Uber and Klarna Team on New Payment Options for Rides, Deliveries

Uber and Klarna have joined forces to offer users new ways to pay for rides and deliveries.

The collaboration, announced Wednesday (April 24), lets users in the U.S., Germany and Klarna’s home country Sweden use Klarna’s Pay Now option to cover the cost of their next ride immediately and in-full with a single click, while tracking purchases in the Klarna app. 

In addition, Klarna said in a news release, customers in Germany and Sweden can use Klarna’s monthly payment option. This lets them bundle purchases into one interest-free payment that “coincides with their monthly salary cycle.”

“Our partnership with Uber, a pioneer in the industry, represents a significant milestone as it will provide consumers with even more flexibility and convenience in how they pay, even while on the go,” said Sebastian Siemiatkowski, Klarna’s co-founder and CEO. 

“Consumers can Pay Now quickly and securely in full, which already accounts for over one third of Klarna’s global volumes, and more easily manage their finances in one place,” he added.

As noted here last month, many shoppers are looking for this kind of digital convenience, as shown by research from PYMNTS Intelligence’s “2024 Global Digital Shopping Index: U.S. Edition,” which was created in collaboration with Visa Acceptance Solutions.

That study found that more than a quarter of American shoppers prefer to make purchases via digital channels without interacting with physical stores. In addition, U.S. consumers rely greatly on a range of digital features, with 85% saying they use multiple features regularly.

The announcement comes two days after the news that Klarna had expanded its partnership with travel company Expedia to bring Klarna’s installment payments offering to American travelers. The companies had previously collaborated to offer buy now, pay later (BNPL) services — the thing Klarna is perhaps best known for — to customers based in Sweden, Germany, Finland and the U.K.

“By enabling U.S. consumers to Pay Now or Pay Later with Klarna, we are not only making travel more financially accessible, but also enhancing the booking experience with our seamless payment process,” said Erin Jaeger, head of North America for Klarna. “It’s a win-win for travelers seeking both adventure and affordability.”