1 in 5 Recent DoorDash Customers Used Klarna To Pay for Takeout They Can’t Afford

DoorDash recently partnered with Klarna to offer U.S. customers a buy now, pay later option at checkout. A new CreditCards.com survey of 1,275 Americans who placed an order on DoorDash in the past week finds that 1 in 5 used Klarna for at least one of their recent purchases.

Major takeaways:

• 20% of recent DoorDash customers used Klarna, and 64% say they might in the future
• Customers are using Klarna on DoorDash primarily to buy takeout and groceries
• 23% of customers who used Klarna say it was because they couldn’t afford the total cost, and 22% did it because their credit card was maxed out
• The majority of Klarna users on DoorDash have credit card debt and live paycheck-to-paycheck
• Gen Zers are the most frequent users of Klarna on DoorDash

8 in 10 Recent DoorDash Customers Have Used or Are Considering Using Klarna

About 20% of recent DoorDash customers have already used Klarna, and another 64% say they’re open to using it in the future.

Users most often used Klarna to buy takeout (72%) and groceries (65%). Customers also reported using it for clothing and accessories (26%), beauty or skincare products (21%), and pharmacy items (20%).

John Egan, a personal finance expert for CreditCards.com, advises that it might be better to use Klarna for big purchases like furniture or electronics than for small purchases like restaurant orders or groceries.

“Using Klarna for various DoorDash purchases is OK as long as you pay them off as soon as possible. If you don’t pay off these purchases during Klarna’s interest-free period, then the DoorDash-ordered pepperoni pizza you bought with Klarna could cause some financial heartburn in the form of interest charges,” says Egan. “So, using Klarna for DoorDash deliveries is smart if you’re sure you can pay them off during the interest-free period. But if you’re not certain, pay with cash or a debit card instead of Klarna.”

20% Used Klarna Because Their Credit Cards Are Maxed Out

Among those who used Klarna to pay for a DoorDash order, 65% say they did so because it was offered at checkout and seemed convenient, and 52% say they preferred Klarna because it’s easier to make smaller payments over time. Nearly 1 in 4 (23%) used it because they couldn’t afford the full cost upfront, and 22% said their credit card was maxed out.

Many of these customers are already struggling with debt. Sixty-five percent of Klarna users on DoorDash have credit card debt, and nearly 1 in 5 say they probably (12%) or definitely (7%) won’t pay it off by the end of the year. Among those with credit card debt, nearly two-thirds (61%) owe more than $2,500 — including 29% who owe between $2,500 and $5,000, 16% who owe between $5,000 and $10,000, and 15% who owe more than $10,000.

Despite this, most say they won’t have a problem making their Klarna payments. Three-quarters (76%) say they are very likely to make their Klarna payments on time, and 23% say they are somewhat likely. Just 1% say they’re not very likely to pay on time, and none say they’re not likely at all.

“Klarna is popular among people carrying credit card debt because of the ability to make interest-free purchases, sometimes without going through a traditional ‘hard’ credit check, and avoiding adding more debt to high-interest credit card balances,” Egan says. “While responsible use of Klarna doesn’t affect your credit score, making late payments or failing to make any payments at all could cause your credit score to drop. Therefore, Klarna should be used carefully.”

Half of customers who used Klarna to make purchases last week are living paycheck to paycheck

While many Klarna users express confidence in their ability to repay, 51% say they’re living paycheck to paycheck.

Despite widespread debt, most Klarna users still view themselves as financially responsible. Over half (51%) say they are very financially responsible, and 43% say they are somewhat responsible. Just 6% say they’re not very responsible, and fewer than 1% admit they’re not responsible at all.

Gen Zers are the most likely to have used Klarna for a recent DoorDash order, with 25% saying they did so, followed by Millennials at 22%. Gen X (16%) and Boomers (11%) were much less likely to use Klarna at checkout.

“Younger Americans who may not be as familiar with credit as older Americans should keep in mind that they’re borrowing money with Klarna, even if it might be interest-free,” says Egan. “Therefore, younger Klarna users should treat this payment method the same way they would treat a traditional credit card, even though these methods work differently. Most importantly, this means being vigilant about making on-time payments to Klarna to avoid racking up interest charges.”

Methodology

This survey was run on March 27, 2025 through the Pollfish platform. A total of 1,275 U.S. residents completed the full survey. To complete the survey respondents had to indicate they use DoorDash on a monthly basis and placed an order within the past week.