What Is Affirm and How Does It Work? (2026)
Affirm is a buy now, pay later company founded in 2012. It offers Pay in 4 (biweekly, 0% interest) and monthly installment plans (0%–36% APR) at over 300,000 merchants. Here is everything you need to know.
| Founded | 2012 (San Francisco, CA) |
| Plan Types | Pay in 4 (0%), Monthly (0%–36% APR) |
| Credit Check | Soft pull only |
| Late Fee | None — ever |
| Credit Reporting | Monthly plans reported to Experian |
| Where Accepted | 300,000+ U.S. merchants |
| Max Loan Amount | $30,000+ |
How Affirm Works
At checkout, select Affirm. Affirm runs a soft credit check in seconds and shows you available plans. For Pay in 4, you pay 25% now and three more payments every two weeks. For monthly plans, you select a term (3–36 months) and see the exact total cost upfront — including any interest.
Is Affirm Trustworthy?
Affirm is publicly traded (NASDAQ: AFRM) and regulated as a consumer lender. It is one of the most transparent BNPL providers — the total cost you see before confirming is exactly what you pay, with no hidden fees.
FAQ
Does Affirm affect my credit score?
Pay in 4 does not affect your score. Monthly installment plans are reported to Experian — on-time payments help your score, missed payments hurt it.
What stores accept Affirm?
Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Target, Apple, and 300,000+ other merchants. Affirm also offers a virtual card for use anywhere Visa is accepted.
Compare Affirm vs other BNPL options.