For millions of Hispanics who live in or visit the United States, buying in installments remains one of the biggest questions. In Latin America, stores offer "3, 6, or 12 interest-free installment plans" directly at the checkout. In the United States, the system is different, but it is possible to pay in installments, even without a long credit history. The key is understanding how the U.S. financial system works and what tools are available. Credit cards, digital platforms, and programs from major retailers allow you to divide large purchases like cell phones, appliances, computers, or travel into monthly payments. Here's how to do it step by step. How installments work in the United States: key points for paying in installments. In the United States, there isn't the automatic installment system offered by retailers in Latin America. Instead, purchases are financed primarily in three ways: When a person pays with a credit card, they can choose to pay only the minimum each month. The remaining balance is financed and accrues interest, known as APR. That's equivalent to paying in installments, but with interest.

On the other hand, there are services that allow you to split a purchase into several payments with no interest or very low rates.

Credit cards that allow you to pay in installments

All credit cards in the United States allow you to finance purchases, but some are more accessible for those without a credit history.

The most used by Hispanics and recent arrivals are:

These cards allow you to buy today and pay month by month. The bank sets a minimum mandatory payment, and the remaining balance can be paid over several months.

How to get a card without a credit history

Many immigrants or recent arrivals believe they cannot have a credit card, but it is possible. There are two main ways.

Card with SSN or ITIN

If you have a Social Security number (SSN) or ITIN,You can apply for a basic credit card at banks like Chase, Capital One, or Bank of America. No prior credit history is required in many cases.

See also: Social Security Number: Don't Use It in These 10 Places

Secure Credit Card

This is the easiest way to start. It works like this:

This system allows you to build credit history and then access real financing in installments.

See also: What Happens If You Use a Fake SSN in the United States

How to Pay in Installments Without a Card with Buy Now Pay Later

In the United States, there is a very popular way to pay in installments without using a traditional credit card. It's called Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL).

The most used platforms are:

These companies allow you to split a purchase into 3, 4, 6, or even 12 payments. Often, they don't charge interest if you pay on time.

Example: You buy an $800 phone. You pay $200 today and the rest in four bi-weekly payments.

These platforms work in stores like Amazon, Walmart, Apple, Nike, Adidas, Target, and hundreds more.

Many accept foreign or debit cards, making them a real option for tourists and new residents.

See: What you need for a Costco membership: requirements, prices, and benefits 2026

Stores that offer direct financing

Some of the largest stores in the United States offer their own installment payment plans.

These plans usually have zero or low interest rates if you pay on time.

How to pay in installments at Best Buy

Best Buy is one of the most popular stores in the United States for buying technology in installments. It allows you to finance televisions, laptops, cell phones, appliances, and game consoles without paying the full amount upfront, even with promotional rates. The most direct way to do this is with the Best Buy Credit Card, a card offered by the store itself through Citibank. With it, many products qualify for 6, 12, 18, or even 24 months interest-free financing, as long as the customer pays the total before the promotional period ends. It's also possible to finance purchases using Affirm, an external platform that appears as a payment option at checkout, both online and in physical stores. Affirm allows you to divide the amount into fixed monthly payments and shows you in advance whether or not there is interest. In practice, a person can buy a $1,200 television and pay for it in 12 monthly installments of $100, interest-free, if they qualify for an active promotion. If you don't have a credit history, Affirm is usually more accessible than a bank card.

For many Hispanics, Best Buy is one of the gateways to the installment payment system in the United States, as it combines traditional credit with digital financing and frequent promotions throughout the year.

What you need to use Affirm in the United States

To pay in installments with Affirm in the United States, only a few basic details are required. You must be over 18 years old, live in the United States, and have an active phone number and email address. At the time of payment, Affirm asks for your full name, date of birth, and, in many cases, the last digits of your Social Security number or tax ID to verify your identity.

Affirm performs a soft credit check (it doesn't affect your score) to decide whether to approve the purchase and what payment plan to offer. It doesn't require a long credit history and often approves people with little or no credit, especially for small to medium-sized purchases.

You must also have a valid debit card or bank account to make monthly payments.

Installment payments: what doesn't exist in the United States (but does in other countries)

It's important to know what doesn't work the same way as in Latin America.

All financing depends on the bank, the digital platform, or the store.

See also: Financing “the American dream” now costs $5 million, according to new research

The best strategy for paying in installments in the United States

For someone arriving in the United States or with little credit history, the most effective path is:

In less than a year, many people can already finance large purchases, rent cars, get phone plans, or pay for trips in installments.

See also: 3 credit cards that offer 5% cashback on gas

Why more and more Hispanics are using this system

Access to credit is one of the keys to Living in the United States allows you to pay for emergencies, buy technology, furnish a home, and plan trips without depleting your savings. Knowing how installments work and what tools are available can make the difference between paying everything at once or distributing expenses intelligently. By 2026, with millions of Hispanics living, working, or traveling in the United States, learning to use credit is one of the most important financial skills. You may also be interested in: What is identity theft and how to avoid it? How to open a bank account in the United States 7 things you should always pay for with cash in the U.S. to save money How to save at the supermarketBest Buy is one of the gateways to the installment payment system in the United States, as it combines traditional credit with digital financing and frequent promotions throughout the year.

What you need to use Affirm in the United States

To pay in installments with Affirm in the United States, only a few basic details are required. You must be over 18 years old, live in the United States, and have an active phone number and email address. At the time of payment, Affirm asks for your full name, date of birth, and, in many cases, the last digits of your Social Security number or tax ID to verify your identity.

Affirm performs a soft credit check (it doesn't affect your score) to decide whether to approve the purchase and what payment plan to offer. It doesn't require a long credit history and often approves people with little or no credit, especially for small to medium-sized purchases. You must also have a valid debit card or bank account to make monthly payments.

Installment payments: what doesn't exist in the United States (but does in other countries)

It's important to know what doesn't work the same way as in Latin America.

All financing depends on the bank, the digital platform, or the store.

See also: Financing “the American dream” now costs $5 million, according to new research

The best strategy for paying in installments in the United States

For someone arriving in the United States or with little credit history, the most effective path is:

In less than a year, many people can already finance large purchases, rent cars, get phone plans, or pay for trips in installments.

See also: 3 credit cards that offer 5% cashback on gas

Why more and more Hispanics are using this system

Access to credit is one of the keys to Living in the United States allows you to pay for emergencies, buy technology, furnish a home, and plan trips without depleting your savings. Knowing how installments work and what tools are available can make the difference between paying everything at once or distributing expenses intelligently. By 2026, with millions of Hispanics living, working, or traveling in the United States, learning to use credit is one of the most important financial skills. You may also be interested in: What is identity theft and how to avoid it? How to open a bank account in the United States 7 things you should always pay for with cash in the U.S. to save money How to save at the supermarketBest Buy is one of the gateways to the installment payment system in the United States, as it combines traditional credit with digital financing and frequent promotions throughout the year.

What you need to use Affirm in the United States

To pay in installments with Affirm in the United States, only a few basic details are required. You must be over 18 years old, live in the United States, and have an active phone number and email address. At the time of payment, Affirm asks for your full name, date of birth, and, in many cases, the last digits of your Social Security number or tax ID to verify your identity.

Affirm performs a soft credit check (it doesn't affect your score) to decide whether to approve the purchase and what payment plan to offer. It doesn't require a long credit history and often approves people with little or no credit, especially for small to medium-sized purchases. You must also have a valid debit card or bank account to make monthly payments.

Installment payments: what doesn't exist in the United States (but does in other countries)

It's important to know what doesn't work the same way as in Latin America.

All financing depends on the bank, the digital platform, or the store.

See also: Financing “the American dream” now costs $5 million, according to new research

The best strategy for paying in installments in the United States

For someone arriving in the United States or with little credit history, the most effective path is:

In less than a year, many people can already finance large purchases, rent cars, get phone plans, or pay for trips in installments.

See also: 3 credit cards that offer 5% cashback on gas

Why more and more Hispanics are using this system

Access to credit is one of the keys to Living in the United States allows you to pay for emergencies, buy technology, furnish a home, and plan trips without depleting your savings. Knowing how installments work and what tools are available can make the difference between paying everything at once or distributing expenses intelligently. By 2026, with millions of Hispanics living, working, or traveling in the United States, learning to use credit is one of the most important financial skills. You may also be interested in: What is identity theft and how to avoid it? How to open a bank account in the United States 7 things you should always pay for with cash in the U.S. to save money How to save at the supermarketbecause it combines traditional credit with digital financing and frequent promotions throughout the year.

What you need to use Affirm in the United States

To pay in installments with Affirm in the United States, only a few basic details are required. You must be over 18 years old, live in the United States, and have an active phone number and email address. At the time of payment, Affirm asks for your full name, date of birth, and, in many cases, the last digits of your Social Security number or tax ID to verify your identity.

Affirm performs a soft credit check (it doesn't affect your score) to decide whether to approve the purchase and what payment plan to offer. It doesn't require a long credit history and often approves people with little or no credit, especially for small to medium-sized purchases. You must also have a valid debit card or bank account to make monthly payments.

Installment payments: what doesn't exist in the United States (but does in other countries)

It's important to know what doesn't work the same way as in Latin America.

All financing depends on the bank, the digital platform, or the store.

See also: Financing “the American dream” now costs $5 million, according to new research

The best strategy for paying in installments in the United States

For someone arriving in the United States or with little credit history, the most effective path is:

In less than a year, many people can already finance large purchases, rent cars, get phone plans, or pay for trips in installments.

See also: 3 credit cards that offer 5% cashback on gas

Why more and more Hispanics are using this system

Access to credit is one of the keys to Living in the United States allows you to pay for emergencies, buy technology, furnish a home, and plan trips without depleting your savings. Knowing how installments work and what tools are available can make the difference between paying everything at once or distributing expenses intelligently. By 2026, with millions of Hispanics living, working, or traveling in the United States, learning to use credit is one of the most important financial skills. You may also be interested in: What is identity theft and how to avoid it? How to open a bank account in the United States 7 things you should always pay for with cash in the U.S. to save money How to save at the supermarketbecause it combines traditional credit with digital financing and frequent promotions throughout the year.

What you need to use Affirm in the United States

To pay in installments with Affirm in the United States, only a few basic details are required. You must be over 18 years old, live in the United States, and have an active phone number and email address. At the time of payment, Affirm asks for your full name, date of birth, and, in many cases, the last digits of your Social Security number or tax ID to verify your identity.

Affirm performs a soft credit check (it doesn't affect your score) to decide whether to approve the purchase and what payment plan to offer. It doesn't require a long credit history and often approves people with little or no credit, especially for small to medium-sized purchases. You must also have a valid debit card or bank account to make monthly payments.

Installment payments: what doesn't exist in the United States (but does in other countries)

It's important to know what doesn't work the same way as in Latin America.

All financing depends on the bank, the digital platform, or the store.

See also: Financing “the American dream” now costs $5 million, according to new research

The best strategy for paying in installments in the United States

For someone arriving in the United States or with little credit history, the most effective path is:

In less than a year, many people can already finance large purchases, rent cars, get phone plans, or pay for trips in installments.

See also: 3 credit cards that offer 5% cashback on gas

Why more and more Hispanics are using this system

Access to credit is one of the keys to Living in the United States allows you to pay for emergencies, buy technology, furnish a home, and plan trips without depleting your savings. Knowing how installments work and what tools are available can make the difference between paying everything at once or distributing expenses intelligently. By 2026, with millions of Hispanics living, working, or traveling in the United States, learning to use credit is one of the most important financial skills. You may also be interested in: What is identity theft and how to avoid it? How to open a bank account in the United States 7 things you should always pay for with cash in the U.S. to save money How to save at the supermarket

What you need to use Affirm in the United States

To pay in installments with Affirm in the United States, only a few basic details are required. You must be over 18 years old, live in the United States, and have an active phone number and email address. At checkout, Affirm asks for your full name, date of birth, and, in many cases, the last digits of your Social Security number or tax ID to verify your identity.

Affirm performs a soft credit check (it doesn't affect your score) to decide whether to approve the purchase and what payment plan to offer. It doesn't require a long credit history and often approves people with little or no credit, especially for small to medium-sized purchases. You must also have a valid debit card or bank account to make monthly payments.

Installment payments: what doesn't exist in the United States (but does in other countries)

It's important to know what doesn't work the same way as in Latin America.

All financing depends on the bank, the digital platform, or the store.

See also: Financing “the American dream” now costs $5 million, according to new research

The best strategy for paying in installments in the United States

For someone arriving in the United States or with little credit history, the most effective path is:

In less than a year, many people can already finance large purchases, rent cars, get phone plans, or pay for trips in installments.

See also: 3 credit cards that offer 5% cashback on gas

Why more and more Hispanics are using this system

Access to credit is one of the keys to Living in the United States allows you to pay for emergencies, buy technology, furnish a home, and plan trips without depleting your savings. Knowing how installments work and what tools are available can make the difference between paying everything at once or distributing expenses intelligently. By 2026, with millions of Hispanics living, working, or traveling in the United States, learning to use credit is one of the most important financial skills. You may also be interested in: What is identity theft and how to avoid it? How to open a bank account in the United States 7 things you should always pay for with cash in the U.S. to save money How to save at the supermarket

What you need to use Affirm in the United States

To pay in installments with Affirm in the United States, only a few basic details are required. You must be over 18 years old, live in the United States, and have an active phone number and email address. At checkout, Affirm asks for your full name, date of birth, and, in many cases, the last digits of your Social Security number or tax ID to verify your identity.

Affirm performs a soft credit check (it doesn't affect your score) to decide whether to approve the purchase and what payment plan to offer. It doesn't require a long credit history and often approves people with little or no credit, especially for small to medium-sized purchases. You must also have a valid debit card or bank account to make monthly payments.

Installment payments: what doesn't exist in the United States (but does in other countries)

It's important to know what doesn't work the same way as in Latin America.

All financing depends on the bank, the digital platform, or the store.

See also: Financing “the American dream” now costs $5 million, according to new research

The best strategy for paying in installments in the United States

For someone arriving in the United States or with little credit history, the most effective path is:

In less than a year, many people can already finance large purchases, rent cars, get phone plans, or pay for trips in installments.

See also: 3 credit cards that offer 5% cashback on gas

Why more and more Hispanics are using this system

Access to credit is one of the keys to Living in the United States allows you to pay for emergencies, buy technology, furnish a home, and plan trips without depleting your savings. Knowing how installments work and what tools are available can make the difference between paying everything at once or distributing expenses intelligently. By 2026, with millions of Hispanics living, working, or traveling in the United States, learning to use credit is one of the most important financial skills. You may also be interested in: What is identity theft and how to avoid it? How to open a bank account in the United States 7 things you should always pay for with cash in the U.S. to save money How to save at the supermarketThe last digits of your SSN or a tax ID are used to verify your identity. Affirm performs a soft credit check (which does not affect your score) to decide whether to approve the purchase and what payment plan to offer. It does not require a long credit history and often approves people with little or no credit, especially for small to medium-sized purchases. You must also have a valid debit card or bank account to make monthly payments.

Installment payments: what doesn't exist in the United States (but does in other countries)

It's important to know what doesn't work the same way as in Latin America.

All financing depends on the bank, the digital platform, or the store.

See also: Financing “the American dream” now costs $5 million, according to new research

The best strategy for paying in installments in the United States

For someone arriving in the United States or with little credit history, the most effective path is:

In less than a year, many people can already finance large purchases, rent cars, get phone plans, or pay for trips in installments.

See also: 3 credit cards that offer 5% cashback on gas

Why more and more Hispanics are using this system

Access to credit is one of the keys to Living in the United States allows you to pay for emergencies, buy technology, furnish a home, and plan trips without depleting your savings. Knowing how installments work and what tools are available can make the difference between paying everything at once or distributing expenses intelligently. By 2026, with millions of Hispanics living, working, or traveling in the United States, learning to use credit is one of the most important financial skills. You may also be interested in: What is identity theft and how to avoid it? How to open a bank account in the United States 7 things you should always pay for with cash in the U.S. to save money How to save at the supermarketThe last digits of your SSN or a tax ID are used to verify your identity. Affirm performs a soft credit check (which does not affect your score) to decide whether to approve the purchase and what payment plan to offer. It does not require a long credit history and often approves people with little or no credit, especially for small to medium-sized purchases. You must also have a valid debit card or bank account to make monthly payments.

Installment payments: what doesn't exist in the United States (but does in other countries)

It's important to know what doesn't work the same way as in Latin America.

All financing depends on the bank, the digital platform, or the store.

See also: Financing “the American dream” now costs $5 million, according to new research

The best strategy for paying in installments in the United States

For someone arriving in the United States or with little credit history, the most effective path is:

In less than a year, many people can already finance large purchases, rent cars, get phone plans, or pay for trips in installments.

See also: 3 credit cards that offer 5% cashback on gas

Why more and more Hispanics are using this system

Access to credit is one of the keys to Living in the United States allows you to pay for emergencies, buy technology, furnish a home, and plan trips without depleting your savings. Knowing how installments work and what tools are available can make the difference between paying everything at once or distributing expenses intelligently. By 2026, with millions of Hispanics living, working, or traveling in the United States, learning to use credit is one of the most important financial skills. You may also be interested in: What is identity theft and how to avoid it? How to open a bank account in the United States 7 things you should always pay for with cash in the U.S. to save money How to save at the supermarketfrom the digital platform or the store.

See: Financing “the American dream” now costs $5 million, according to new research

The best strategy for paying in installments in the United States

For someone arriving in the United States or with little credit history, the most effective way is:

In less than a year, many people can already finance large purchases, rent cars, get phone plans, or pay for trips in installments.

See: 3 credit cards that offer 5% cashback on gas

Why more and more Hispanics are using this system

Access to credit is one of the keys to living in the United States. It allows you to pay for emergencies, buy technology, furnish a house, and plan trips without depleting your savings. Knowing how installments work and what tools are available can make the difference between paying everything at once or distributing expenses intelligently. By 2026, with millions of Hispanics living, working, or traveling in the United States, learning to use credit is one of the most important financial skills. You may also be interested in: What is identity theft and how to avoid it? How to open a bank account in the United States 7 things you should always pay for with cash in the U.S. to save money How to save at the supermarketfrom the digital platform or the store.

See: Financing “the American dream” now costs $5 million, according to new research

The best strategy for paying in installments in the United States

For someone arriving in the United States or with little credit history, the most effective way is:

In less than a year, many people can already finance large purchases, rent cars, get phone plans, or pay for trips in installments.

See: 3 credit cards that offer 5% cashback on gas

Why more and more Hispanics are using this system

Access to credit is one of the keys to living in the United States. It allows you to pay for emergencies, buy technology, furnish a house, and plan trips without depleting your savings. Knowing how installments work and what tools are available can make the difference between paying everything at once or distributing expenses intelligently. By 2026, with millions of Hispanics living, working, or traveling in the United States, learning to use credit is one of the most important financial skills. You may also be interested in: What is identity theft and how to avoid it? How to open a bank account in the United States 7 things you should always pay for with cash in the U.S. to save money How to save at the supermarket

What is identity theft and how to avoid it

How to open a bank account in the United States

7 things you should always pay for with cash in the US to save money

How to save money at the supermarket

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