How to pay bills in installments with Zip

Why bills feel so hard to manage

Sometimes it’s less about how much money you make and more about timing.

Most people get paid once or twice each month, but your bills don’t care about your pay schedule. Utilities, phone, internet, insurance, and subscriptions all have their own due dates, which rarely coordinate with each other (much less your bank account).

The result is a phenomenon most of us know all too well: A week where everything seems to hit at once with no good solution. Even if you can technically afford all of these costs across the month, covering them in a single window is a different story. 

Thankfully, Zip’s buy now pay later option is designed to fill this gap.

You’ve probably heard of buy now pay later for retail or travel. That is, splitting a purchase into smaller payments over time. The same idea applies to your everyday bills and expenses.

With Zip, you can pay bills over time instead of all at once. When a bill is due, you pay 50% upfront and the remaining 50% is automatically charged two weeks later. Your provider gets paid in full immediately, while you spread the cost on a schedule that works for you.¹

It’s a straightforward way to build a little breathing room into your budget without falling behind.

You can pay a wide range of everyday bills and unexpected expenses and split payments with nearly any provider that accepts Visa.³

Utility bills (gas, electric, water, etc.)

Phone and internet bills

Streaming services and subscription

Insurance payments

Medical bills

Vet bills

Car repair and maintenance

If you’ve ever had a maintenance issue land at the wrong time or found yourself staring at an unexpected vet bill, you know just how useful it can be to split those costs into something more manageable. 

Zip provides flexibility depending on whether you’re dealing with a one-off expense or trying to get a handle on your monthly bills.

For unexpected bills: Pay in 2

When a surprise expense hits, Pay in 2 lets you cover the costs without wiping out your budget. Pay half now, pay half in two weeks, and keep moving forward.¹

For monthly bills: My Bills

If you want to get ahead of your regular expenses, My Bills is Zip's built-in hub for managing recurring bills all in one place. You can save your providers, set due date reminders, and pay on your schedule.

My Bills doesn't use autopay, which means you stay in control. Zip sends a reminder four days before each bill is due so you have time to review and pay on your own terms.

Getting set up with Zip only takes a few steps and a few minutes.

1. Download the free Zip app for iOS or Android or install the Zip Chrome extension (eligibility and estimated spending power based on eligibility)

2. Search for your provider in the app

3. Follow your provider's instructions to enter your bill

4. Tap "Pay with Zip" when you're ready to submit (All loans subject to credit approval.)

5. Zip pays your provider in full and your second payment is automatically charged two weeks later

For monthly bills, head to the Account tab and tap My Bills to save your billers and set reminders.

If you're just getting started, here are a few things to keep in mind about how it works.

Pay in 2 is subject to credit approval. 

If you're scheduling a bill payment through My Bills, give yourself at least three business days before the due date to account for potential banking delays.

Zip pays your provider in full at the time of your payment, just like a credit card transaction.

The goal is to stop letting due dates and paydays work against one another. Splitting bills into payments means unexpected expenses don’t have to derail your entire month, and a tight week doesn’t have to turn into a vicious cycle.

Download the free Zip app to take charge of your budget today!

³Zip may be used only for U.S. purchases, and certain merchant, product, goods and service restrictions apply. All loans subject to credit approval.