You may be familiar with buy now, pay later sites. Instead of paying cash upfront, they allow you to pay in installments when you buy everyday items like clothing, electronics, furniture, and more. One such company is Fingerhut, a catalog and online retailer that’s been around since 1948.
But Fingerhut isn’t the only retailer offering buy now, pay later arrangements to customers. We’ve compiled a list of the best Fingerhut alternatives that can help you shop and build credit simultaneously. Read the full details on each site to learn more about what they sell, how financing works, and any other details you may want to know before shopping.
These are different than services like Affirm, which offers Buy Now Pay Later services to merchants.
Table of Contents
1. HSN
HSN (also called Home Shopping Network) is a store you’ll find online and on TV. Like Fingerhut, you can buy pretty much anything here. HSN sells clothing, kitchen items, home decor items, linens and more, beauty products and accessories, fashion accessories, shoes, and more.
However, expect limitations on offerings of kids’ items and pet items. They do have some, but Fingerhut has a larger selection.
You can choose ExtraFlex or VIP Financing when you shop and buy on HSN. ExtraFlex gives you low payments, but check the interest rates as they are often high. On their website, HSN states the ExtraFlex interest rate is 26.99% as of this writing.
VIP Financing gives you interest-free payments on purchases of $399 or more. However, you’ll need to qualify, and most applicants will need stronger credit.
Also, for a limited time, we have a $20 off $40 or more purchase promo code – HELLO10.
2. Venue
Venue offers the following types of items for sale:
- Clothing and accessories for men, women, and kids
- Appliances, cookware, bedding, decor, furniture, and other home items
- Tech and electronics
- Sports and outdoor equipment
- Musical instruments
- Auto Accessories
Like Fingerhut, Venue has several financing options, including a “no credit needed” option. This is essentially a lease-to-buy option. With lease-to-buy financing, you’ll pay a low monthly payment, eventually leading to ownership of the purchased item. However, if you stop making payments, the money you’ve paid toward ownership of the item is usually forfeited.
As with most financing offers on these sites, you’ll want to check the interest rate as it could be quite high. However, Venue does tend to be more flexible with the pricing of the items they sell. The site has regular sales and discount codes as well.
This means that you may be able to find better prices on the items you need to buy if you shop through Venue.
3. Ginny’s
Ginny’s is an online shopping site that carries items in the following product categories:
- Shoes and clothing
- Gifts
- Furniture
- Health and wellness items
- Bed and bath items
- Appliances
- Cookware
They issue their own revolving credit accounts, so they can extend credit to people who might have difficulty getting credit elsewhere. If you choose to buy through Ginny’s credit program, make sure to pay on time as the company reports to credit bureaus.
If you have a limited credit history or poor credit, Ginny’s may ask you to put a down payment on purchases.
As you use your Ginny’s credit account and manage it well, making on-time payments and using it regularly, Ginny’s may increase your initial credit limit when it reviews its regular credit accounts. Like most buy now, pay later sites, you may see higher interest rates for credit and potentially higher prices for the items they sell.
4. Stoneberry
Stoneberry is the offspring of a 100+-year-old company based out of Wisconsin. Stoneberry has a large selection of everyday items in the following categories:
- Tools and electronics
- Jewelry and watches
- Home Decor
- Furniture and beds
- Kitchen and dining
- Appliances
- Health and beauty
- Clothing and shoes
- Toys, games, and outdoor items
Like many other sites, Stoneberry offers buy now, pay later credit. You can get approved instantly when you apply online at Stoneberry.
The payments on Stoneberry credit accounts are small, making them more affordable. Payments with Stoneberry credit start as low as $5.99 per month. However, you can expect to pay high-interest rates.
The good news is that Stoneberry does not charge annual fees, membership fees, or over-the-limit fees. Minimum payments increase as your credit balance increases. Balances of over $1,300 will be subject to a minimum payment of 5% of your credit balance.
5. Country Door
Country Door is a long-standing online store that specializes in home decor goods. However, the site also sells other items such as:
- Men’s and women’s clothing, accessories, and shoes
- Holiday Decor
- Gift items for adults, kids, and pets
- Outdoor games
As you may have guessed from the store’s name, the theme at Country Door is farm and country. Most of the items for sale on the site have a distinct farm theme. One exception is the outdoor games and pools with various themes and styles.
Country Door credit accounts feature no annual fee and monthly payments as low as $20. Submit your credit application with your first order, and you’ll know within 24 hours if you are approved for Country Door credit.
Country Door does report to credit bureaus. This means that making on-time payments on your Country Door account may help improve your credit score. Conversely, late payments may lower your credit score.
6. The Swiss Colony
The Swiss Colony is a family-owned business specializing in food gifts. They’ve been in operation since 1926. You can buy a variety of items meant for gift-giving or entertaining from The Swiss Colony, including:
- Meats and cheese
- Candies
- Baked goods
- Cakes and desserts
Each item comes specially packaged in attractive tins or boxes. You can apply to get your Swiss Colony credit account to buy now and pay later. If you don’t get approved right off the bat for Swiss Colony credit, they may offer you credit with a down payment on your purchase.
This is their way of meeting you halfway. Swiss Colony credit is extended directly through The Swiss Colony and not issued through an outside bank. The Swiss Colony reports your credit activity to the major credit bureaus. There is no annual fee to get a credit account with The Swiss Colony.
7. Midnight Velvet
Midnight Velvet is an online site specializing in women’s clothing, shoes, and accessories, but they have some items for men, as well as some home products, like furniture, linens, decor items, and more. These products tend to be very expensive.
When you qualify for Midnight Velvet credit, you can shop with payments as low as $20 per month. There is no minimum purchase required when you buy with Midnight Velvet Credit. Credit is extended directly through the company and not through a bank.
Midnight Velvet reports to major credit bureaus and extends credit to those with damaged credit. However, they may ask you for a down payment for your purchase instead of giving you full credit.
Your interest rate on your Midnight Velvet account depends on your credit history. You can expect to pay anywhere between 5.75% and 25.99%.
8. Seventh Avenue
Seventh Avenue specializes primarily in home decor items and furniture. However, the company also carries women’s clothing, shoes, and accessories. You can also find kids’ clothing, shoes, toys, and gifts for special occasions, like graduations, weddings, anniversaries, etc.
Seventh Avenue’s in-house credit offers low monthly payments and fast approval. A down payment option is available for those who can’t get approved via the company’s regular credit process.
As with other in-store credit terms, you can expect the interest rates with Seventh Avenue credit to be higher, with exact rates being dependent on your credit history.
9. Perpay
Perpay lets you automatically direct a portion of your paycheck towards your BNPL payments made within the app’s marketplace (which includes brands like Apple, Coach, Dyson, KitchenAid, and Sony).
First, you’ll set up an account and receive your spending limit from Perpay. Once your purchase is approved, you’ll be prompted at checkout to set up your payroll direct deposit. This instructs your employer to regularly transfer a portion of your paycheck each payday to Perpay until the purchase is paid off.
Payments are automatically processed with no interest or fees. Once you’ve demonstrated regular repayments, you may get a higher spending limit and even build your credit. That’s because after you complete four months of on-time payments over $200, Perpay will begin reporting your payment history to all three credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion).
There’s also a Perpay credit card that can be used outside of the app, which earns you 3% rewards to be redeemed in Perpay’s marketplace.
10. Zebit
Zebit is an online marketplace offering interest-free, six-month BNPL payment plans for a variety of goods, including:
- Beauty items such as makeup and skincare
- Electronics
- Clothing and accessories
- Fitness and sports equipment
- Food
- Furniture
- Gift cards
- Home and decor items
- Kitchen appliances and cookware
- Automotive tools and tires
Zebit also offers digital gift cards for various restaurants, retail companies, and travel brands. However, there is an 18% handling fee for these.
To shop with Zebit, you’ll first need to set up an account and receive your spending limit — up to $1,500. There’s no credit score requirement, as the platform instead uses your income history to set your limit. There’s also no membership fee for joining Zebit.
Down payment amounts and payment schedules vary depending on the item being purchased and your profile. Payments could be biweekly, weekly, or monthly for up to six months. They also don’t necessarily have to be equal installments. Or, you could pay the full amount when you purchase and not worry about any BNPL payments.
Something important to note is that Zebit doesn’t allow returns or exchanges — so you’ll want to make sure whatever you buy, you’re willing to keep.
Buy Now, Pay Later Apps
While all the above companies offer buy now, pay later options when shopping, there are also BNPL apps that you can use at a variety of businesses online — rather than just the one company offering the service.
These apps typically offer a Pay in 4 plan, although some will also have other payment plan options — typically for an extra fee. They also often come with 0% interest on the basic plan, so as long as you pay off the purchase within those payments, you won’t have to worry about any interest charges.
Here are some of the BNPL app options out there:
PayPal Pay in 4
PayPal is one of the most popular payment options for online shopping — you’ve likely seen a ‘Pay with PayPal’ button at some of your favorite online businesses. This feature lets you pay for your purchases with a credit card or checking account that is linked to your PayPal account.
But if you want to spread out your payments, PayPal now also offers PayPal Pay in 4. This lets you make four interest-free payments biweekly on purchases between $30 and $1,500.
Or, if you’d prefer to pay monthly, you can also do that. But keep in mind that this option comes with interest charges. Your options are 6, 12, and 24-month payment plans, and the purchases must be between $199 and $10,000.
Sezzle
In addition to a Pay in 4 plan, Sezzle also offers a Pay in 2. This lets you split your purchase between two weeks if you know you’ll have the funds to pay it off faster. These two options are free of charge.
However, if you need more time to pay, Sezzle offers payment plans ranging from 3 to 48 months. Just note that you will be charged interest on these longer payment terms, and you’ll also need to sign up for Sezzle’s paid monthly subscription (pricing may vary per person).
The paid plan does include other perks, such as shopping rewards and the ability to reschedule one payment per order. You can also add the Sezzle Virtual Card to your Apple or Google Wallet for in-store purchases.
Another advantage of the paid plan is that it can help you build your credit score if that’s something you’re looking to do. Under the premium plan, your monthly payments will be reported to all three major credit bureaus.
Splitit
If you’re an avid collector of credit card rewards, Splitit may be your preferred BNPL app option. With it, you can split your credit card purchases into equal installments. It works with Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Discover, and UnionPay credit cards, and doesn’t charge interest or come with extra fees.
The benefit here is that since you’re using your existing credit card to make the purchases, you’ll still get all the rewards and protections that your card offers, such as cashback, miles, and transaction insurance. As well, you’re not limited to any purchase amount (such as with Paypal Pay in 4), since you can use the service up to your available credit limit.
Just keep in mind that your payment options are limited with Splitit — there is no biweekly option, so your payments must be monthly. And while Splitit may not charge fees, your credit card’s rates and fees will still apply if you don’t make your monthly payments in full.
What Is Fingerhut?
Fingerhut has been selling mail-order goods to consumers since 1948. Today, they sell items not only through their catalog but also online. Fingerhut caters primarily to low-income clients with limited or bad credit by offering affordable monthly payments for the things they buy.
Their retail selection includes items such as:
- Clothing and shoes for men, women, kids, and babies
- Home and furniture items
- Electronics
- Patio and garden
- Tools and home improvement
- Jewelry and watches
- Toys and games
- Art and craft supplies
- Pet supplies
- Movies and music
You can find just about anything you need at Fingerhut. If you qualify for Fingerhut credit (90% of applicants do), you can make low monthly payments.
How Fingerhut Works
Fingerhut offers two types of credit: A WebBank/Fingerhut credit account and a FreshStart credit account.
The WebBank/Fingerhut credit account is a typical revolving account. The FreshStart account is a starter account with shorter payment terms. If you only qualify for the FreshStart account, good management of that account can build eligibility for the WebBank/Fingerhut account.
There are no annual fees or over-the-limit fees with your Fingerhut credit account. However, the interest rates are quite high, up to 30% or higher. This is the case with most credit cards or loans for those with poor credit, and Fingerhut is no exception.
Depending on the items you’re shopping for, you may find other companies that do the same thing as Fingerhut, only with better terms.
Here are eight Fingerhut alternatives to consider if you’re looking for a buy now, pay later retailer.
Should I Use a Site Like Fingerhut?
Most people who use Fingerhut and sites like it do so to get the items they need and simultaneously work to build good credit. However, it’s important to remember that other ways to build credit might not cost as much, such as a secured credit card.
If repairing credit is your primary goal, check out the following articles and see if one of the options listed can help you build credit while spending less.
- How to Build Credit Without a Credit Card
- Chime Credit Builder Review
- Extra Debit Card Review
- How to Rebuild Your Credit Score With Secured Credit Cards
- Self Credit Builder Review
Also, consider cashback shopping sites to save money when you do buy things you want to buy. Using these sites can put even more money in your pocket.
The best Fingerhut alternatives offer a wide selection of products and credit options to make payments even if you don’t have the best credit. But remember, your best bet is not to borrow but to have the cash up front before you spend.
Fingerhut FAQs
Yes, unfortunately. You will find higher prices on Fingerhut items. This is the case with many Fingerhut alternatives as well. The solution? Do comparison shopping before you buy. Also, check online sale sites like Craigslist and similar sites to find cheap clothing and other items you might need.
Yes, Fingerhut will do a hard inquiry on your credit if you apply for credit with them. Fortunately, they are quite lenient with their credit so most applicants do get approved.
Yes, you can pay off your Fingerhut credit account early, and there is no penalty or cost to do so.
