeks	Loans are paid monthly for six, 12, or up to 24 months
No interest	Interest ranges from zero to 29.99%
Borrow between $30 and $1,500	You can borrow between $199 and $10,000

Is PayPal Pay in 4 Legit?

PayPal Pay in 4 is a reputable buy now, pay later provider. There isn’t a designated app for the Pay in 4 feature, but the overall PayPal app has an App Store rating of 4.8 stars. 

It uses end-to-end encryption and two-factor authentication to secure transactions. So from an organizational point of view, PayPal is legit.

The problem is that the PayPal support team rarely responds to customer emails, and this can make solving technical issues feel impossible. Most users’ biggest complaints are about PayPal’s poor customer service. 

This is something to take into account if you ever run into any issues that require support. 

Is PayPal Pay in 4 Safe?

PayPal utilizes the best security measures, such as end-to-end encryption and two-factor authentication, so your personal data won’t leak into the wrong hands. 

Also, PayPal’s financial records are available online since it’s a public company traded on NASDAQ. You can see how much money PayPal makes and what industry practices it employs.

However, PayPal may share your data with third-party advertisers, so this is something to watch out for if you want to keep your personal information private.

PayPal Pay in 4 Reviews

Here are some PayPal Pay in 4 reviews from existing customers.

However, PayPal Pay in 4 also has some drawbacks to watch out for.

You’ll notice that in some PayPal Pay in 4 reviews complaints are made about how challenging it can be to get access to this feature. 

Although they don’t necessarily look into your credit history, PayPal uses your PayPal account records to determine if you’d be a good candidate for their Pay in 4 option. 

Commonly Asked Questions About PayPal Pay in 4

Does PayPal Pay in 4 Check Credit?

PayPal Pay in 4 conducts a soft credit check upon checkout instead of a hard inquiry, so it won’t affect your credit score. It only takes a few seconds, and during this time, PayPal reviews your credit report and analyzes your payment history.

Does PayPal in 4 Affect Credit Score?

PayPal Pay in 4 doesn’t affect your credit score as they only run a soft credit check. PayPal will conduct this check every time you buy something. Luckily it only takes a few seconds, and you’ll receive an update immediately.

For more ways to make payments on your purchases without impacting your credit score, check out these no credit check shopping sites.

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• Rocket Money vs YNAB
• Rocket Money vs Simplifi
• Rocket Money vs Copilot

Then use a net worth tracker to see how your new financial strategies are paying off. 

Who Accepts PayPal Pay in 4?

Stores like Best Buy, Nike, Target, and Bed Bath & Beyond accept PayPal Pay in 4. If you want a complete list of all retailers that work alongside PayPal, you can find a full partner list on the PayPal website or in the PayPal mobile app. 

PayPal Pay in 4 Requirements?

To qualify for PayPal’s Pay in 4, you must be 18 years old and currently living in an eligible state within the US. PayPal currently works in all states except ​​Missouri, Nevada, and New Mexico. You must also have a valid U.S. credit card that you can link to your PayPal account.

Why is PayPal Not Letting Me Do Pay in 4?

PayPal Pay in 4 isn’t currently available in ​​Missouri, Nevada, and New Mexico. So, the main reason people don’t see Pay in 4 as an option is that they don’t live in a participating state. Another reason could be that the purchase amount isn’t between $30 and $1,500.

How Does PayPal Pay in 4 Work?

To get started with PayPal Pay in 4, create a PayPal account and shop like you normally would. During checkout, select “PayPal Pay Later.” Within a few seconds, PayPal runs a soft credit check, and if you meet the minimum requirements, the Pay in 4 option will appear. 

PayPal Pay in 4 Limit?

PayPal Pay in 4 has a spending limit of $1,500. This can be a benefit as it means your installment payments will also be limited to lower amounts. 

What Are PayPal Pay in 4 Alternatives?

• Sezzle (read full Sezzle review here)
• Perpay (read this full PerPay review to learn more)
• Afterpay (read these Afterpay reviews to learn more)
• Affirm (read these Affirm reviews to learn more)
• Zilch (read this full Zilch review to learn more)
• Nelo (read this Nelo review to learn more)
• Klarna (read these Klarna reviews to learn more)
• Zip (read these Zip reviews)
• Splitit (read this Splitit review to learn more)
• Apple Pay Later (read this Apple Pay Later review to learn more)
• Sunbit (read this Sunbit review to learn more)