Klarna doesn't publish a specific minimum credit score requirement, but uses soft credit checks for most services (Pay in 4, Pay in 30) that don't hurt your score, while longer financing or the Klarna Card might involve harder checks, impacting your score. Approval depends on your credit history, debt, income, and spending habits, not just a number, meaning you could be approved for small purchases but not large ones, as each purchase gets an individual review.
I've used Klarna before but have been declined
A rejection does not negatively impact your credit score. Good to know: Our customer service agents do not have additional information about the automated decline reason, based on credit bureau decision data, and are not able to change or influence the decision.
Klarna runs soft credit checks for Pay in 4. Soft credit checks have no impact on your score because they are not reported to the credit bureaus. If you choose Klarna's financing option, a hard credit check might be required.
Klarna doesn't set a minimum credit score to qualify for its finance products. However, Klarna may look at your credit report as a whole before making a decision.
Our automated approval decisions are based on the available shared customer data, primarily from credit reference agencies, including information such as if you've paid off previous credits on time, or if you have too much outstanding debt elsewhere.
No, Klarna and Afterpay are not the same, though both are popular Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services that let you split purchases, they differ in payment options, credit checks, and fees, with Klarna offering more flexibility (Pay in 4, Pay in 30, longer financing) and Afterpay focusing strictly on interest-free "Pay in 4" for smaller buys, making Afterpay simpler but Klarna better for varied needs, notes Cherry, Rates.fm, FinanceMutual and Reviewed.
There is no predefined spending limit when using Klarna.
Common reasons Klarna payments get refused
The amount is too high. Klarna is taking a calculated risk and their risk appetite decreases when the amount of the payment increases. The billing address or contact details aren't correct. Klarna isn't accepted in that shopper country/region.
“Lenders are increasingly treating buy now, pay later services such as Klarna in the same way as other forms of credit. It may seem harmless as they are usually small, interest-free purchases but these can show up on your credit file and regular use may indicate to a lender that you rely on short-term borrowing.
Since June 2022, Klarna has shared this borrowing data with Experian and TransUnion. This means all your repayments, whether on-time or late, are reported. So: ⬇️Any missed or late payments can show up on your credit file and cause your score to lower.
Afterpay may check your credit with a soft pull when you create an Afterpay account or sign up for a new Pay Monthly plan. This won't hurt your credit score. Though there's no minimum requirement, Afterpay considers your credit score as part of your application.
A short application will provide an instant decision for you. With no hard credit check there is no impact to your credit to apply. Once you've been approved, you'll receive reminders and can manage your payments directly in the Klarna app. No fees when you pay on time.
Neither Affirm nor Klarna is definitively "better"; they suit different needs: Klarna excels for smaller, everyday purchases with flexible, short-term interest-free options and broader payment types, while Affirm is often preferred for larger purchases, offering longer, fixed monthly payment plans (up to 48 months) and unique benefits like virtual card numbers for broader use and a lack of late fees. Your best choice depends on the purchase size and your preference for payment flexibility versus potential fees, with Klarna charging late fees but Affirm potentially having interest.
Reviewers felt that Sezzle meets the needs of their business better than Klarna. When comparing quality of ongoing product support, reviewers felt that Sezzle is the preferred option. For feature updates and roadmaps, our reviewers preferred the direction of Sezzle over Klarna.
Klarna does not have a minimum credit score requirement.
Because Klarna runs a new soft credit check on every purchase, you might be creditworthy for some items but not others.
To qualify for Klarna, you generally need to be 18+, a U.S. resident, have a valid U.S. address, a U.S.-issued debit/credit card, an SMS-capable phone, and provide accurate personal info, including a Social Security Number (for credit products); approval for each purchase is separate, based on credit history (soft check), spending patterns, and existing debt, with good on-time payment history helping future approvals.
Yes, we perform a credit check.
Yes, many lenders offer personal loans to borrowers with a CIBIL score as low as 450-500. However, you may have to pay higher interest rates compared to those with better credit scores.
Yes, you can get a car loan with a 500 credit score and potentially no money down, but it will be challenging and expensive, requiring you to find specialized subprime lenders or "buy here, pay here" dealers, potentially needing a co-signer, and likely facing very high interest rates (APRs) and stricter terms, focusing on stable income and a manageable vehicle.