Best Apps Like Affirm: Top Affirm Alternatives To Buy Now And Pay Later

Looking for leading apps like Affirm? Discover the top Affirm alternatives that might provide superior options for buy now, pay later shopping to help you shop smarter:

The BNPL market is worth 33 billion in 2026 and is expected to touch 40 billion in 2027. So, the popularity of apps like Affirm should surprise no one today.

I can’t even remember how many times I’ve recommended Affirm to my friends. I genuinely believe it’s a solid Buy Now, Pay Later app. I also acknowledge that it might not be the very best of its kind.  

A major gripe that folks have with Affirm is that it isn’t as widely accepted at retail or merchant stores across the states.

All That You Need to Know About Affirm

Consider exploring other choices instead of Affirm for your own benefit. My goal with this article is to recommend top companies like Affirm that may offer you something better. 

Key Takeaways

• Affirm is a Buy Now, Pay Later solution launched in 2012 and used by brands such as eBay, Verizon, and Expedia.
• Despite its many benefits and flexible payment plans, Affirm isn’t widely accepted across American stores. Getting approved for Affirm can get complicated, and it may hurt a shopper’s credit score, thus justifying the search for an alternative.
• Cherry is a better alternative for healthcare providers specializing in dental, vision, hearing, chiropractic, plastic surgery, and veterinary care.
• Klarna is best for its e-commerce-friendly mobile app.
• Afterpay is best for merchants who want to tap into the millennial and Gen-Z shopper base.

What is Affirm?

Affirm is a BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) solution that enables merchants the privilege of offering their customers flexible payment options. Shoppers using Affirm will have the option to either pay their dues in short-term, interest-free payments or opt for long-term installments via their Affirm account.

Launched in 2012, Affirm is a widely accepted BNPL solution among some big-name brands today, which include the likes of Verizon, eBay, Expedia, etc.

Here is the video in which Affirm’s CEO explains why Buy Now Pay Later beats credit cards

Here are the statistics that show the main reasons people use BNPL:

[via scoop]

Why Look for Affirm Alternatives?

Although Affirm is a great BNPL app, it isn’t without its shortcomings. These drawbacks can stick out like a sore thumb for certain merchants and shoppers, thus pushing them to look for alternatives.

Here are some reasons that justify looking for Affirm Alternatives.

• Although Affirm is accepted by many top brands across America, its coverage isn’t as pervasive as one might hope. You are going to encounter retailers that don’t accept Affirm as a mode of BNPL.
• Affirm is available in Canada, the UK, and the USA. Businesses that seek a global reach beyond these countries will need to look elsewhere.
• Affirm conducts soft-credit checks for short-term payment plans but is stricter when it comes to pay-over-time options. It is in contact with credit bureaus and may report a shopper’s loan activity and their payment performance, thus affecting their credit score.
• Not everyone will qualify for 0% APR. Some may find themselves hit with an APR that’s as high as 36% on long-term installment plans.

How to Choose the Right Alternative to Affirm

I suggest you consider the following parameters to find apps like Affirm that are best suited for your specific requirements.

• Merchants should opt for a BNPL solution that ensures upfront payment isn’t delayed for over 3 business days. Shoppers should opt for an app that promises a speedy approval process.
• One of Affirm’s highlights is the fact that it charges no hidden or late fees. So, go for an app that also promises the same privilege.
• If you are a merchant that wishes to cater to certain foreign countries, make sure the app you choose is supported in the countries where you want to do business.
• It should offer flexible financing options like pay-in-4 installments or pay over time.
• Opt for an alternative that supports multiple different payment methods like wallets, net-banking, crypto, and cards.
• Ensure the alternative you choose facilitates integration with major e-commerce platforms via plugins or API.
• Make sure it has a solid reputation online with favorable reviews on online publications like G2 and TrustRadius. 

List of the Best Apps Like Affirm

To help you in making the right choice, we have reviewed some of the top apps like Affirm here:

1. Cherry
2. Klarna
3. Afterpay
4. Sezzle
5. PayPal Pay Later
6. Zip
7. Sunbit
8. Splitit

Comparing the Top Affirm Competitors

Name	Best for	Payment Options	Supports Financing	Fees
Cherry	Healthcare Providers	Pay-in-4 or Pay Monthly	Yes	1.7% to 13.9%. per transaction
Klarna	Small and large e-commerce stores.	Pay-in-4, Pay Monthly, Long-term installments extending up to 24 months	Yes	3.29% to 5.99% on top of $0.30 per transaction.
Afterpay	Retailers or merchants catering to a younger (Millennials and Gen Z) shopper base	Pay in 3, 6, 12, or 24 months	Yes	Starting from 4-6% on top of $0.30 per transaction.
Sezzle	Merchants who want to serve younger, credit-conscious buyers.	Pay in 4, 5, or monthly installments	Yes	6% on top of $0.30 per transaction
PayPal Pay Later	Merchants already using PayPal	Pay in 4 or pay monthly	Yes	4.99% on top of $0.30 per transaction.

Detailed Review of Best Affirm Alternatives

#1) Cherry

Best for Healthcare providers.

Out of all the BNPL solutions I’ll be recommending here, Cherry is perhaps the most different. That’s because it specifically caters to healthcare providers. Cherry Payment Plans is best suited for healthcare providers specializing in Chiro, Mental Health, Plastic Surgery, Aesthetic, Hearing, Vision, and Veterinary care.

Cherry lets providers offer flexible payment plans to their patients. This entails short-term interest-free payment plans with 0% APR or long-term installments. Payment to providers is also brisk, requiring no less than 2-3 business days.

Pros	Cons
Soft credit check with 80% approval rate	Only meant for healthcare providers
Easy and fast application process.	Soft Credit Check with 80% approval rate
Patients can get instant funding of up to $65000 for costlier treatments
0% APR on short-term installments for qualified patients
No hidden charges like retroactive or compound interest
US-based responsive support

Why is Cherry better than Affirm?

• Unlike Affirm, Cherry is a health-care-first BNPL solution
• Cherry’s approval rate is 90%, while Affirm hasn’t disclosed theirs.
• Relatively lower merchant fees.
• Cherry offers instant funding of up to $65000.

Transaction Fees: A low merchant fee is charged on each transaction, which will vary depending on the risk involved and the type of care being provided. The fee charged typically ranges from 1.7% to 13.9%.

Website: https://withcherry.com/

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#2) Klarna

Best for Small and large e-commerce stores.

Similar to Affirm, Klarna is a BNPL app that’s quite popular among e-commerce merchants and online shoppers. It also stands out for offering flexible payment plans. Shoppers using Klarna can opt for options to pay in 4 or 30 days without interest.

They can opt to pay over time, stretching up to 24 months. Klarna truly shines with its e-commerce-friendly app. This app offers a virtual wallet that facilitates easy online and in-store shopping. The app also offers several incentives, ranging from cashback to budget tracking.

Pros	Cons
Mobile app with e-commerce-friendly features	Very high late fee for missed payments
Flexible short-term and long-term payment plans	Only US citizens qualify.
Soft credit check for short-term interest-free plans	The app’s AI suggestions can result in impulse shopping
The Klarna card works anywhere Visa is accepted
App has real-time fraud monitoring

Why is Klarna better than Affirm?

• Klarna’s app comes with many shopping-friendly incentives like Cashback and budget tracking.
• Operating in over 26 countries, Klarna is more widely accepted than Affirm.
• Klarna’s virtual card facilitates a better online and in-store shopping experience.

Transaction Fee: Klarna’s merchant fees can vary depending on the product being used. Merchants can be charged anywhere between 3.29% and 5.99% on top of $0.30 per transaction.

Website: https://www.klarna.com/us/

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#3) Afterpay

Best for Retailers or merchants catering to a younger (Millennials and Gen Z) shopper base.

Afterpay is the go-to choice for several big-name brands across America. It caters to retailers that serve high-intent shoppers among Millennials and Gen Z. As a BNPL solution, Afterpay offers the same benefits that most of its contemporaries provide.

For instance, shoppers can opt for interest-free short-term installments or pay-over-time plans. Afterpay also stands out for its feature-rich app, which retailers can leverage to gain in-depth insight into their shoppers and reach out to more customers. 

Pros	Cons
App with built-in advertising features.	Charges late fees
Provides in-depth insights on shoppers.	Not as widely accepted in American retail as one would hope.
Shoppers can discover new brands and track their payments via the app.	The volatile spending limit will irk some shoppers.
Seamless integration with various payment systems like Stripe and Cash App.
Can boost conversions with dynamic on-site messaging.

Why is Afterpay better than Affirm?

• Afterpay’s application comes with features that can help retailers reach out to prospects.
• The app integrates with most payment systems, like Cash App, Stripe, and Square.
• Unlike Affirm, Afterpay does not perform hard credit checks.

Transaction Fee: Merchant fees range from 4 to 6% on top of $0.30 per transaction.

Website: https://www.afterpay.com/en-US

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#4) Sezzle

Best for Merchants who want to serve younger, credit-conscious buyers.

As a merchant or retailer, you’ll get some of the same privileges that Affirm offers with Sezzle. This includes flexible payment options, allowing shoppers to pay-in-4, 5, or monthly installments. Where Sezzle truly shines is in the credit-building features it emphasizes.

Take the feature “Sezzle-Up” for instance. This feature ensures that a shopper’s on-time payments are immediately reported to the credit bureau, thus significantly improving their credit score.

Pros	Cons
Can help shoppers build a strong credit history.	Customer support leaves a lot to be desired.
Flexible short-term, interest-free, and pay-over-time payment options.	Occasional reports of app glitches.
Virtual card that facilitates streamlined online and in-store shopping.
Plug-and-play support for eCommerce stores like BigCommerce and WooCommerce.
Help with automated recurring payment management.

What makes Sezzle better than Affirm?

• Sezzle has features that can help shoppers build their credit history.
• Sezzle’s pay-in-4 setup is easier to track.
• Sezzle’s app is simply better for everyday payments like clearing bills or buying groceries.

Transaction Fees: Merchants are charged 6% on top of $0.30 per transaction. They charge merchants processing less than $300 in a month $15/month.

Check Our Guide on Best Apps Like Sezzle

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#5) PayPal Pay Later

Best for Merchants and Shoppers already using PayPal.

PayPal’s Pay Later feature is available to everyone using this popular payment gateway. It can be found within the app’s checkout interface. With just how popular PayPal is, you have yourself a BNPL solution that is widely accepted across American retail stores.

Merchants opting for PayPal Pay Later can offer their shoppers the privilege to pay-in-4 or pay monthly. They also offer longer installments that can extend to 24 months.

Pros	Cons
Built-in purchase protection applies to certain items.	Pay-in-4 option only available for online stores.
Widely available and accepted across American retail stores.	The app doesn’t possess important security features, such as auto-pausing accounts that miss payments.
0% APR on short-term installments.
No late fees

Why is PayPal Pay Later better than Affirm?

• PayPal Pay Later is widely used and, therefore, more widely accepted than Affirm.
• PayPal Pay Later is simply better for everyday shopping as opposed to Affirm, which is suitable when shopping for high-value items.
• PayPal Pay Later is far more user-friendly than other apps like Affirm.

Transaction Fee: Merchants are charged 4.99% on top of $0.49 per transaction.

Website: https://www.paypal.com/us/digital-wallet/ways-to-pay/buy-now-pay-later

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#6) Zip

Best for User-friendly app tailored for e-commerce merchants and online shoppers.

Zip makes it onto my list for its app designed to make online shopping a more convenient experience. Merchants using Zip can attract shoppers with the privilege of paying in 2, 4, or even 12 installments.

The app can be used by shoppers for brand discovery and seamless payments via a virtual card. The app also encourages on-time repayments by offering special rewards, like an increase in spending power, to diligent shoppers.

Pros	Cons
Easily create a virtual card for online and in-store payments.	Late fees apply
Rewards for on-time repayments	No autopay
Flexible payment rescheduling	Not suitable for long-term payment plans.
Easy integration with e-commerce and payment apps.

How is Zip better than Affirm?

• Quicker approval process than Affirm.
• Softer credit check than Affirm.
• Offers rewards that can encourage timely repayment.

Transaction Fees: Fees will vary by industry and risk profile. Charges start at 5.9% on top of $0.30 per transaction.

Website: https://zip.co/us

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#7) Sunbit

Best for Merchants offering services like dental care, auto repair, legal aid, etc.

Sunbit offers some of the same privileges that made me mention Cherry at the top of my list. It performs softer credit checks with a 90% approval rate and puts its clients through an application process.

I like the marketing and set-up assistance Sunbit offers beyond its BNPL solution. The only reason Sunbit is lower on my list is because of its reach. Currently, it is accepted in 30000 locations, mainly offering services like auto repair, dental care, medspa, etc.

Pros	Cons
In-person and virtual support for setup.	Not as widely available across stores in America.
One-on-one coaching is offered on how to use the platform.	Some users have reported long wait times when reaching out to customer support.
Sunbit’s team can help merchants with their digital marketing.	Restricted to essential service providers.
In-depth reporting and insights provided via partner portal.

Why is Sunbit better than Affirm?

• Softer credit checks with a higher approval rate than Affirm.
• Hands-on training and support are offered for both marketing and setup, which is absent with Affirm.
• Sunbit is simply better for merchants offering essential services.

Transaction Fees: Merchants are charged a flat 5-5.5% fee on each transaction.

Website: https://sunbit.com/

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#8) Splitit

Best for Merchants who want a white-label BNPL solution catering to affluent customers.

Splitit offers a white-label plugin that merchants can rely on to offer customers BNPL privileges while maintaining their brand identity. Splitit also leverages the existing global credit card payment rails.

This means shoppers can pay via Splitit while using their own credit cards, and thus still take advantage of the fraud protection and rewards their cards offer.

Pros	Cons
No debt or hidden fees	Won’t help with credit building as payment activity isn’t reported to credit bureaus
Compliant with SBA and CFPB regulations.	Implements a temporary authorization hold on the total purchase price on a card.
85% approval rates	Some users have reported deceptive practices, with their credit cards being maxed out because of late fees.
No credit checks
No lengthy application process

Why is Splitit better than Affirm?

• There are no credit checks, as opposed to the hard credit checks imposed by Affirm.
• The application process is faster.
• Merchants don’t have to worry about Splitit promoting other brands to their shoppers, as it refrains from cross-selling tactics.

Transaction Fees: Merchants can be charged up to 6.5% plus a fixed fee per transaction.

Website: https://www.splitit.com/business/

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Conclusion

As with all BNPL apps out there, Affirm comes with its own fair share of benefits and drawbacks. It is transparent regarding the payment plans offered. There are no late fees, and it is quite flexible for financing.

Affirm isn’t lenient with its approval process and is known to report missed payments to credit bureaus quite frequently. It is also not as widely accepted across American retail stores as one would hope.

These demerits combined warrant the quest for an alternative, and that compelled me to write this article. All the 8 apps I’ve recommended above make up for Affirm’s limitations. I suggest you understand what your requirements are and go with an Affirm alternative that is able to satisfy you the best. 

Research Process: The total time involved to complete and publish this article is approximately 42 hours. This content was created through a structured research approach to ensure accuracy and reliability.

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