Alma
Alma is a French BNPL fintech that lets European merchants offer interest-free installments (2/3/4 and 10/12 month) and Pay Later via its real-time credit-evaluation platform, embedded through Stripe, Adyen, and Mollie across 8 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersNeuilly-sur-seine, France
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Alma does
Alma is a French fintech founded in 2018-2019 (firmographic vs. company history sources disagree) that provides buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) installment payment solutions to merchants and their customers across eight European markets: France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Portugal. The company operates a single integrated platform offering three core products — interest-free payment in 2, 3, or 4 installments, longer-duration financing in 10 or 12 monthly installments, and a Pay Later option with 15- or 30-day deferral — delivered through online checkout, in-store point-of-sale terminals, and cross-border European expansion channels.
The underlying technology centers on a proprietary real-time credit evaluation algorithm that combines buyer age verification, credit card validity and type classification, and Open Banking data queries (returned in under five seconds) to approve or decline installment requests in under ten seconds, with 3D Secure authentication layered on every transaction and PCI DSS Level 1 compliance maintained via certified PSP partners. The platform is exposed through a documented API (docs.getalma.eu), 20+ technology integrations, and embedment inside major European payment service providers Stripe, Adyen, and Mollie, with a merchant analytics dashboard tracking over 30 KPIs.
Commercially, Alma generates revenue purely through transaction commissions on each purchase — there are no monthly subscription or setup fees — and merchants may absorb the fee or share it with the customer. Distribution combines self-serve SMB onboarding, dedicated account management for enterprise and mid-market merchants, and PSP-driven mid-market distribution. By 2025 the platform processed €2.5 billion in transaction volume for 23,000+ merchants and reached €114M ARR (32% YoY growth) with first-time profitability, backed by a total of approximately €210M raised across equity and debt in 2022.
Alma firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Alma
- Legal name
- Alma
- Website
- https://getalma.eu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Alma is a French BNPL fintech that lets European merchants offer interest-free installments (2/3/4 and 10/12 month) and Pay Later via its real-time credit-evaluation platform, embedded through Stripe, Adyen, and Mollie across 8 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Alma industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) Payment Platform
- NAICS
- Sales Financing (52222)
- SIC
- Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) Platforms (BPAMAFAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Merchant-Integrated BNPL (Online Checkout) (FSAKACAA), In-Store / In-Person BNPL (POS) (FSAKACAB), BNPL for High-Ticket / Longer-Term Installments (FSAKACAN), International / Cross-Border BNPL & Multi-Currency POS Financing (FSAGAIAN), BNPL Consumer Apps & Wallets (Discovery, Management) (FSAGAIAG)
Keywords
Where Alma is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Neuilly-sur-seine
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Alma business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Transaction Commission: Alma charges a commission for each purchase made through its platform. There are no monthly subscription fees or hidden costs. Merchants can choose to share part of the costs with customers or cover the entire amount themselves to increase conversion rates.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Transaction-based commission model |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Alma product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Alma provides a Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) platform that enables merchants to offer customers interest-free installment payments (2, 3, 4, 10, or 12 installments) and deferred Pay Later options (15 or 30 days), both online and in-store, while guaranteeing merchants 100% upfront settlement. The platform integrates through PSPs such as Stripe, Adyen, and Mollie and serves over 23,000 merchants across eight European countries with real-time credit assessment and Open Banking verification.
Product overview
Alma is a French fintech offering a unified BNPL (Buy Now Pay Later) platform with three core payment products: Payment in 2, 3 or 4 Installments (interest-free short-term installments), Payment in 10 or 12 Installments (financing for larger purchases), and Pay Later (15 or 30-day deferred payment). These products are delivered through three sales channel solutions: Online (e-commerce integration), In-Store (POS/terminal integration), and International (cross-border European expansion). The platform is complemented by a merchant dashboard with 30+ KPIs for performance tracking and premium account management support. Alma operates across 8 European markets (France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal) and connects with major payment service providers (Stripe, Adyen, Mollie) and local payment networks.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Payment in 2, 3 or 4 Installments Core BNPL product that lets customers split a purchase into 2, 3, or 4 interest-free installments, processed in under a minute, with the merchant receiving guaranteed full settlement. Designed for online and in-store retailers across Europe seeking to lift conversion.
- Payment in 10 or 12 Installments Longer-term installment financing product that lets customers spread higher-value purchases over 10 or 12 monthly installments, with merchants again paid upfront and guaranteed by Alma.
- Pay Later Deferred payment product that lets customers pay 15 or 30 days after purchase while the merchant is paid instantly in full, providing short-term credit optionality without interest to the consumer.
- Alma Online Solution E-commerce checkout integration that lets customers pay in installments on a merchant's website in under 30 seconds without leaving the site, available via modules and APIs.
- Alma In-Store Solution Point-of-sale solution enabling customers to pay in installments in physical stores via a payment link sent to their smartphone or directly on the merchant's payment terminal.
- Alma International Solution Cross-border solution that lets merchants offer Alma installment payments across eight European markets (France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal), supporting international expansion with local payment methods.
- Alma Consumer App Consumer-facing mobile application that lets end users manage, track, and control their Alma installment and Pay Later payments on the go.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to more conversions with Alma installments (specific percentage redacted in source)
- +8 more outcomes
Companies that use Alma
Customer profileNamed customers20 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Alma technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration10 records
AI capability2 records
Feature6 records
Alma partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- StripecoreStripe is a payment service provider that integrates Alma's BNPL solution into its payment stack, enabling merchants using Stripe to access Alma's installment payment options.
- AdyencoreAdyen provides payment infrastructure that integrates Alma's BNPL offerings, allowing merchants on the Adyen platform to offer flexible installment payments to customers.
- MolliecoreMollie is a European payment service provider that embeds Alma's BNPL solutions in its payment platform, enabling seamless integration for Mollie merchants.
- 20+ Technology PartnerscoreOver 20 technology partnerships for simple integration online and in-store, including major European payment service providers and e-commerce platform integrations.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Alma competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Klarna: Swedish BNPL leader operating across Europe and globally with installment and pay-later products. Closest large-scale competitor to Alma, competing head-to-head for European merchants and PSP integrations.
- Floa Bank: French digital bank offering BNPL and split-payment products to merchants across Europe. Competes directly with Alma on merchant-integrated installment solutions.
- Scalapay: Italy-founded BNPL provider focused on Southern Europe with merchant-integrated installment payments. Directly competes with Alma in Italian, Spanish, and French retail BNPL.
- Oney: French BNPL and consumer credit provider owned by Auchan, offering installment payments at retail and online checkout. Direct competitor in Alma's home French market.
- Riverty: Germany-headquartered BNPL and consumer credit provider operating across Europe (formerly Arvato Financial Solutions). Direct competitor in DACH and broader European merchant BNPL.
Broad incumbents
- Cofidis: Large French consumer credit provider (Crédit Mutuel group) with installment and personal loan products. Broader incumbent in French BNPL/credit space, including retail partnerships.
- Afterpay (Block): Global BNPL pioneer now owned by Block, with broad merchant reach and Pay-in-4 products. Competes with Alma in cross-border merchants and through PSP integrations like Stripe and Adyen.
- Affirm: US-listed BNPL provider with longer-duration installment products and merchant integrations. Competes with Alma's higher-ticket 10/12 installment product for international merchants.
Emerging players
- Splitit: Merchant-integrated BNPL that uses existing credit card limits rather than new underwriting. Adjacent model to Alma's installment platform, focused on issuer/PSP partnerships.
- Billie: Berlin-based B2B BNPL provider offering invoice-based trade credit at checkout. Adjacent fintech peer serving merchants with installment/credit solutions across Europe.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Alma social profiles
Digital presenceAlma compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Alma financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Alma leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Alma funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors16 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Alma M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Alma
What does Alma do?
Alma provides a Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) platform that enables merchants to offer customers interest-free installment payments (2, 3, 4, 10, or 12 installments) and deferred Pay Later options (15 or 30 days), both online and in-store, while guaranteeing merchants 100% upfront settlement. The platform integrates through PSPs such as Stripe, Adyen, and Mollie and serves over 23,000 merchants across eight European countries with real-time credit assessment and Open Banking verification.
Is Alma a public or private company?
Alma is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Alma founded?
Alma was founded in 2019. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Alma based?
Alma is headquartered in Neuilly-sur-seine, France, in the Europe region.
How does Alma make money?
One revenue line is on record: transaction Commission.
Who are Alma's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Klarna, Floa Bank, Scalapay, Oney and Riverty. Broad incumbents are Cofidis, Afterpay (Block) and Affirm. Emerging players are Splitit and Billie.
Does Alma have an API?
Yes. Alma offers API documentation for developers to integrate their installment payment solution. The documentation enables merchants to set up Alma on their e-commerce websites and in-store payment terminals. API is available via developer documentation at docs.getalma.eu for merchant integration. Developer documentation is at docs.getalma.eu/docs.
What industry is Alma in?
Alma's product category is Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) Payment Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMAFAG, Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) Platforms, with a secondary code of FSAKACAA, Merchant-Integrated BNPL (Online Checkout). Its NAICS code is 52222 and its SIC code is 6153.