Deep Links for BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) Apps

Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) apps sit at the intersection of fintech and e-commerce. Deep links need to handle both sides: linking to payment plans and installment management (fintech) and linking to merchant offers and shopping experiences (e-commerce). The key challenge is connecting the BNPL app to merchant apps and websites seamlessly.

This guide covers deep linking patterns for BNPL apps. For broader fintech deep linking, see deep linking for fintech and banking apps. For e-commerce deep linking, see deep linking for e-commerce apps.

Route Patterns

Payment Plans

/plans                             → Active payment plans
/plans/{plan-id}                   → Specific plan detail
/plans/{plan-id}/payment           → Make a payment on a plan
/plans/{plan-id}/schedule          → Payment schedule
/plans/{plan-id}/payoff            → Early payoff option

Shopping

/shop                              → Browse merchants
/shop/{merchant-slug}              → Merchant page
/shop/{merchant-slug}/offers       → Merchant-specific offers
/offers                            → All current offers
/offers/{offer-id}                 → Specific offer detail

Virtual Card

/card                              → Virtual card overview
/card/details                      → Card number, CVV, expiration
/card/merchants                    → Where to use the card

Account

/spending-limit                    → Current spending limit
/spending-limit/increase           → Request limit increase
/payments                          → Payment history
/payments/upcoming                 → Upcoming payments
/payments/overdue                  → Overdue payments

Checkout

/checkout/{merchant}/{amount}      → BNPL checkout for a specific purchase
/prequalify                        → Check spending power

Key Deep Link Flows

Payment Reminder

The most critical deep link for BNPL apps. When a payment is due:

func handlePaymentReminder(_ planId: String) {
    guard authManager.isAuthenticated else {
        pendingDeepLink = "/plans/\(planId)/payment"
        showLogin()
        return
    }

    guard let plan = planManager.getPlan(planId) else {
        showError("Payment plan not found.")
        return
    }

    // Show the payment screen with the amount pre-filled
    showPaymentScreen(
        plan: plan,
        amount: plan.nextPaymentAmount,
        dueDate: plan.nextPaymentDate
    )
}

Merchant Offer

When a merchant partner has a promotion:

https://links.bnplapp.com/shop/nike/offers

This deep link should:

1. Open the BNPL app to Nike's offer page.
2. Show available promotions (0% interest, special terms).
3. Include a "Shop Now" button that opens Nike's website or app with BNPL as a payment option.

In-Store Checkout

BNPL at physical stores uses a virtual card or QR code:

https://links.bnplapp.com/card/details

This deep link from an in-store QR code should:

1. Open the app directly to the virtual card screen.
2. Display the card number, CVV, and expiration.
3. Allow adding to Apple Pay or Google Pay.

Email Deep Links

Payment Due

<p>Your payment of $62.50 for your Amazon purchase is due on July 15.</p>
<a href="https://links.bnplapp.com/plans/PLAN-123/payment">
  Make Payment
</a>

Overdue Payment

<p>Your payment of $62.50 is overdue. A late fee may apply.</p>
<a href="https://links.bnplapp.com/payments/overdue">
  Pay Now
</a>

Spending Limit Increase

<p>Great news! Your spending limit has been increased to $2,000.</p>
<a href="https://links.bnplapp.com/spending-limit">
  View Your Limit
</a>

New Merchant Partner

<p>You can now use BNPLApp at Sephora! Get 4 interest-free payments on beauty products.</p>
<a href="https://links.bnplapp.com/shop/sephora">
  Shop at Sephora
</a>

Push Notification Deep Links

Notification	Deep Link	Priority
Payment due tomorrow	/plans/{plan-id}/payment	High
Payment overdue	/payments/overdue	Critical
Payment confirmed	/plans/{plan-id}	Normal
Spending limit increase	/spending-limit	Normal
New merchant offer	/shop/{merchant}	Normal
Plan paid off	/plans/{plan-id}	Normal
Referral bonus	/rewards	Normal

Cross-App Deep Linking

BNPL apps interact with merchant apps. Deep links bridge the two:

From BNPL App to Merchant

When a user taps "Shop at Nike" in the BNPL app:

func openMerchant(_ merchantSlug: String) {
    let merchantUrl = merchantURLs[merchantSlug]

    // Try to open the merchant's app via Universal Link
    if let url = URL(string: merchantUrl) {
        UIApplication.shared.open(url) { success in
            if !success {
                // Merchant app not installed, open web
                let webUrl = URL(string: "https://\(merchantSlug).com")!
                UIApplication.shared.open(webUrl)
            }
        }
    }
}

From Merchant to BNPL App

When a user selects BNPL at checkout on a merchant's website:

https://links.bnplapp.com/checkout/nike/149.99

This opens the BNPL app with the purchase amount pre-filled, allowing the user to split the payment.

Deferred Deep Links for BNPL

Deferred deep linking is critical for BNPL growth:

1. User sees an ad: "Split your purchases into 4 payments. Get $10 off your first order."
2. User taps the ad: Redirected to the app store (user does not have the app).
3. User installs the app: After opening, the app retrieves the deferred deep link data.
4. User lands on the offer: The $10 off offer is applied to their account.

Without deferred deep linking, the user installs the app but lands on the home screen. They may never find the offer that motivated them to install.

Regulatory Considerations

BNPL is increasingly regulated:

• CFPB oversight. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau treats BNPL products as credit. Marketing deep links must comply with credit advertising rules.
• Disclosure requirements. Deep links to checkout or pre-qualification flows should include or link to required disclosures (APR, late fees, terms).
• Affordability checks. Deep links should not bypass affordability assessments. Pre-qualification must happen before offering credit.

Tolinku for BNPL Apps

Tolinku supports the route patterns BNPL apps need. Define routes for payment plans, merchant offers, and checkout flows in the Tolinku dashboard. Deferred deep linking ensures promotional offers are preserved through app install.

For payment deep links, see payment deep links. For fintech deep linking, see deep linking for fintech and banking apps.