US Buy Now, Pay Later Trends 2026

As BNPL Matures, Providers Are Competing to Own More of Consumers' Everyday Spending

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About This Report
BNPL providers must focus on engagement over acquisition as the space matures. As installments become a budgeting tool and expand into higher-ticket categories, providers face rising competition to own more of consumers’ everyday spending.
Table of Contents

Buy now, pay later’s (BNPL) next growth phase will depend on deeper engagement as user acquisition plateaus. Providers are driving spend from loyal users, but they must balance rising demand for budgeting tools with intensifying competition across wallets, installments, and high-ticket purchases.

Key Question: How will BNPL players position themselves for growth post-maturity?

Key Stat: By 2029, BNPL payment value growth will hit the single digits, forcing providers to look to existing users to drive spending. Key strategies will include expanding into higher-ticket categories, growing BNPL-enabled card adoption, and deepening mobile wallet integration.

authors

Katherine Smith

Contributors

Grace Broadbent
Tiffani Montez
Naomi Rebuelta
Copy Editor
Matt Torpey
Senior Data Visualization Editor
Johann Valderrama
Data Visualization Editor
Julia Woolever
Director, Report Editing
Antonella Yannelli
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