HarrisX Survey Finds Americans View BNPL Pay-in-4 Plans as a Responsible Financial Tool
Key Takeaways
- •The HarrisX survey polled 1,890 U.S. adults nationwide from June 18 to 23, 2026, including an oversample totaling 965 BNPL "Pay in 4" users.
- •Ninety-one percent of BNPL users and 77% of U.S. adults said "Pay in 4" plans have a positive impact on American consumers.
- •Nearly nine in ten BNPL users and 75% of Americans agree that policymakers should protect consumer access to BNPL services.
- •The Financial Technology Association reports that 96% of BNPL "Pay in 4" plans are repaid on time and in full.
- •The survey's overall margin of error was plus or minus 2.3 percentage points, while results among BNPL users had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 percentage points.
A new nationwide survey released by the Financial Technology Association (FTA) and conducted by public opinion research firm HarrisX found that American consumers broadly view Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) “Pay in 4” plans as a responsible financial tool and a better alternative to high-interest credit cards.
According to the survey, 91% of “Pay in 4” users and more than three-quarters of U.S. adults, or 77%, said these plans have a positive impact on American consumers amid economic pressure. The survey said respondents cited benefits that include reducing reliance on high-interest credit card debt.
The findings also showed that nearly 9 in 10 BNPL “Pay in 4” users, or 88%, and 75% of Americans agree that policymakers should protect consumer access to BNPL. That policy question is central to FTA’s framing of the results, because the group is arguing that consumer protections and continued access can be pursued together.
FTA said it supports balanced regulation that strengthens consumer protections already in place at leading firms while preserving access to what it described as a low-cost, flexible payment option used by millions of Americans. The association said BNPL offers fixed repayment plans, transparent terms and no revolving balances, with 96% repaid on time and in full. In FTA’s view, those product features distinguish “Pay in 4” plans from revolving credit products that can carry interest charges over time.
HarrisX conducted the survey online among 1,890 U.S. adults nationwide from June 18 to June 23, 2026. The sample included an oversample of 500 U.S. adults who had used a BNPL “Pay in 4” plan at least once in the previous 12 months, for a total of 965 users, including natural fallout in the national sample.
Survey results were weighted using U.S. Census and Federal Reserve data to align with proportions in the national population. The poll’s margin of error was +/- 2.3%. Results among Buy Now Pay Later “Pay in 4” users had a margin of error of +/- 3.2%.
The Financial Technology Association is a network of fintech industry leaders focused on shaping the future of finance, supporting financial innovation and advocating for policies that expand competition, access and opportunity.