Pay later apps—I’ve tried a variety of them and learned some things. In the end, it all comes down to the balance between fees and ease of use.

If I had to recommend the latest pay later apps, Paidy is overwhelmingly the best. With bank account transfers, there are zero fees, and both high amounts and installment payments are completely free. It’s also great that you can start using it within 1 hour of signing up. You can use it on Amazon and at physical stores too, and having an Apple-exclusive 36-installment plan is subtly convenient.

Also, Atokara from GMO Payment Service is good. You can use up to 55,000 yen for your first use, and with bank account transfers, there are also no fees. If you become a member, you can split payments up to 36 times, so it’s helpful for big purchases.

Convenience store payments have fees, so if possible, you should choose bank account transfers. As a way to choose a pay later app, what matters most is whether it’s available at the stores you often use. Also, whether installment payments are free is subtly important.

Famipay offers 1% point cashback, so it’s a good fit for people who often shop at FamilyMart. NP Postpay has zero fees, but it’s a shame that it doesn’t allow installment payments.

In the end, for pay later app recommendations, I think the safe choice is either Paidy, or selecting Atokara or Famipay depending on where you’ll use it. The key is to decide after comparing fees, limits, and which stores you can use.