According to the PYMNTS Intelligence report titled The Pay Later Data Shift: Credit Card Installments Take the Lead, consumer adoption of credit card installment plans reached 36% in March 2026. This figure represents a 13 percentage point increase compared to the 23% recorded in April 2025.
In contrast, the usage of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services remained stable throughout the same period, holding steady at 15%. Data indicates that consumers utilized card-based installment options at more than double the rate of BNPL services by the end of the first quarter of 2026.
The findings suggest that the pay-later market is evolving through existing customer relationships and established account histories rather than the dominance of a single product. Financial institutions are increasingly integrating these payment features into broader service offerings.
The research is based on monthly surveys conducted among approximately 2,500 U.S. adults. The study period spanned from September 2025 through March 2026, following the initial launch of the data series in April 2025.
