My credit card got blocked in September 2021.
Not because I missed payments. Because HDFC’s fraud detection system thought my sudden spike in online orders was suspicious.
It was Diwali season. I was buying gifts. Groceries. Electronics. Normal stuff.
But their algorithm flagged it. Card blocked. Had to call customer service. Spent 40 minutes proving I was actually me.
My wife was furious. “This is why we need backup payment options.”
She was right. I started looking at Buy Now Pay Later services.
Found Simpl and LazyPay. Both promised instant credit without the hassle of credit cards.
I’ve been using both since late 2021. My elder son uses LazyPay for his online shopping. I use Simpl for groceries and food delivery.
After three years and over ₹5 lakh spent through both platforms, here’s what actually works.
What is Simpl?
Simpl launched in 2016. One of the earliest BNPL services in India.
They don’t give you a card. They integrate directly with merchant apps. Swiggy. Zomato. BigBasket. BookMyShow.
I activated Simpl through Swiggy in October 2021. Took 2 minutes.
The concept is simple. Buy now. Pay after 15 days. No interest if paid on time.
They gave me a ₹10,000 limit to start. Based on my Swiggy order history and UPI transactions.
No credit score check. No income proof. Just linked my bank account and started using it.
What I liked immediately? The seamless integration. When checking out on Swiggy, Simpl shows up as a payment option. One tap. Done.
Over three years, my limit grew to ₹50,000. Based on regular usage and timely payments.
Similar to how I manage credit cards, having alternative payment methods reduces dependency on any single source.
The catch: Simpl only works with partner merchants. You can’t use it everywhere.
What is LazyPay?
LazyPay is owned by PayU. Launched around 2017.
They took a different approach. More merchants. More use cases. Wider acceptance.
I activated LazyPay in December 2021. Through Amazon checkout. Took about 5 minutes.
The pitch was attractive. Use LazyPay anywhere PayU is accepted. That’s hundreds of merchants.
Amazon. Flipkart. BookMyShow. MakeMyTrip. Uber. Even bill payments.
They gave me ₹15,000 limit initially. Higher than Simpl’s starting limit.
The payment window is monthly. Whatever you spend in a month, you pay by the 5th of next month.
This is different from Simpl’s rolling 15 day cycle. LazyPay groups everything monthly. Makes tracking easier.
My elder son prefers LazyPay. He’s 20. Uses it for all his online shopping and food delivery. His limit is now ₹40,000 after 18 months.
When I was setting up financial infrastructure after returning, having flexible payment options would have helped those early months.
Head to Head Comparison
Let me show you what matters for actual daily use.
| Feature | Simpl | LazyPay |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Year | 2016 | 2017 |
| Owned By | Simpl (independent) | PayU India |
| Starting Credit Limit | ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 | ₹10,000 to ₹20,000 |
| Maximum Limit | Up to ₹1 lakh | Up to ₹1 lakh |
| Interest Free Period | 15 days from each purchase | Until 5th of next month (monthly billing) |
| Partner Merchants | 15,000+ (limited selection) | 250,000+ (wide acceptance) |
| Late Payment Fee | ₹250 plus 3% per month interest | ₹200 plus 2.5% per month interest |
| Minimum Payment | Full amount only | Full or partial (with interest on remaining) |
| Approval Time | 2 to 5 minutes | 3 to 10 minutes |
| KYC Requirements | Basic (phone, bank account) | Standard (PAN, Aadhaar) |
| Credit Score Impact | Reports to credit bureaus | Reports to credit bureaus |
Sources: Simpl website, LazyPay website, personal usage data
The table shows the basics. Real usage shows more.
Last month I spent ₹8,500 on Swiggy through Simpl. Had 15 days to pay from each order. Gets confusing tracking multiple due dates.
Same month, my son spent ₹12,000 across Amazon and Flipkart through LazyPay. One due date. 5th of next month. Simpler.
LazyPay’s monthly billing makes more sense for most people.
But here’s where Simpl wins. The merchant integration is tighter. Smoother checkout experience. Fewer failed transactions.
What this means: LazyPay works with more merchants but Simpl works better with fewer merchants.
Usage Scenarios Breakdown
Let me show you real costs and convenience for different situations.
| Scenario | Simpl Experience | LazyPay Experience | Better Option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food delivery (₹5,000 monthly) | Works on Swiggy, Zomato. Seamless. | Works on both plus Uber Eats. | LazyPay for choice |
| Online shopping (₹15,000 monthly) | Limited to select stores. | Works on Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra. | LazyPay clearly |
| Bill payments (₹3,000 monthly) | Not available. | Electricity, mobile, DTH all supported. | LazyPay only option |
| Travel bookings (₹10,000 quarterly) | BookMyShow only. | MakeMyTrip, Goibibo, Cleartrip. | LazyPay has coverage |
| Emergency purchases (₹8,000) | If merchant supports Simpl, instant. | Higher chance of merchant support. | LazyPay more reliable |
These scenarios come from my actual usage patterns from October 2021 to October 2024.
When I moved back from USA in 2017, payment options in India felt limited compared to what I was used to. BNPL services have filled that gap nicely.
The time my HDFC card got blocked? I used LazyPay to complete my Diwali shopping. Zero friction. That’s when I became a believer in having backup payment methods.
Features That Actually Matter
Both apps have features. But which ones help in real situations?
For Simpl:
What works really well:
The autopay setup is brilliant. Link your bank account once. Payments happen automatically on due date. Never missed a payment in three years.
The Simpl app shows all upcoming payments clearly. You know exactly what’s due when. Helps with cash flow planning.
Merchant integration is seamless. When you’re on Swiggy checkout, Simpl just works. No redirects. No OTPs. One tap payment.
What doesn’t work well:
Limited merchant network is frustrating. Wanted to use Simpl on Myntra. Not available. Had to use another payment method.
The 15 day cycle for each transaction gets confusing. Made 10 Swiggy orders in a month? That’s 10 different due dates to track.
No partial payment option. You must pay the full amount. Sometimes cash flow doesn’t align perfectly.
For LazyPay:
What works exceptionally well:
Works almost everywhere I shop online. Amazon. Flipkart. BookMyShow. MakeMyTrip. Wide acceptance wins.
Monthly billing is simple. Everything due on 5th of next month. One date to remember. Easy budgeting.
Partial payment option exists. Tight on cash? Pay minimum amount. Rest next month with interest. Not ideal but option exists.
Credit limit increases are more generous. Started at ₹15,000. Now at ₹60,000. Simpl is still at ₹50,000 for me.
What could improve:
Checkout experience varies by merchant. Sometimes smooth. Sometimes requires OTP. Not as consistent as Simpl.
The app interface feels dated compared to modern fintech apps. Gets the job done but not pretty.
Customer support is slow. Had an issue once. Email response took 36 hours. Simpl responded in 4 hours.
Think of it like choosing between neobanks. Features matter based on where and how you spend.
The real difference: Simpl optimizes for seamless experience with select partners. LazyPay optimizes for wide acceptance with variable experience.
My Real Usage Pattern
I use both. Makes sense for my spending habits.
Simpl is exclusively for food delivery. Swiggy and Zomato. About ₹6,000 to ₹8,000 monthly.
Why? The checkout is fastest. One tap. Food ordered. Payment happens automatically after 15 days.
LazyPay is for everything else. Amazon shopping. Flipkart sales. BookMyShow tickets. Electricity bills.
Basically anywhere Simpl doesn’t work, LazyPay probably does.
My elder son uses only LazyPay. His spending is more diverse. Clothes on Myntra. Gadgets on Amazon. Food on Swiggy. LazyPay covers all of it.
He likes the monthly billing. Gets salary on 30th. Pays LazyPay on 5th. Clean cycle.
My wife uses neither. She prefers her credit card. More comfort with traditional banking. That’s fine. Different preferences.
My younger son isn’t old enough yet. When he starts college next year, I’ll probably set him up with LazyPay. The wider merchant acceptance will help.
Think of it like having multiple email accounts. Personal. Work. Shopping. Each serves a purpose.
The time my Swiggy order needed to go through at midnight and my card was having issues? Simpl saved dinner that night.
Which One Should You Actually Use?
The honest answer depends on where you shop.
Let me make this simple.
Choose Simpl if:
You primarily use Swiggy, Zomato, and BigBasket.
You value seamless checkout experience over merchant choice.
You’re comfortable managing 15 day payment cycles.
You want autopay that just works reliably.
You shop at a limited set of merchants regularly.
Choose LazyPay if:
You shop across many different platforms.
You want one monthly due date for all purchases.
You might need partial payment flexibility occasionally.
You value wide merchant acceptance.
You use Amazon and Flipkart frequently.
I recommend LazyPay for most people. The merchant network is just too valuable. You’re covered almost everywhere.
Keep Simpl as a secondary option if you use Swiggy or Zomato heavily. The checkout experience there is genuinely better.
My nephew started his first job last year. Asked me which BNPL to use. I said LazyPay. Covers more bases for a young professional.
Quick summary:
LazyPay works with more merchants.
Simpl works better with specific merchants.
Both build credit history if used responsibly.
Having both costs nothing.
Use strategically based on where you shop.
The Reliability Question
This is what the title asks. Which is more reliable?
Over three years, I’ve had zero failed transactions on Simpl. Not one. When Simpl is available, it works.
LazyPay? Maybe 5 failed transactions out of hundreds. Usually during high traffic sales. Amazon Prime Day. Flipkart Big Billion Days.
So purely on transaction success rate, Simpl wins.
But reliability isn’t just about success rate. It’s about being available when you need it.
I needed to buy something on Myntra. Simpl doesn’t work there. In that moment, LazyPay was more reliable because it was available.
My son needed to pay electricity bill urgently. Simpl doesn’t do bill payments. LazyPay saved the day.
Reliability is contextual. Depends on what you’re trying to buy.
For food delivery, Simpl is more reliable. For everything else, LazyPay is more reliable.
When you’re managing daily finances, having reliable payment backups matters.
What the Community Says
I asked in my BackToIndia Facebook group. Got 67 responses.
Simpl users loved the seamless Swiggy integration. Common complaint? Too few merchants.
LazyPay users appreciated the wide acceptance. Common complaint? Inconsistent checkout experience.
Several people mentioned using both. Simpl for food. LazyPay for shopping. Same as my pattern.
One interesting observation. People in tier 2 and tier 3 cities heavily favor LazyPay. More merchants accept it there.
Metro city residents are split. Some love Simpl’s premium merchant partners. Others want LazyPay’s coverage.
If you want more real experiences or have specific questions, ask in the BackToIndia Facebook group. Over 5,000 members sharing payment app experiences.
The Credit Score Impact
Both Simpl and LazyPay report to credit bureaus. This is good.
Using them responsibly builds your credit score. My son started with zero credit history. Now has a 745 score after 18 months of timely LazyPay payments.
The flip side? Late payments hurt your score. Both services charge hefty late fees plus interest.
I’ve never paid late fees on either. Setup autopay. Link bank account with sufficient balance. Let it handle itself.
Treating BNPL like free money is dangerous. It’s still credit. Still needs to be repaid. Just with a grace period.
The benefit compared to credit cards is lower barrier to entry. Both approve people without existing credit history.
That’s valuable. Especially for young professionals. Students. Returning NRIs without Indian credit history.
My Honest Recommendation After 3 Years
Get LazyPay as your primary BNPL solution.
The merchant coverage is too important. You’ll find it useful in more situations.
Add Simpl if you use Swiggy or Zomato at least twice a week. The checkout experience is worth it for frequent users.
My optimal setup after three years:
LazyPay for 80% of BNPL usage. Shopping, bills, travel, food from various apps.
Simpl for 20% of usage. Exclusively Swiggy orders. Occasional BigBasket.
Regular credit card for international purchases and things requiring physical card.
UPI for small instant payments.
Each payment method has its place. Together they cover all scenarios.
The worst strategy is relying on one payment method only. Redundancy is smart. Having options prevents the kind of panic I felt when my HDFC card got blocked.
TLDR
Simpl:
Seamless integration with select merchants.
15 day payment cycle per transaction.
Excellent for food delivery apps.
Limited merchant network (15,000 plus partners).
100% transaction success rate in my experience.
No partial payment option.
LazyPay:
Wide merchant acceptance (250,000 plus).
Simple monthly billing on 5th of each month.
Works for shopping, bills, travel, food.
Occasional transaction failures during peak times.
Partial payment option available.
Higher starting credit limits.
Bottom line: LazyPay for breadth. Simpl for depth. LazyPay is more reliable overall due to wider acceptance.
My recommendation: Start with LazyPay for comprehensive coverage. Add Simpl if you frequently use Swiggy or Zomato for better checkout experience.
Real benefit: Having BNPL options provides payment flexibility and builds credit history without needing traditional credit cards.
Sources:
- Simpl Official Website
- LazyPay Official Website
- PayU India About LazyPay
- Reserve Bank of India Digital Lending Guidelines
- CIBIL Credit Bureau
- Personal transaction records from Simpl (October 2021 to October 2024)
- Personal transaction records from LazyPay (December 2021 to October 2024)
- Family usage data across both platforms
- User feedback from BackToIndia Facebook community
- Economic Times BNPL Market in India 2024