A technology company based in San Francisco, Wisetack is popular in healthcare, auto repair, and home services like HVAC, offering point-of-sale financing through simple APIs. Patients appreciate the smooth application process, soft credit checks, and occasional promotional financing.

But Wisetack isn’t always the best solution for patients and practices. Its loan amounts typically max out at $15,000 for healthcare, which may not cover high-ticket procedures like full dental implant cases or cosmetic surgery packages. Repayment terms are also shorter than many competitors, making monthly payments less affordable for some borrowers. On the provider side, Wisetack’s merchant fees can be high, and funds aren’t always disbursed as quickly as with healthcare-specific platforms.

Because of these limitations, many look for alternative financing solutions that offer higher loan limits, longer repayment terms, lower APRs, or same-day funding. Here are nine top competitors that stand out, complete with terms, rates, and promotional financing options to look out for.

1. Cherry Payment Plans

Cherry brings a healthcare-first approach to buy now, pay later (BNPL) financing. Patients can complete an application in less than 60 seconds without harming their credit score, and over 80% are approved across credit profiles (the most across credit profiles in the industry).

Loan amounts reach as high as $50,000, and repayment options span from an interest-free Pay-in-4 plan to long-term fixed plans (up to 60 months) with true 0% APR financing for qualified borrowers —  no deferred interest. There are no origination fees, prepayment penalties, or hidden terms.

For practices, Cherry offers the industry’s lowest merchant fees, exclusive approvals, and upfront payment to eliminate the risk of borrower default.

Takeaways — Cherry

• 60-second application with soft credit check and instant approval decision
  
• 80%+ approval across credit profiles
  
• Loan limits up to $50,000
  
• True 0% APR for qualified borrowers (no hidden deferred interest)
  
• No origination or prepayment fees
  
• Industry’s lowest merchant fees
  
• Approvals exclusive to the practice, fostering patient loyalty
  
• Upfront payment to practices, enhancing cash flow
  
• Dedicated customer support for financing FAQs

2. CareCredit

CareCredit, powered by Synchrony, is a specialized credit card for healthcare expenses. It’s accepted by a broad network of over 270,000 providers. Patients can apply with a soft check for prequalification, but the final approval triggers a hard credit inquiry, which harms the applicant’s credit score.

Promotional financing — commonly for 6 to 24 months — is marketed as “no interest,” but is typically structured with deferred interest. That means the patient doesn’t pay off the balance by the end of the promotional period, or misses just one payment, interest is charged retroactively from the purchase date at a steep APR.

From the practice side, CareCredit’s brand recognition and widespread acceptance are strong advantages. But merchant fees tend to run high (starting ~5.9%), and approvals are not exclusive to the provider.

Takeaways — CareCredit

• Revolving healthcare credit line (up to $25,000)
  
• Widely accepted across medical, dental, and wellness providers
  
• Promotional financing options rely on deferred interest
  
• High standard APR if promo conditions not met (~32.99%)
  
• Requires a hard credit inquiry
  
• Significant merchant fees (~5.9% or more) compared to other providers

3. Sunbit

While not entirely focused on healthcare (Sunbit started in auto repair financing), Sunbit now offers fintech for dental, vision, and veterinary financing. It focuses on accessibility with a soft credit check during the application process and relatively high approval rates — specifically for borrowers with bad credit.

Loans are capped at $20,000 and terms often range from 3 to 72 months. Sunbit offers 0% APR promotional financing, but these promotions rely on deferred interest.

For practices, Sunbit helps approve patients who might otherwise be turned away by more traditional lenders, but the tradeoff is higher merchant fees (around 4.7%), which can reduce margin on procedures.

Takeaways — Sunbit

• Soft credit check, fast approval decisions
  
• Focuses on patients with bad credit
  
• Loan amounts up to $20,000 — not suited to larger procedures
  
• Terms up to 72 months
  
• Uses deferred interest
  
• Merchant fees from ~4.7% — higher than other competitors

4. LendingClub

Once a peer-to-peer lending pioneer, LendingClub now operates as a more traditional online banking and personal loan lender. Through LendingClub Patient Solutions, patients can borrow up to $60,000 for higher-priced medical treatment, with term lengths up to 84 months.

APRs generally run from 7.9% to 35.99% based on credit profile and underwriting. Because LendingClub relies on full underwriting, the process includes a hard credit check plus income verification, resulting in slower approval timelines than BNPL options. Also, funds are issued to the borrower, not the provider, which can cause delays in both payment and treatment.

For providers, LendingClub isn’t seamless at checkout, and practices lose the advantage of instant integration, guaranteed upfront payment, and approvals exclusive to the practice. However, for higher-ticket procedures with patients who qualify, its structured installment loans provide predictability.

Takeaways — LendingClub

• High personal loan limits — total funding up to $60,000
  
• Terms up to 84 months
  
• No true 0% APR options — APRs to 35.99%
  
• Requires full underwriting & hard credit inquiry
  
• Lowest rates available to the most creditworthy borrowers
  
• Funding to borrower, not provider
  
• Offers other financial services like checking accounts
  
• Slower to approve compared to BNPL alternatives

5. Klarna

Klarna is a well-known BNPL provider in the e-commerce world. Its most common feature is Pay-in-4 — a plan featuring four biweekly, interest-free installments. It also offers longer-term financing (Pay Over Time), with interest rates based on creditworthiness and term length. Klarna performs a soft credit check, but missed payments and defaults may impact credit reporting.

Because Klarna is heavily oriented toward retail, it can be more difficult to integrate into healthcare workflows. Smaller borrowing limits and shorter available terms limit its use for high-cost medical treatments, and merchant fees are often higher than industry-specific lenders.

Takeaways — Klarna

• Pay-in-4 (interest-free) and longer-term financing plans
  
• Soft credit check for application
  
• More suited for smaller balances, retail contexts
  
• Less optimized for medical or clinic-based financing
  
• Merchant fees can cut into provider profitability
  

6. Afterpay

Most commonly used at retail and ecommerce checkouts, Afterpay is a BNPL platform that’s now being used in medical aesthetics. Its most popular model splits purchases into four equal, interest-free installments over six weeks (Pay-In-4), but it offers terms as long as 24 months for purchases over $100.

Approvals are based on a soft credit check, and spending limits are dynamic — they vary by user and can change over time depending on repayment history and merchant category — but they typically start small.

While Afterpay is fast and convenient for smaller, everyday purchases, it is less practical for higher-ticket healthcare procedures. Its retail-first design means borrowing capacity is generally suited to lower balances, not the cost of major medical treatments.

Takeaways — Afterpay

• Four interest-free payments over six weeks
  
• Dynamic spending limits that vary by user
  
• Retail and e-commerce focus, not healthcare-specific
  
• Late fees apply if payments are missed
  
• Best suited for smaller balances, not large procedures
  

7. Affirm

Another name familiar to retail consumers, Affirm has begun helping patients cover the cost of select healthcare procedures. The company specializes in fixed-term installment options (3 to 36 months), with interest rates determined by credit. Some borrowers may qualify for true 0% offers with participating brands. A major selling point is transparency: Affirm shows all costs upfront with no hidden fees or compounding interest.

For providers considering integration, Affirm’s brand familiarity can instill consumer trust. But its merchant fees (often ~5.99% + $0.30) can eat into margins, and its low limits aren’t suited to larger treatments.

Takeaways — Affirm

• Installment financing 3–36 months
  
• Transparent interest rates, no hidden fees
  
• Doesn’t specialize in healthcare
  
• Some 0% promotional options possible — no deferred interest
  
• More suited for medium-value purchases than major treatments
  
• Steep merchant fees (approx. 5.99% + $0.30)

8. PayPal Pay Later

PayPal offers flexible buy now, pay later (BNPL) financing through its Pay Later suite, which includes Pay-in-4 and Pay Monthly. Patients can apply directly at checkout, using the same PayPal account they already use for everyday purchases, making it one of the most familiar consumer financing options available.

With Pay-in-4, patients split purchases from $30 to $1,500 into four equal, interest-free payments made every two weeks. Larger expenses, ranging from $49 up to $10,000, can be financed with Pay Monthly, which spreads costs over 6 to 24 months at a fixed interest rate based on credit. Both programs use a soft credit check for approval and never charge sign-up or late fees, though Pay Monthly does include interest.

For providers, PayPal delivers funds upfront and integrates into checkout flows with API and plug-and-play tools. However, merchant costs can run higher: Pay Later transactions may carry additional fees (for example, 4.99% + $0.49 per transaction in some cases), making pricing less attractive than healthcare-specific lenders. While PayPal offers broad reach and trusted branding, its loan limits are modest compared to other options, and it isn’t tailored to medical or in-person treatment financing.

Takeaways — PayPal Pay Later

• Pay-in-4: Interest-free installments on purchases $30–$1,500
  
• Pay Monthly: Installment loans from $49–$10,000, up to 24 months, fixed APR
  
• No late fees or sign-up fees; soft credit check only
  
• Funds paid to merchants upfront through PayPal’s processing
  
• Seamless checkout integration with PayPal API tools
  
• Higher merchant fees (around 4.99% + $0.49) compared to specialized healthcare lenders
  
• Lower financing limits — best fit for moderate expenses; not ideal for large medical procedures

9. Splitit

Splitit gives patients a different path to flexible payments by allowing them to use their existing credit card to pay in installments — no new loan, no hard credit check. Because it uses the credit the patient already has, Splitit calls its approach “card-linked installments.”

In healthcare settings, the full treatment cost is authorized on the patient’s credit card, and then monthly payments are charged automatically using the same card, and patients keep their usual card rewards and protections.

For practices, Splitit’s model is appealing because it removes much of the underwriting burden, and it offers upfront payment. However, there are downsides.

Patients must already have sufficient available credit on their card, which excludes those with limited or poor credit. Authorization holds also reduce the patient’s available credit line until the balance is paid in full, which can limit their ability to use that card for other expenses. In addition, while Splitit itself doesn’t add interest, patients may still incur credit card interest if they carry a balance with their issuer.

On the provider side, merchant fees aren’t standardized and can sometimes run higher than healthcare-specific lenders.

Takeaways — Splitit

• Leverages existing credit card balances (no new loan needed)
  
• No separate credit check or application
  
• Retail plan has no added fees or interest; charges proceed via card terms
  
• Authorization holds decrease credit limit until the procedure is paid off
  
•  Merchant pricing varies — can be higher than healthcare-specific solutions
  

Conclusion

Wisetack’s role in expanding pay-over-time options at healthcare practices and service businesses can’t be understated. However, no consumer financing solution fits every patient or practice.

Some providers and borrowers may prioritize low merchant fees, fast approval timelines, or inclusive approval across credit profiles. Others may need large loan amounts, flexible repayment terms, or solutions that integrate with in-person checkout systems.

When comparing these lending partners, practices should evaluate not only APR and term options but also how well each solution supports patient access, loyalty, and cash flow.

Among the field, Cherry strikes a balance. It approves 80%+ of patients across credit profiles, supports true 0% APR for qualified borrowers, enables loan sizes up to $50,000, and offers exclusive approvals with the industry’s lowest merchant fees.

In partnership with Cherry, over 40,000 healthcare providers have already improved customer experience and practice revenue by offering flexible payment options. Find out what you could accomplish with Cherry. Claim your complimentary demo here.