BNPL Fintech Klarna Introduces Tap to Pay for In-Store Transactions across Global Markets

Klarna has launched a new “Tap to Pay” feature that turns its app into a contactless wallet for in‑store payments, initially rolling out across 14 European markets.​

What Klarna Launched

Klarna’s Tap to Pay lets shoppers use the Klarna app on their smartphone to pay at physical checkouts via NFC, combining contactless payments with flexible installment options in one place. The feature is designed to bring the convenience of online BNPL and card-like payments directly into brick‑and‑mortar stores, where more than 80% of European shopping still happens.​

How Tap to Pay Works

Users open their Klarna Card in the Klarna app, choose to pay in standard debit mode or set up a flexible payment plan, then select Tap to Pay. At checkout, they simply tap their phone on the payment terminal, with transactions processed via NFC and no need to add the card to a separate wallet app.​

Markets and Devices Supported

Tap to Pay is live for Klarna consumers in Germany, Italy, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Finland, Belgium, Austria, Ireland, Portugal, Norway, Poland, Denmark, and Sweden. The feature works on both iOS and Android devices, extending Klarna’s in‑store presence beyond online checkout and existing Apple Pay/Google Pay integrations.​

Strategic Context for Klarna

The rollout builds on the global traction of Klarna’s debit‑first Klarna Card, which has over 4 million users and is accepted at more than 150 million merchant locations through Visa Flexible Credential. By embedding Tap to Pay into its app, Klarna aims to become an “everyday” payment option, increasing usage frequency and strengthening its BNPL ecosystem in physical retail.​

Implications for Merchants and BNPL

For merchants, the feature promises smoother in‑store checkouts and access to Klarna’s BNPL capabilities without extra hardware beyond standard NFC terminals. In the broader BNPL and digital wallet market, this move positions Klarna more directly against players like Apple Pay and Google Pay by owning both the consumer interface and the financing layer in-store.​