Back Market offers payment plans through Affirm, Klarna, and Afterpay, depending on your location and the seller
Back Market itself does not issue payment plans. Instead, the marketplace connects you to third-party lenders at checkout. When you buy a refurbished device, you see payment options from Affirm, Klarna, or Afterpay — which one appears depends on where you live and which sellers accept which lenders. You choose the plan at checkout, the lender funds the purchase, and you repay the lender, not Back Market.
The structure matters because it changes who you contact if something goes wrong. If your device arrives broken, Back Market handles the return. If you miss a payment or dispute a charge, you work with the lender. The two processes run separately.
Key Takeaways
- Back Market uses Affirm, Klarna, and Afterpay for payment plans; which lender you see depends on your location and the seller's setup.
- Payment plan terms vary by lender — Affirm offers 3, 6, and 12-month plans with interest that depends on your credit; Klarna and Afterpay split purchases into 4 interest-free installments.
- You must be approved by the lender before checkout completes, and approval is based on a soft credit check that does not affect your credit score.
- Back Market handles device returns and refunds; the lender handles payment disputes and missed payments.
- Not all sellers on Back Market accept all lenders, so payment plan availability changes by device and seller.
Which lenders appear at Back Market checkout
Affirm is the most widely available option on Back Market. It offers plans of 3, 6, and 12 months, and the interest rate depends on your credit profile — some customers see 0% APR, others see rates between 10% and 30%. Affirm shows you the exact rate and total cost before you confirm the purchase.
Klarna splits your purchase into four equal payments due every two weeks, with no interest if you pay on time. It is available in the US, UK, and some other regions. Afterpay works the same way — four payments, two weeks apart, interest-free — and is available in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.
Which lender you see at checkout depends on your location and whether the specific seller has connected that lender to their Back Market account. A device from one seller might show Affirm and Klarna; the same device from another seller might show only Affirm. If you do not see a payment plan option, that seller has not set one up.
How approval works before you complete the purchase
When you select a payment plan at checkout, the lender runs a soft credit check — a quick review of your credit history that does not lower your credit score. Approval usually takes seconds to a few minutes. If you are approved, you see the exact payment schedule and total cost, and you can complete the purchase.
If you are declined, you can try a different lender if one is available, or pay the full price upfront. Back Market does not store your payment plan process, so if you return later, you will go through approval again.
The lender's decision is based on your credit history, income (if they ask), and current debt. Having a thin credit file or recent missed payments makes approval less likely, but each lender has different standards. Affirm tends to approve a wider range of credit profiles than Klarna or Afterpay.
Payment schedules and what happens if you miss a payment
Affirm sends payment reminders by email and text before each due date. If you miss a payment, Affirm typically gives you a grace period of a few days before charging a late fee. Repeated missed payments can result in your account being sent to collections, which damages your credit score.
Klarna and Afterpay are stricter about timing. Payments are due on a fixed schedule — every two weeks for both — and missing a payment can result in an when ready late fee and a report to the credit bureaus. Both lenders also have the right to suspend your account if you miss multiple payments.
If you have trouble making a payment, contact the lender directly before the due date. Affirm, Klarna, and Afterpay all offer hardship options or payment deferrals in some cases, though availability varies.
What happens to your payment plan if you return the device
If you return the device to Back Market within the return window, Back Market processes the refund. The refund goes back to the lender, not to your original payment method. The lender then cancels or adjusts your payment plan.
The timing matters. If you return the device before your first payment is due, the lender typically cancels the plan entirely and you owe nothing. If you have already made one or more payments, the refund reduces what you owe, and you continue making payments on the remaining balance — or the lender may cancel the plan and refund your payments, depending on their policy.
Back Market's return window is usually 30 days. Check your order confirmation for the exact important date. Once you initiate a return through Back Market, contact the lender to confirm how the refund will affect your payment plan.
Comparing the three lenders on cost and flexibility
| Lender | Plan Structure | Interest | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affirm | 3, 6, or 12 months | 0% to 30% APR depending on credit | Larger purchases; longer repayment periods |
| Klarna | 4 payments, every 2 weeks | 0% if on-time | Smaller purchases; quick repayment |
| Afterpay | 4 payments, every 2 weeks | 0% if on-time | Smaller purchases; quick repayment |
Affirm is the best choice if you want to spread payments over several months and can may have access to for 0% APR. Klarna and Afterpay are better if you want to pay off the device quickly and do not want to risk interest charges. The trade-off is that Klarna and Afterpay require payments every two weeks, which can be tight if your paycheck comes monthly.
For a $400 refurbished phone, Affirm at 0% over 12 months costs about $33 per month. The same phone through Klarna costs $100 every two weeks for eight weeks. The total is the same, but the payment rhythm is different.
When payment plans are not available
Not every device on Back Market qualifies for a payment plan. Very cheap items — typically under $50 — may not be offered by any lender because the transaction is too small. Some sellers have not connected any lender to their account, so their listings show no payment option at all.
Your location also matters. Affirm is available in all 50 US states. Klarna is available in the US, UK, and select other countries. Afterpay is available in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. If you are outside these regions, you will not see these options.
If no payment plan is available for the device you want, you can pay the full price upfront with a credit or debit card, or look for the same device from a different seller who may have set up a payment plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does using a Back Market payment plan hurt my credit score?
The initial approval check is a soft inquiry and does not affect your score. However, once you are approved and the lender funds the purchase, the account appears on your credit report. Making on-time payments helps your score; missed payments hurt it.
Can I pay off my Back Market payment plan early?
Yes. Affirm, Klarna, and Afterpay all allow early payoff without penalty. Contact the lender directly or log into your account to pay the remaining balance in full.
What if the device arrives broken and I have a payment plan?
Contact Back Market to start a return. Back Market processes the return and refund separately from the lender. Once the refund is issued to the lender, contact the lender to confirm how it affects your payment plan — usually the plan is canceled or adjusted based on the refund amount.
Can I change my payment plan after I buy the device?
No. The payment plan is locked in at checkout. If you want a different plan, you would need to pay off the current plan in full and make a new purchase with a different lender.
What happens if I do not make a payment on time?
The lender charges a late fee and may report the missed payment to credit bureaus. Contact the lender when ready if you cannot pay on time — they may offer a deferral or adjustment depending on your situation.