Apple Pay is quietly reshaping how checkout works. Until now, splitting payments through Affirm and Klarna was something you could only do online. With iOS 26, the option finally makes its way into stores. That means you can tap your iPhone, authenticate with Face ID, and walk away with your purchase, then decide later how to pay it off.
For Affirm users, the choice is biweekly or monthly installments, with rates that range from 0% APR for some purchases up to 36% APR for others. Klarna’s U.S. customers get even more variety: Pay in 4 spreads costs over four interest-free payments, Pay Later gives up to 30 days to settle the full amount, and Financing lets larger purchases be split into monthly plans. In the UK, Klarna offers Pay in 3 and Pay Later.
Setup happens inside Wallet. You tap the “+” button, add Pay Later Options, and select Affirm or Klarna. At checkout, you double click the side button on your iPhone, choose your pay later service, and confirm with Face ID or Touch ID. It feels exactly like a regular Apple Pay transaction, just with a different payment rhythm behind it.
Apple tried running its own Apple Pay Later service in the U.S. earlier this year, but it did not last long. By shifting to Affirm and Klarna, Apple avoids building a lending operation and instead leans on established players. It also means Apple Pay gets the benefit of wide availability without carrying the financial risk itself.
The move says something about Apple’s Wallet ambitions. It is no longer just about digitizing credit cards or loyalty passes. With every new partnership, it becomes a place where the mechanics of how you pay, whether immediately, in two weeks, or over months, are part of the experience. For iPhone owners, that kind of choice is now available not just at checkout online, but in stores too.
