Has Installment Payments Become Essential in the Customer Purchase Journey?

Price is no longer the only factor influencing online purchasing decisions. Consumers now expect greater flexibility at checkout as well. Installment payments, deferred payments, and flexible payment options are playing an increasingly important role in shoppers’ expectations.

Payment Flexibility Is No Longer an Optional Extra

Payment methods now play a central role in online purchase decisions.

According to the Sofinscope survey published in June 2026, 86% of French consumers consider the payment methods offered on an e-commerce website to be an important or decisive factor in their purchasing decision. Among them, 29% even view it as a decisive criterion.

This growing importance directly benefits installment payment, deferred payment, and financing solutions.

Why Do Payment Options Influence Purchasing Decisions?

The absence of financing solutions can have a direct impact on whether a purchase is completed.

Indeed, 44% of French consumers say they could abandon a purchase if the website does not offer payment flexibility options. This represents a 2-point increase compared with 2025.

This expectation is even stronger among consumers under the age of 35, whose interest in these solutions is 12 percentage points higher than the national average.

These findings highlight consumers’ growing interest in more flexible payment solutions.

Which Solutions Appeal Most to Consumers?

When shoppers hesitate before making a purchase, several payment options can help them move forward:

• 23% are influenced by the possibility of paying in installments.
• 22% appreciate being able to use a credit card directly on the merchant’s website.
• 19% want the ability to choose the number of monthly installments.
• 11% are attracted by deferred payment solutions.

These results reflect a growing demand for flexibility throughout the purchasing experience.

A Competitive Advantage for E-commerce Businesses

The variety of available payment methods also influences consumers’ preference for online shopping.

Nearly one in five French consumers (19%) considers access to a wider range of payment methods to be one of the key advantages of e-commerce. This figure rises to 29% among consumers under 35.

Flexible payment solutions therefore help strengthen the attractiveness of online shopping journeys.

What Does This Mean for E-commerce Retailers?

For online merchants, payment flexibility is no longer simply a financing tool.

The data suggests that these solutions can contribute to higher conversion rates, stronger customer loyalty, and an improved customer experience when they are integrated seamlessly and prominently into the shopping journey.

Key Takeaways

• 86% of French consumers consider payment methods an important or decisive purchase criterion.
• 44% could abandon a purchase if no payment flexibility options are available.
• 23% say that installment payments can convince them to complete a purchase.
• Among consumers under 35, demand for payment flexibility is 12 percentage points higher than the national average.
• Flexible payment solutions can help improve conversion rates throughout the online purchasing journey.

Discover the study:

 

 

Sofinscope Online shopping – june 2026