William Lipovsky
If you have bad credit, you can still find financing for the purchase of a new laptop or desktop computer from stores including Aaron’s, FlexShopper, Fingerhut, and others.
When you have bad credit or no credit, you’ll be limited principally to rent-to-own and buy-now-pay-later programs, and usually won’t have store credit card options. You might also be able to secure financing directly from a computer manufacturer, like Dell.
We detail your options below.
Bad Credit & No Credit Check Computer Financing
Rent-to-Own Programs
Rent-to-own programs allow you to get the items you need immediately, even if you don’t have the cash or credit to pay for the item all at once.
Usually, rent-to-own stores cater to customers with either no credit history or poor credit history, but they can also be a good option if you only need an item for a short period of time.
Rent-to-own businesses operate by leasing an item over a set period of time (usually 12 to 24 months) and then spreading the payment over that leasing period.
While weekly or monthly payments can appear low and affordable, note that the total you pay at the end of the lease period can end up being significantly more than the item’s sticker price. Rent-to-own programs don’t charge interest but do charge leasing fees.
If you don’t truly need the item right away, you may want to save up for your purchase and pay the retail price upfront instead of using a rent-to-own program.
Another thing to keep in mind with rent-to-own programs is that any non-payment during that lease term can result in the company seizing the item. Missed payments can also lead to fees or reflect negatively on your credit score, depending on the terms of your contract.
Aaron’s
- Computers offered: Desktops, laptops, tablets, all-in-ones, gaming PCs[1]
- Payment schedules offered: Weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly[2]
- Credit check required? Aaron’s may run a credit check, but no established credit is required[2]
- Requirements:
- Shop online
- Find a store
FlexShopper
- Computers offered: Desktops, laptops, tablets, gaming PCs[4]
- Payment schedules offered: Weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, with Early Purchase Options available[5]
- Credit check required? Yes[5]
- Requirements:
- Must be 18 years old (19 in Alabama or Nebraska and 21 in Mississippi)
- Must have a valid source of income
- Must be a U.S. resident in a state other than New Jersey, Minnesota, Wisconsin, or Wyoming
- Must have a valid checking account in good standing
- Must have a valid Social Security number or ITIN[5]
- Shop online
Suggested Article: FlexShopper Compared to Similar Websites
LeaseVille
- Computers offered: Laptops, desktops, tablets, gaming PCs[6]
- Payment schedules offered: Weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly with 100-day and 12-month buyout options[7]
- Credit check required? No[7]
- Requirements:
- Must fill out an application at checkout
- Must have steady income of at least $1,200 per month for the last six months
- Must have an active checking account that’s in good standing (can’t be a prepaid account)
- Purchase must be less than $3,500 to qualify[7]
- Shop online
Rent-2-Own (Ohio and Kentucky)
- Computers offered: Desktops, laptops, tablets, gaming PCs[8]
- Payment schedules offered: Weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly with a 120-day Same As Cash option[9]
- Credit check required? No[9]
- Requirements:
- Must confirm your local store when applying
- Must pay your first installment at checkout[10]
- Find a store
Rent-A-Center
- Computers offered: Laptops, tablets, desktops[11]
- Payment schedules offered: Weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly[12]
- Credit check required? Rent-A-Center may run a credit check, but no established credit is necessary[13]
- Requirements:
- Must provide your legal name, date of birth, and contact information
- Must have a verifiable source of income
- Must provide contact information for your landlord or mortgage company
- Must provide two to four references [13]
- Shop online
- Find a store
Note: Rent-A-Center has a rating of A+ from the Better Business Bureau.
Rent Delite
- Computers offered: Laptops, desktops, all-in-ones, two-in-ones, tablets, accessories[14]
- Payment schedules offered: Weekly or monthly over 12 months[15]
- Credit check required? Yes[15]
- Requirements:
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Must have a provable job/source of income
- Must provide an email address
- Must have a valid debit or credit card[15]
- Rent online
YuKeep
- Computers offered: Laptops, desktops, all-in-ones[16]
- Payment schedules offered: Weekly, monthly[17]
- Credit check required? Yes[17]
- Requirements:
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Must have a source of income.
- Must have an active bank account or prepaid card[17]
- Rent online
Buy Now, Pay Later Programs
Buy now, pay later stores differ from rent-to-own retailers in that you buy the item outright via retailer credit and then your payments are deferred to a later date.
Usually, buy now, pay later stores will spread out payments weekly or monthly, and some offer a deferred payoff option within a short period of time after the initial purchase.
Be aware that this interest-free period is usually followed by a high interest rate, and if you don’t pay the item off during the interest-free period, interest may accrue from the date of purchase rather than the end of the promotional period.
And, similar to rent-to-own programs, buy now, pay later programs typically cost more in the long run than purchasing the item at its retail price.
Fingerhut
- Computers offered: Laptops, desktops, all-in-ones, two-in-ones, tablets, gaming PCs, and accessories[18]
- Payment schedules offered: Monthly[19]
- Credit check required? Yes[19]
- Requirements:
- Must have a debit card, checking account, or access to money orders/MoneyGram to make payments; Fingerhut doesn’t accept credit card or savings account payments
- Must apply online and provide your CustomerNumber if you have one
- Requires a down payment of at least $30[19]
- Shop online
Seventh Avenue
- Computers offered: Laptops, tablets, and accessories[20]
- Payment schedules offered: Monthly[21]
- Credit check required? Yes[22][21]
- Requirements:
- Can either respond to a pre-approval offer or apply at checkout online
- Must provide information about your credit history
- May require a down payment[22]
- Shop online
For more information on buy now, pay later options, check out our list of buy now, pay later catalogs.
Direct Financing From Computer Brands
Only a few computer brands offer financing directly through the company.
Apple
- Computers offered: MacBook, iMac, Mac Pro, Mac mini, iPad, and accessories[23][24]
- Payment schedules offered: Monthly[25]
- Credit check required? Yes[26]
- Requirements:
- Must have an Apple ID and iCloud account in good standing
- Must have a valid email address associated with your Apple ID
- Must use two-factor authentication with your Apple ID
- Must submit to a credit check[27]
- Apply online
- Find a store
Dell
- Computers offered: Laptops, desktops, all-in-ones, two-in-ones, gaming PCs, and gaming laptops[28]
- Payment schedules offered: Monthly[29]
- Credit check required? Yes[30]
- Requirements:
- Apply online
Retailer Financing
Retail credit cards and credit lines may be an option for you if none of the options noted above suit your needs.
Best Buy
- Computers offered: Laptops, desktops, gaming PCs, all-in-ones, tablets, components, and accessories[31]
- Payment schedules offered: Monthly[32]
- Credit check required? Yes[33]
- Requirements:
- Must be at least 18 years old (21 in Puerto Rico)
- Must provide your name, address, date of birth, and personal contact information
- Must authorize Citibank to gather information about you from your employer, bank, and credit bureaus[33]
- Apply online
- Find a store
Amazon
- Computers offered: Laptops, desktops, gaming PCs, tablets, components, and accessories[34]
- Payment schedules offered: Monthly with an Amazon credit card[35]
- Credit check required? Yes[36]
- Requirements:
- Apply online
PayPal Credit
- Computers offered: Varies by retailer; Samsung and Hewlett-Packard, as well as a host of other online retailers, offer PayPal Credit as an additional payment option on their websites. See our list of places that take PayPal Credit.
- Payment schedules offered: Monthly[38]
- Credit check required? Yes[38]
- Requirements:
- Must provide date of birth, income information, and the last four digits of your Social Security number
- Must allow Synchrony Bank to review your credit report[39]
- Apply online
Never heard of leaseville until a friend recommended them. Im a little uneasy about giving my personal information online so i decided to call and make sure everything was kosher (mind you my friend already has an order with them, I’m just paranoid). They were very pleasant on the phone and told me to check them out online via BBB and other reviews before placing an order and made sure i gelt comfortable. Their pricing (monthly payments) is much better than all these store mentioned above plus I took advantage of their 12 mo same as cash option, which is amazing since my credit is not that great. Anyways leaseville is a very transparent, up front and honest company, from what i’ve seen so far. My item was brand new, as they promised and my payments were exact, to the penny. Very pleased
I stopped using a bank account, closed all credit cards and for the past few years, have paid for everything with cash or my debit card. Now, my credit record shows NO history of any credit including two houses I bought and paid off. I am using two secured cards to try to build some back up. I need to buy a new computer. i can’t do 2000 up front to purchase. i also, cannot get credit. Flex Pay? No way. The woman on the phone told me that bad derogatory credit was even better than no credit history. They denied me. Dell just denied me. I cannot find anyplace that will let me layaway/lease/make payments on a computer. I have 700 dollars available each month left AFTER paying my rent and bills and can make payments. I am SO frustrated.
Hi Victoria,
I am so sorry to hear about your struggles securing credit to purchase a computer. Have you tried Rent-A-Center? You can find a list of Rent-A-Center stores here. While purchasing a computer through a rent-to-own company may cost you more than a traditional lender, it is a great option for consumers like you who have no/little credit history. Good luck!
I have no credit history at all since I’m starting out… But I can provide proof that I’ve been employed for over 2 years full time and am having issues financing anything since I don’t have a history at all.
Hi Austin,
Your goal is to begin building a credit history instead of trying to secure financing through a ‘bad credit’ lender. Because you have a history of full-time employment, you will find that securing a credit card (albeit with a low credit limit) is your best bet. Many times, consumers have the best luck securing a credit card through a department store to begin building their credit. Make a purchase on the card at least once a month, and make sure to pay if off, in full, every month. Once you have begun establishing a credit history, you will find that securing financing for car loans and other types of major credits cards is a much easier endeavor. Good luck!
I have no credit and no proof of employment, as well as no bank account. I do have a legitamate residency asvwell as more than enough cash coming in. My question is: are their any services available for me, and would u recommend any of these sites?
Leif,
Flex Shopper, LeaseVille (or LeaseVille No Credit), and Rent-2-Own might be particularly good options for you. These are all companies that are known to accept a wide range of credit scores, and that typically work with customers who have new, poor, or no credit. I hope this helps!
I need a finance for a computer,my credit score is bad but I can still afford to pay the installment
Hi Ofentse,
Flex Shopper, LeaseVille (or LeaseVille No Credit), and Rent-2-Own might be particularly good options for you. These are all companies that are known to accept a wide range of credit scores, and that typically work with customers who have new, poor, or no credit. I hope this helps!