What is Zilch?
Zilch is a credit provider, offering an alternative to traditional loans and credit cards. We’ll talk about the products Zilch offers and how they work further down the page.
According to their website, Zilch, which launched in 2018, “was born putting customers first, front and centre.”
Zilch is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and as of September 2026, is rated ‘excellent’ on Trustpilot.
The Zilch eligibility criteria
You could be eligible for a Zilch account if you:
- Are a UK resident
- Are over the age of 18
- Do not already have a Zilch account.
You must also pass Zilch’s electronic verification and soft credit checks.
What sort of credit products does Zilch offer?
You may have heard of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL), a service that allows you to spread the cost of a purchase. Every BNPL provider is different, but you’ll typically pay a percentage of the overall cost of the purchase upfront, with the remainder paid in instalments over a set amount of time.
Zilch differs from other BNPL providers. The credit is provided to you on a virtual card, which can be added to your digital wallet and used if and when you need it.
Zilch offers three different products:
In the section below, we’ll explore Zilch and its various products in further detail.
Important: please note that CashLady customers can only be matched with the Zilch Classic product.
How does Zilch work?
| Zilch Up | Zilch Classic | Zilch X | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit limit | Up to £800 | Up to £3,000 | Up to £4,500 |
| Representative Annual Percentage Rate (APR) | 31.9% | 18.6% | 14.9% |
| Spread the cost of a purchase over 6 weeks | Pay either 25% or 50% upfront. | Pay 25% upfront. | From 0% upfront. |
| Spread the cost of a purchase over 3 months | Not available. | Pay 25% upfront, subject to status. | From 0% upfront. |
| Pay in full upfront for Zilch Rewards | Option available | Option available | Option available |
Important: please note that CashLady customers can only be matched with the Zilch Classic product.
Zilch example
You have Zilch Classic and make a £200 purchase, which you choose to repay over 6 weeks.
Here’s how your repayment schedule will look:
- Upfront payment: 25% of the overall purchase amount, £50.
- Payment two due two weeks after the time of purchase: 25% of the overall purchase amount, £50.
- Payment three due four weeks after the time of purchase: 25% of the overall purchase amount, £50.
- Payment four due six weeks after the time of purchase: 25% of the overall purchase amount, £50.
Now, we’ll look at how a payment schedule with Zilch X over 3 months could work out. You make a £500 purchase and pay 0% of the cost upfront.
- Upfront payment: £0.
- Payment one due one month after the time of purchase: 33.3% of the overall purchase amount, £166.50.
- Payment two due two months after the time of purchase: 33.3% of the overall purchase amount, £166.50.
- Payment three due three months after the time of purchase: 33.4% of the overall purchase amount, £167.
Examples are for illustrative purposes only. Some retailers may charge a purchase fee.
Important: please note that CashLady customers can only be matched with the Zilch Classic product.
I was searching for a personal loan; why was I matched with Zilch?
As a credit broker, CashLady scans a large panel of lenders to search for a suitable credit product for your circumstances.
Based on the information available to us, we may not have been able to match you with a traditional loan provider. In this case, you may be matched with an alternative product, such as Zilch.
Please remember that quotes are no-obligation; you don’t have to make a full application for any credit product you’re not sure about.
Can you borrow money from Zilch?
Zilch does not offer traditional personal loans, but it does offer a short-term cash advance feature and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) credit. It’s important to be aware of how Zilch’s products work. Zilch is not a loan or a credit card.
How much money can I borrow with Zilch?
As illustrated in the table above, the amount of credit you could have with Zilch will depend on the product you’re approved for.
- With Zilch Up, you could get a credit limit of up to £800.
- With Zilch Classic, you could get a credit limit of up to £3,000.
- With Zilch X, you could get a credit limit of up to £4,500.
Important: please note that CashLady customers can only be matched with the Zilch Classic product.
Zilch repayment terms
Depending on the product you choose, you can make your repayments in equal fortnightly instalments over 6 weeks, or equal monthly instalments across three months.
Alternatively, you can use your Zilch card to pay for an item in full upfront to gain Zilch Rewards.
What happens if you don’t pay back Zilch?
Late and missed repayments will be reported to the credit reference agencies (CRAs). This could have a negative impact on your credit score.
In addition to this, your Zilch account could be blocked, meaning you will not be able to make any further purchases.
It’s worth noting that certain Zilch products allow you to snooze an upcoming payment for either 4 or 8 days, as long as this is actioned 24 hours before the payment is due. However, this should not be viewed as a long-term solution to money problems. Fees apply.
I’m worried about money, where can I get financial advice?
Free, confidential advice is available through the following charities and organisations: StepChange, MoneyHelper, Citizens Advice, and National Debtline.
How can I contact Zilch?
- By telephone, 7 days a week, between 9am-5pm: 020 3405 9775
- Through the 24/7 Live Chat feature in the Zilch app.
Got questions? You might find the answers on the Zilch FAQs page.
How can I contact CashLady?
CashLady is a credit broker. If you need to talk to us about the loan search you carried out on cashlady.co.uk, you can do so by contacting our friendly team. We’re available Monday to Friday, between 9am and 5pm.