Yes, Best Buy offers financing through Citi-issued credit cards and a lease-to-own program, with promo plans on eligible purchases.
Looking at a new laptop or TV and want to spread the bill? Best Buy gives two clear routes to pay over time: a store-backed credit card line and a third-party lease-to-own plan. Each path has its own rules, fees, and timelines. This guide lays out how both options work, what they cost, and smart ways to avoid interest traps.
How Best Buy Financing Works
Best Buy partners with Citi for store credit cards and with Progressive Leasing for lease-to-own. Card promos can offer a period with no interest charged as long as the full promotional balance is paid by the end date. Lease-to-own spreads payments over weekly or biweekly drafts and ends with an option to purchase.
| Option | How It Works | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| My Best Buy® Credit Card or Visa | Open-end credit from Citi; special promo plans on qualifying buys; pay monthly. | Shoppers with fair-to-good credit who can clear promos on time. |
| Lease-To-Own (Progressive Leasing) | Rental agreement with set drafts; ownership after final payment or early buyout. | Shoppers building credit or lacking a traditional approval. |
| Standard Credit | Regular revolving balance at the card’s APR with rewards on eligible purchases. | Smaller orders that don’t meet promo thresholds. |
Eligibility, Limits, And Approval Odds
Credit Card Route
The store card and co-branded Visa are issued by Citi. Approval and limits depend on income, credit history, and existing obligations. New accounts can be opened online or in-store, and you’ll get a decision after a hard inquiry. Card promos require at least the minimum due each month and the full promo balance by the plan end date to avoid interest accrual from the original purchase date.
Lease-To-Own Route
Progressive Leasing reviews employment history, bank activity, and identity data. Many applicants without a deep credit file still qualify. Payments pull automatically from a linked account. You can buy out early to reduce total cost, or return the item per the agreement if things change.
Financing With Best Buy: What To Expect
Promotional plans run on eligible categories and cart sizes. A common storewide offer is “no interest if paid in full within 12 months” on qualifying totals, which means the promo saves you interest only when the balance hits zero by the deadline. Miss the mark and deferred interest from day one gets added. Read the promo box during checkout and keep the end date on your calendar.
On bigger orders, you’ll sometimes see longer windows on select categories, like large appliances or home theater bundles. Minimum purchase amounts apply. Rewards may not accrue on promotional credit. If you switch from promo credit to standard revolving, the purchase starts accruing interest at the card’s APR.
See Best Buy’s current no interest if paid in full within 12 months language and fine print for storewide thresholds and disclosures.
Deferred Interest, Explained In Plain Terms
Deferred interest doesn’t erase interest; it parks it. Pay every dollar on time and you’ll avoid those charges. Leave even a small balance at the end and the system posts all the accrued interest back to the purchase date. To steer clear, line up automatic payments that cover more than the minimum and match your payoff plan to the promo clock.
How Returns And Exchanges Affect Promos
Returning a financed item usually credits the account, but it can shorten or cancel the promo if the original transaction changes. Keep receipts, watch your statement for adjustments, and ask the cashier to confirm how an exchange will post. If you move to a different SKU, ask that the new ticket keeps the promo window when possible.
Step-By-Step: Apply And Check Out
Apply For A Citi-Issued Card
- Start an application online or at a register.
- Provide identity, income, and contact details.
- Accept the disclosures; a hard inquiry follows.
- On approval, add the new account at checkout and choose a promo plan if available.
- Set up online access and autopay before the first bill hits.
Use Lease-To-Own
- Check eligibility in-store or online with Progressive Leasing.
- Connect a checking account and verify ID and employment details.
- Review the payment schedule, early buyout options, fees, and total cost.
- Sign the agreement and pick up your items once the first draft clears.
- Track drafts and payoff dates inside the Progressive portal.
Costs, Fees, And Fine Print
Card promos require paying at least the minimum due and clearing the full promo balance by the end date. Late fees and returned-payment fees can apply. Payment allocation rules can shift near the end of a promo to help knock out the balance, but you shouldn’t rely on that alone. Lease-to-own includes an initial payment, periodic drafts, plus tax and fees built into the schedule. Early buyout usually lowers total outlay compared to paying the full term.
If you’re weighing budget impact, plug the numbers into a payoff plan before you check out. Add the purchase price, taxes, any delivery add-ons, and a buffer for cables or mounting gear. Divide by the number of months in your promo or by the draft cadence on a lease. That target becomes your automatic payment amount.
Who Each Option Fits
Card Makes Sense When
- You can clear the promo before the clock runs out.
- Your credit file is stable and you’re after rewards or account benefits.
- You want the flexibility to pay extra mid-cycle without penalties.
Lease-To-Own Fits When
- You need tech today but a standard approval is unlikely.
- You prefer drafts tied to payday cadence.
- You plan to use an early purchase option once cash flow improves.
Promo Plan Snapshot
| Plan Length | Typical Minimum Purchase | What To Watch |
|---|---|---|
| 12 months | Often starts around $299 storewide | Pay the full balance by month 12 to avoid deferred interest. |
| 18–24 months | Usually tied to categories like appliances or home theater | Promo may apply only to certain SKUs or bundles. |
| Lease-to-own terms | First draft, then weekly or biweekly payments | Total cost is higher; early buyout can reduce it. |
Where The Official Rules Live
For the store card, terms and management live on Citi’s portal. For lease-to-own, details and costs live on Progressive’s page integrated with Best Buy. Skim both before you sign so you know billing dates, fees, and payoff math. Here’s the official Progressive Leasing overview with eligibility and payment details.
Payment Strategy That Works
Build A Payoff Calendar
Mark the promo end date and back into weekly targets. If your promo ends on the 25th, set a personal deadline on the 1st of that month. That cushion protects you from statement cutoff timing and processing delays.
Use Autopay Plus One Extra
Set autopay for at least the minimum due, then add a second recurring payment that matches your payoff math. Extra payments reduce principal faster and protect the promo. Keep them on the same weekday for habit building.
Overpay The Final Statement
Interest can sneak in when a small balance lingers from tax adjustments or shipping credits. Add a small overage on the last payment, then request a refund of any leftover credit once the statement closes.
Keep Purchases On Separate Tickets
Mixing promo and non-promo items on one receipt can complicate allocation. When you’re planning a large financed item, run cables and accessories on a second transaction so both balances are easy to wipe.
Common Pitfalls To Avoid
- Waiting until the last week to start paying down the balance.
- Assuming rewards post on promotional credit when the terms exclude it.
- Letting a return or exchange break the original promo without checking the new terms.
- Missing a draft due to a low account balance on a lease agreement.
- Forgetting sales tax and delivery when setting your monthly target.
Edge Cases And Practical Notes
Open-box items and clearance gear may or may not qualify for a promo; the checkout screen shows the answer. Gift cards aren’t eligible for promo credit. Some installs and warranties can be included in the plan when they’re on the same ticket. Price matching doesn’t usually change your promo window, but keep the confirmation email in case the transaction splits in the system.
Realistic Scenarios With Math
TV On A 12-Month Promo
Say a TV rings up at $1,200 and tax adds $96, for a total of $1,296. A clean 12-month payoff target is $108 each month. Pay that amount on day one and every month after. If a holiday return drops the balance midyear, keep the same payment and finish early. If you add a wall mount on standard credit, pay that separate balance in the next cycle so it doesn’t hang around at the regular APR.
Appliance Bundle With 24 Months
Take a washer and dryer bundle at $1,900 with $152 in tax and $50 in haul-away, total $2,102. Split across 24 months, the target is about $88 each month. Miss two months near the end and the deferred interest can post from the original purchase date. Set a repeating reminder and add a $10 cushion on the last three payments to guard against small residuals.
Lease-To-Own Laptop
A $900 laptop on a lease might draft weekly. If the estimator shows $45 per week for 12 months, a 90-day purchase option can drop the total cost if you’re able to make a larger lump sum inside that window. If your checking balance fluctuates, move the draft date to the day after payday to keep everything smooth.
Credit Score Impact
A new card adds a hard inquiry and a new line, which can dip scores for a short stretch. Paying on time and keeping balances low can help over the long run. Lease-to-own doesn’t build revolving history in the same way and can carry higher overall costs, so weigh access against price and choose the path that fits your goals.
Checklist Before You Apply
- Price your full build: item, tax, delivery, install, and must-have accessories.
- Find the promo length and the last day on the clock.
- Compute the monthly or weekly target that zeros the balance on time.
- Turn on autopay and add a second recurring payment for the target.
- Save a small cushion for the final payment to catch any stray cents.
Simple Glossary
Deferred Interest
Interest that accrues during the promo but gets waived only if the full promo balance hits zero by the end date.
Standard Credit
Regular revolving balance at the card’s APR without a promotional window.
Early Purchase Option
A lease feature that lets you buy out before the full term, usually lowering the total cost versus riding the schedule to the end.
Privacy And Account Safety
Set up alerts for due dates, transactions, and drafts. Use a strong online password and two-step verification on both the Citi account and Progressive portal. Keep receipts and emails in a folder so you can spot any posting hiccups fast.
Clear Answer
Yes, you can pay over time at Best Buy. The card path suits shoppers who can wipe the balance by the promo end date and want rewards or account tools. The lease path trades a higher total cost for access and speed. Match the plan to your budget rhythm, automate payments, and keep a small cushion for the finish line. Pair those habits with the store’s promos and you’ll get the gear you need without surprise interest.