# Instalments

> Offer customers the ability to pay in instalments through Mastercard Installments and VINR-managed flexible plans.

Instalments let customers spread a payment across multiple billing periods rather than paying in full at once. VINR supports two instalment models:

| Model                       | Who manages it   | How it works                                                                           |
| --------------------------- | ---------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Mastercard Installments** | The issuing bank | Customer's bank splits the charge automatically; you receive the full amount upfront   |
| **Flexible instalments**    | VINR             | VINR presents a plan at checkout and charges the saved payment method on each due date |

The right model depends on your use case: Mastercard Installments is frictionless for the merchant (no plan management required), while flexible instalments give you full control over schedule and amount.

> In Bulgaria, Mastercard Installments is available through participating issuing banks. Flexible instalments via VINR are also available at launch.

## How instalment authorization works

For both models, the **full payment amount is authorized upfront** against the customer's card or payment method. The split into instalments happens in the billing layer — not at the network authorization level. This means:

- You are protected against the customer failing to pay later instalments (for bank-managed plans).
- Authorization and capture behave identically to a standard payment in the VINR API.
- The `payment` object reflects the total amount, not the per-instalment amount.

## In this section

[Mastercard Installments](/docs/payments/payment-methods/add-payment-methods/instalments/mastercard-instalments) — Issuer-managed instalment plans via the Mastercard Installments program.

[Flexible instalments](/docs/payments/payment-methods/add-payment-methods/instalments/flexible-instalments) — VINR-managed instalment plans with full schedule control.

## See also

[Cards](/docs/payments/payment-methods/add-payment-methods/cards) — The card rail that powers instalment payments.

[Manage payment methods](/docs/payments/payment-methods/manage-payment-methods) — Save payment methods for future instalment charges.