Your Complete Guide to Finding Clearpay Shops Online in 2026

The payment landscape has shifted dramatically in the past few years. Walk through any UK shopping district or browse online retailers, and you'll spot Clearpay alongside traditional payment options. This buy now, pay later tool has become standard kit for anyone managing larger purchases across instalments.

The challenge? Retailer partnerships shift constantly. A shop accepting Clearpay today might pause the service tomorrow, or restrict it to certain products. Rather than chasing static lists that age badly, you need a system for verifying acceptance in real-time.

Here's how to navigate Clearpay's ecosystem efficiently, find participating retailers across categories, and avoid the common pitfalls that trip up first-time users.

Quick Wins: What You'll Gain From This System

• Master the Shop Directory search function (30 seconds to verify any retailer)
• Set up the Clearpay Card for in-store purchases (contactless payments via phone wallet)
• Understand category patterns (fashion and beauty lead adoption, but home and tech are catching up)
• Implement a pre-purchase checklist that prevents declined payments and missed instalments

Understanding Clearpay's Core Mechanics

Clearpay splits purchases into four equal instalments across six weeks. You pay the first quarter at checkout, then Clearpay automatically deducts the remaining three payments every fortnight.

The system works brilliantly for planned purchases; furniture upgrades, seasonal wardrobes, birthday shopping sprees. Where people stumble is stacking multiple payment plans without tracking due dates, or assuming every retailer offers Clearpay across their entire catalogue.

Critical detail: the UK's Financial Conduct Authority is bringing buy now, pay later services under formal regulation from 15 July 2026. This doesn't change your day-to-day usage, but it signals the government's recognition of BNPL as a significant financial tool rather than a casual checkout option.

Late payment fees apply if you miss instalments, with caps based on order value. Clearpay publishes current fee structures in their app and website. More importantly, missed payments can restrict your ability to use the service for future purchases.

Method 1: The Shop Directory (Your Primary Verification Tool)

Clearpay maintains a live directory of participating retailers at their "All Stores" page. This is your fastest route to answering "does this shop accept Clearpay?"

How to use it effectively:

Search directly by retailer name if you're targeting a specific shop. The search function pulls up their listing immediately, showing whether they're currently active in the Clearpay network.

Browse by category when you're exploring options rather than checking a known retailer. Categories include Fashion & Footwear, Beauty & Skincare, Home & Garden, Sports & Fitness, and more. Each category shows retailers ranked by popularity or recency.

Check the retailer's specific Clearpay page within the directory. Some listings include notes about minimum basket values, excluded product categories, or in-store versus online availability.

Why this beats generic blog lists:

Partnerships change weekly. A retailer might pause Clearpay during a sale period, or a new shop might join the network. The directory updates in real-time, whereas even well-maintained listicles lag by weeks or months.

Method 2: Retailer Payment Pages (Secondary Verification)

Many retailers publish dedicated Clearpay information pages explaining how the service appears at checkout. Fashion retailer boohoo, for example, has a detailed Clearpay payments page outlining basket minimums and the checkout flow.

If a retailer doesn't publish a payment information page, test at checkout. Add an item to your basket, proceed to payment methods, and check whether Clearpay appears alongside card payments.

Important caveat: Clearpay visibility at checkout can depend on basket size. Some retailers only display the option once you've hit a minimum spend threshold (commonly £30-50, though this varies). Others restrict Clearpay to full-price items, excluding sale products entirely.

Always trust what you see at checkout over what a blog post claims. Retailers control their Clearpay implementation independently.

Finding Clearpay Shops by Category

Clearpay's adoption varies significantly across shopping categories. Understanding these patterns helps you predict where you're likely to find the service, and where you'll need to verify carefully.

Fashion and Footwear

This category drives Clearpay's growth. Trend-focused fashion sites, trainer retailers, and occasionwear shops have embraced payment-in-4 heavily.

Verified examples: JD Sports lists Clearpay as a payment option on their site and appears in Clearpay's directory. boohoo explains their Clearpay integration on their payments page.

Best for: Seasonal wardrobe updates, trainer purchases, outfit hauls where the total basket would strain a single payment.

Watch for: Return window timing. If you're buying multiple sizes to find the right fit, factor in the refund processing time versus your payment schedule.

Beauty, Skincare, and Fragrance

Beauty baskets accumulate quickly when you're buying full skincare routines, tools, or gift sets. Clearpay gives you breathing room to spread costs without resorting to store credit.

Verified example: LOOKFANTASTIC explains Clearpay on their site and maintains an official Clearpay store page.

Best for: Restocking during sale periods, trying premium brands without the upfront cost shock, gift shopping.

Watch for: The temptation to restock before you've actually run out. Clearpay makes it easy to justify early purchases, which can lead to product waste.

High Street Health and Beauty

Not every high street name accepts Clearpay, but some major chains have adopted it for both online and in-store purchases.

Verified example: Boots explains using Clearpay online and in-store via the Clearpay Card on their help pages.

Best for: Seasonal purchases like electric toothbrushes, fragrance gifts, or stocking up on premium beauty products.

Watch for: Department restrictions. Some retailers limit Clearpay to specific product categories, excluding items like pharmacy products or specific brands.

Home, Furniture, and DIY

Home purchases often involve significant one-off costs: furniture sets, storage solutions, seasonal decoration updates. Clearpay fits naturally into this pattern.

Verified example: The Range has a Clearpay information page explaining payment-in-4 availability.

Best for: Home refreshes, furniture upgrades, storage systems, seasonal decoration purchases.

Watch for: Delivery timing. If furniture arrives damaged or takes weeks to ship, you'll need to manage payments whilst resolving issues with customer service.

Sports, Outdoors, and Fitness

Sports retailers support Clearpay because customers frequently buy in bundles: trainers, kit, accessories, equipment.

Best for: Kit upgrades, seasonal sports equipment, fitness gear purchases.

Watch for: Return policies on worn items. Most sports retailers won't accept returns if you've used items outdoors, which can complicate refund timing.

Kids, School, and Toys

Back-to-school season, birthday parties, and rapid growth spurts make children's items ideal for payment plans.

Strategy: Rather than guessing which kids' retailers accept Clearpay, filter the directory by "Kids & Baby" or "Toys & Games" categories to see current participants.

Best for: School uniform and shoe purchases, birthday gift bundles, seasonal clothing updates.

Watch for: Overlapping payment dates if you're buying for multiple children or events close together.

Gifts and Personalised Items

Custom jewellery, personalised prints, and special-occasion gifts often appear in Clearpay directories.

Watch for: Limited returns on personalised items. Always verify the retailer's return policy before ordering custom products through Clearpay.

Using Clearpay In-Store (The Clearpay Card)

Clearpay works in physical shops through the Clearpay Card, a digital card you add to your phone's wallet and use contactlessly.

Setup process:

Open the Clearpay app and navigate to the Clearpay Card section. The app generates a virtual card that syncs with your account.

Add the card to your phone's wallet: Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay depending on your device.

When shopping in-store, authorise the payment in the Clearpay app before tapping to pay at the terminal. The app confirms your available spending limit and splits the purchase into instalments.

Finding in-store locations:

Clearpay maintains an in-store map showing physical locations that accept the Clearpay Card. Access this through the app or website's in-store section.

Participating retailers display Clearpay signage at checkout, but the map provides advance verification if you're planning a specific shopping trip.

Why Clearpay Might Not Appear at Checkout

You've verified a retailer in the directory, but Clearpay isn't showing at payment. Common causes:

The retailer paused or ended their Clearpay partnership. Partnerships change; the directory usually updates quickly, but there's occasionally lag.

Product-level restrictions apply. Some retailers exclude specific categories (electronics, gift cards, sale items) from Clearpay even if they generally support it.

Basket minimum requirements. Clearpay might only appear once your total hits £30, £50, or another threshold set by the retailer.

Your account received a payment decline. Clearpay approvals vary by purchase, retailer, and account status. A declined payment doesn't necessarily mean anything's wrong with your account; it might simply mean that specific purchase wasn't approved.

In-store versus online differences. A retailer might accept Clearpay online but not in physical locations, or vice versa.

Quick troubleshooting:

• Verify the retailer in the Shop Directory again
• Try a different product or adjust your basket total
• Check the retailer's Clearpay help page for specific restrictions
• Contact Clearpay support if the issue persists

Handling Returns and Refunds Through Clearpay

Returns cause confusion because two parties are involved: the retailer and Clearpay.

The process:The retailer processes your return first, following their standard return procedure. Once they approve the refund, they notify Clearpay.

Clearpay then adjusts your payment plan accordingly. If you've paid some instalments already, Clearpay refunds the appropriate amount. If instalments remain, Clearpay reduces or cancels them based on the refund value.

Timing considerations:

Retailers process refunds at different speeds. Some issue refunds within days; others take weeks. During this window, your Clearpay payment plan continues as scheduled.

Keep proof of postage, tracking numbers, and return confirmations. If there's a dispute about whether the retailer received your return, you'll need this documentation.

Partial returns:

Returning part of an order adjusts your payment plan rather than cancelling it entirely. Clearpay recalculates based on the final order value after returns.

Strategy for smooth returns:

Return items quickly rather than waiting until the final day of the return window. This gives you buffer time if shipping delays occur.

Screenshot your order confirmation and return authorisation for records. If payments process whilst the return is in transit, you have documentation to reference.

Safety Checklist: Using Clearpay Without Regret

Clearpay's appeal is splitting costs into manageable chunks. The risk emerges when you stack multiple payment plans across overlapping dates.

Before placing any Clearpay order, verify:

Could you afford the full purchase amount today if required? If not, reconsider whether you should buy it at all.

Do you have other Clearpay payments due in the next two weeks? Check your app's payment schedule before adding another plan.

Is the return policy clear, particularly for sale items or personalised products? Some items can't be returned, which locks you into the payment plan regardless.

Will delivery take multiple weeks? Made-to-order items can create long delays between ordering and receiving, which complicates returns if you change your mind.

Will you still want this item when the novelty fades? Impulse purchases feel different after a few days; payment plans mean you're committed beyond the initial excitement.

What declined payments mean:

Clearpay declines aren't always about your account status. They can relate to the specific purchase, retailer, or current spending patterns.

If you're declined, try:

• Reducing your basket size
• Using a different retailer for the same product
• Verifying your payment details are current
• Ensuring you have funds available for the first instalment
• Checking you don't have outstanding payments on other Clearpay orders

Staying Current: Why the Directory Matters

Shop partnerships change constantly. Retailers join the Clearpay network, pause during restructuring, or end partnerships entirely. Sale periods sometimes disable Clearpay temporarily. Product categories get added or restricted.

Your verification workflow should be:

Check the Shop Directory for the specific retailer before shopping. This takes 30 seconds and prevents checkout disappointment.

Verify at checkout, especially if you're buying unusual items or your basket is small. The directory shows retailer participation generally, but checkout shows real-time availability for your specific purchase.

For in-store shopping, use the in-store map and have the Clearpay Card set up in your phone wallet before leaving home.

Don't rely on:

• Memory from previous purchases (partnerships change)
• Generic blog lists (they age quickly)
• Assumptions based on similar retailers (each retailer controls their own Clearpay implementation)

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Clearpay run credit checks that affect my credit score?

Clearpay's approach to credit checks varies, and policies update over time. For current information about how Clearpay assesses eligibility and whether they report to credit agencies, check Clearpay's "Get the facts" page and Help Centre. These sources reflect their latest policies.

Are there fees for using Clearpay?

Clearpay doesn't charge interest or fees for on-time payments. Late fees apply if you miss payment dates, with caps based on order value. Clearpay publishes current fee structures and caps on their website and in the app.

Can I use Clearpay both online and in physical shops?

Yes. Clearpay works online at participating retailers' websites, and in-store via the Clearpay Card added to your phone's wallet. Use the Shop Directory to verify online retailers, and the in-store map to find physical locations.

What's the quickest way to find current Clearpay shops?

The official Shop Directory (All Stores) is the fastest, most accurate method. It shows live retailer participation, lets you search by name or browse by category, and updates as partnerships change.

Final Thoughts: Using Payment Tools Strategically

Clearpay works brilliantly as a budgeting tool when you're managing planned purchases: spreading seasonal shopping costs, upgrading furniture without depleting savings, or buying quality items that would otherwise require saving up first.

Where it becomes problematic is treating it as a way to afford things you can't actually afford, or stacking so many payment plans that you lose track of due dates.

Use the directory to verify retailers efficiently. Check your payment schedule in the app before adding new orders. Keep return documentation organised. Treat each Clearpay purchase as a commitment you're confident about, not a trial run.

The technology enables flexibility; how you use that flexibility determines whether it improves your shopping experience or creates stress down the line.