If you’ve heard the razz about the popularity of buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) apps and asked yourself, “What is Zip Pay (sometimes referred to as Zip,) and is it considered a shop-now-pay-later option?” you’re in the right place. Zip Pay is a program that allows you to make interest-free payments on a purchase over six weeks, and you get to enjoy the purchase while you make the payments.
The Zip brand offers three different financial products: Zip Pay, Zip Money, and Zip Trade. This post covers the details of Zip Pay.
Key Features of Zip Pay
- Zip Pay can be used at any retailer that accepts Visa.
- Zip Pay charges an installment fee on each purchase, and a late fee if you don’t make your payment on time.
- Zip Pay is not an open line of credit. Each transaction is individually reviewed for approval.
- A soft credit check determines the amount of credit you have to spend (called your ‘spending power’.) It does not affect your credit score or show up on a credit report as an inquiry.
- You cannot get cash returned to you when using Zip Pay as the payment option in a retail store.
- Zip Pay has a minimum and maximum purchase amount. Keep reading to find out how to get around this requirement.
- Zip Pay cards are only good to make one purchase at a time – even if you make two purchases in the same store at the same time, you will be required to use two different Zip cards.
- Once issued, a Zip card automatically expires in two weeks. Some online retailers, such as Amazon, don’t charge you until the order ships. In cases like this, if an order does not ship for more than two weeks your Zip payment will be declined since the card will be expired.
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How Does Zip Work?
Zip Pay allows you to break any purchase into four installments.
You can use the app to pay for your purchases once you download the app and attach your payment source (a credit or debit card). Zip then bills your payment source four times: Once on the day of purchase (your first payment) and three times every two weeks after that.
The easiest way to use Zip is to download the app to make purchases in-store and online.
Is There a Minimum Purchase Size When Using Zip?
Decline notice from Zip Pay when attempting to make a purchase of less than $35.
Yes, the minimum purchase of $35 is required.
If you enter an amount under $35, the transaction will be declined when you try to create the virtual card.
Is There a Maximum Purchase Size When Using Zip?
Yes. When your application for an account is approved, Zip calculates your spending limit. Transactions that exceed your limit will be refused, depending on your plan.
If the purchase amount exceeds your permitted limit, you may be given the option of leaving a down payment on specific products. So, if the purchase is $150 and your budget is $100, Zip may allow you to pay $60 in advance.
This lowers your balance ($90) below your $100 limit. The remaining payments would be broken down into three $30 installments.
Can I Use Zip to Pay Bills?
You can use Zip to pay bills if the company accepts Visa as a payment method.
Do Products You Buy With Zip Ship After First Payment?
Yes, your purchase ships when it is ordered the same as if you used any other method of payment.
Zip is not a layaway plan, so you get to use your items right away and pay for them on a payment plan while you enjoy the purchase.
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Is There a Credit Limit?
The credit limit on your Zip account is the amount that is set as your spending limit once your account is approved.
If you try to spend any amount over your spending limit, the transaction will be declined.
However, once you have established a positive paying history with Zip Pay, you may be given the option to spend more than your spending limit. If you choose to do this, your first payment will be larger to reflect the bigger purchase.
For example, if your spending limit is set at $100 but Zip approves you to spend $150, your first payment might be $60 instead of the typical $25.
When the following three payments are due (with $90 remaining to be paid) they would be $30 each.
What is the Difference Between Zip Pay and Zip Money?
The Zip brand offers three different products: Zip Pay, Zip Money, and Zip Trade.
In looking at the differences between Zip Pay and Zip Money (the two most frequently used), both products are single-use cards that can be used at any retail location or online store that accepts Visa.
Quote directly from the Zip website:
“We offer two consumer products for our customers: Zip Money and Zip Pay. Both products feature our Single-Use card. You can use any Zip account at any Zip retailer, additionally, you can use our Shop Everywhere feature at any online retailer!”
Here is a breakdown of each product for comparison:
Zip Pay vs Zip Money
ZIP PAY | ZIP MONEY | |
Online & In-Store | Yes | Yes |
Reusable | Yes/One-Time Use Per Card | Yes |
Payment | $40 – $80 per Month [depending on credit limit] | Greater of $40 per Month or 3% of Balance Due |
Fees | $1 per Installment + $7.95 per Month if Balance is not Paid by Due Date | 99 Cents – $7.95 per Month Depending on Balance at End of Month |
Credit Limit | $350 – $1,000 | $1,000 – $5,000 [up to $50,000 with private merchant account] |
Interest | No | 0% First 3 Months, 19.9% After Promotions Expire |
Repay Method | Direct Debit using Credit or Debit Card | Direct Debit using Debit Card or Bank Account |
Pay Personal Bills | Yes | Yes |
Shop Everywhere Available | Yes | Yes |
Mobile App [tap and zip] | Yes | No |
 | ||
Does Zip Affect Your Credit Score?
Using this app for financing can affect your credit score if you miss a payment.
In the Terms and Conditions under section 4.2 Collection, the consumer agrees to make their payments on schedule and if they default on a payment, quote:
“We may report information about this Agreement to credit bureaus. Late payments, missed payments, or other defaults on this Agreement may be reflected in your credit report.”
Does Zip Check Credit?
Yes, Zip Pay will check your credit when you complete an application for an account. In the Terms and Conditions under section 3.3 Credit Bureau Reporting, quote:
“You authorize us to investigate your creditworthiness and to obtain consumer reports about you in connection with your application for the right to use our Services and for as long as your account is open and/or this Agreement is in effect.”
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Does Zip Report Your Activity to Credit Bureaus?
If the funds are not available when a payment is due, Zip may report the late installment to the credit bureaus per their Terms of Service section 3.3.
What Credit Score Do You Need to Use Zip?
As far as I can tell after extensive research, there isn’t a ‘hard and fast’ rule for needing a specific credit score to qualify for a Zip Pay account.
By making a soft pull on your credit report to approve or deny you for a Zip account, there are likely multiple aspects of your credit history that are taken into consideration.
Does Zip Charge Interest?
Zip Pay does not charge interest when you use its funds to make a purchase.
Does Zip Charge Fees?
Yes, Zip charges fees to use their program.
The fees can be an installment fee, late fee, or monthly account fee.
Installment Fees
There is a charge of $1 per installment on every purchase. This means if you keep the regular payment plan of paying off the balance in four payments, your purchase will cost an additional $4 in Zip installment fees.
However, if you pay off the purchase in less than four payments (meaning you pay it off early), you will save $1 on each installment fee you skipped.
Late Fees
Zip Pay charges an initial late fee of $7 if the funds are not in your account when an installment payment is due.
However, Zip is open to the possibility of reversing this fee (they refund it back to you) if you contact them and make the request.
Monthly Account Fee
Zip charges a monthly account fee of $7.95 if the customer does not pay off the statement balance by the due date.
A monthly account fee will never be charged as long as installments are paid on time, or at least all payments are caught up and paid by the due date.
Stores That Accept Zip
Any store that accepts Visa is a store that accepts Zip, both online and in-store.
Using the Zip App, simply create your virtual Zip Visa credit card, then use the number to pay for your purchase. If you are shopping in-store, the credit card number can be entered manually, or if the retailer accepts Apple Pay and you use a smartphone, you can add the Zip Pay card to your Apple Wallet or Google Pay.
How to Use Zip Online
Shopping online with Zip Pay is a simple process.
- Find the retailer that carries the products you need
- Add the items to your cart, tap ‘Pay with Zip’
- Check the cart total to be sure the amount matches your payment request
- Check out using your Zip virtual one-time card to complete your purchase