Klarna adds BNPL to Google search and Gemini via Google Pay

Klarna has integrated buy-now-pay-later options into Google Search and the Gemini app through Google Pay in the United States. The feature lets shoppers split purchases into four interest-free payments or select longer-term financing without leaving the search or chat window.

The integration runs on Google’s Universal Commerce Protocol, a framework that allows third-party commerce services to appear inside Google interfaces. When a shopper views a product in Search or asks Gemini for help buying something, Klarna’s financing options appear at the point of discovery and the transaction completes inside the Google interface.

Affordability checks run during the inline checkout to determine what each buyer qualifies for. Google Pay processes the payment and consumers do not need to visit the retailer’s website to finish the purchase.

Klarna stated the rollout is limited to the United States. The company offers the choice of four interest-free installments or longer-term credit at checkout.

Klarna serves more than 150 million users globally and has previously integrated with other Google services. The company was founded in 2005 and reached an approximate peak valuation of $45 billion in 2021.

Regulators in multiple markets have increased scrutiny of buy-now-pay-later services over concerns about consumers taking on unaffordable debt. The built-in affordability checks operate in real time and assess eligibility during the checkout flow.

Competitors in the U.S. include Affirm, Afterpay and PayPal’s Pay Later. Industry forecasts predict the global BNPL market will exceed $300 billion by 2026.

The Universal Commerce Protocol lets payment and financing options surface inside Google products without redirecting shoppers to external sites. For Klarna, the integration places financing options at the moment users find products in search results or in AI chat.