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Paylater Is Now a Cash Flow Lifesaver

Advancements in technology have fundamentally restructured the financial industry. Because fintech is redefining standard financial operations, monitoring key trends is essential for strategic decision-making.

Jakpat conducted a nationwide survey of 1920 respondents to explore their habits and usage surrounding fintech trends. The findings are presented in a three-part report series, with this second edition focusing on key trends in modern credit (paylater and online loans) and financing platforms (crowdfunding and p2p lending) for 2026.

A majority of respondents use e-wallet applications (94%), followed by paylater (34%) and online cash loans (9%). Meanwhile, 49% of respondents were recorded using banking services for digital payments, with 89% of them using mobile/internet banking and 53% utilizing digital banking.

BNPL: From Convenience to Financial Solution

Overall, users favor BNPL services due to easy payment methods (68%), Licensed and registered with the Financial Service Authority/OJK (65%), and user-friendly applications (62%), whereas promotions or social media are considered less important.

Male respondents specifically prioritize convenience (69%) as well as trust based on official OJK-registered status (67%) when selecting BNPL. In terms of age, Gen X is the group that considers a platform’s track record or length of operation the most (29%).

“The survey results indicate that the availability of BNPL as a payment option, along with requirements perceived to be easier, are the main reasons consumers use BNPL. The ease of these requirements tends to be one of the advantages of BNPL offered by financing companies compared to banks’ BNPL, thereby supporting broader adoption,” said Jakpat Head of Research, Aska Primardi.

He continued, noting that these findings align with industry developments: data from OJK-RDKB July 2026 shows that as of June 2026, bank BNPL grew 33.54% YoY to IDR 30.7 trillion, while finance company BNPL grew more aggressively by 57.02% YoY to IDR 13.40 trillion. This trend continued into July 2026: bank BNPL grew 31.22% YoY with 33.50 million accounts, while finance company BNPL still grew 54.65% YoY to IDR 13.62 trillion.

On the other hand, Jakpat’s survey results show that the most popular purposes for using BNPL actually relate to primary needs, daily expenses, and urgent needs; not merely secondary lifestyle choices.

In the paylater category, urgent needs (58%) are the main driving factor behind using the service, followed by daily expenses (41%) and bills (36%). Men use this service more for urgent needs (60%), whereas women tend to use it for daily expenses (46%). One in three Gen Z respondents uses paylater for lifestyle purposes.

Similarly, most respondents using online loans use them for urgent needs (70%). Others use online loans to cover daily expenses (50%) and to pay bills (38%).

“These findings indicate that the role of BNPL in 2026 has begun to shift from merely a payment tool offering transaction convenience to part of a cash-flow management tool, helping consumers manage payment timing when household financial wiggle room is increasingly constrained,” explained Aska.

He concluded, “Thus, the growth of BNPL in 2026 can be read in the context of changing household financial management behaviors, especially as some consumers face income pressure and a diminishing ability to build a financial buffer.”