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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Affirm vs Afterpay

Affirm 4.9★ · Free to download 65
Winner Affirm
Afterpay 4.9★ · Free to download 55

Affirm has a slight edge over Afterpay due to more consistent purchasing power and better handling of payments, despite both apps facing significant customer service and technical issues.

Full reviews: Affirm · Afterpay

Affirm and Afterpay both offer buy now, pay later services, but user reviews indicate Affirm provides a more reliable experience with payments and credit building, while Afterpay struggles with app glitches and inconsistent spending limits. Both apps are criticized for poor customer service and misleading purchasing power.

Head to head

Purchasing Power & Approval edge: AffirmR3R4R7R10
Affirm Affirm users experience inconsistent and misleading purchasing power, with approvals often not translating to actual spending ability R3R4R7R13. Some users are denied after making timely payments or even after their credit score improves R10. However, others appreciate the ability to purchase items without fear of denial and to increase buying power with minimal payments R11.
Afterpay Afterpay users frequently report their spending limits being lowered without reason, even after consistent on-time payments R63. Many are declined for small amounts despite being approved for higher limits . The app's purchasing process is often described as unreliable, with transactions failing at checkout .
App Reliability & Features edge: AffirmR6R8R12R18
Affirm Affirm's app has issues with payment processing speed R12, login verification R6R18R22, and card management . Some users find the new layout difficult to manage and report issues with down payments disappearing R21. However, many praise its ease of use and flexible payment plan options R8.
Afterpay Afterpay's app is plagued with glitches, freezing issues, and failures at checkout, especially with specific retailers like Walmart and Expedia . Recent updates have made the purchasing process more cumbersome, requiring users to switch between apps to copy card details . Users also report issues with identity verification and incorrect payment application .
Customer Service & Support tieR1R10R13R16
Affirm Affirm's customer service is widely criticized as non-existent, with users encountering AI bots and chat agents who end conversations prematurely R1R16R25R40. Users report receiving automated or inconsistent information, even from human agents, and difficulty resolving issues R10R13R25R40.
Afterpay Afterpay's customer service is also described as terrible and unhelpful, relying heavily on AI with slow response times . Users report being unable to resolve identity verification issues or account problems, often being told a 'ticket' will be created with no follow-up .
Payment Handling & Policies edge: AffirmR8R21R24R30
Affirm Affirm users report issues with failed payments holding money for up to 10 days R30 and double payments not being applied correctly R24. Some users are charged down payments for voided plans, leaving them without funds for 7-10 days R21. However, many appreciate the flexibility to choose payment plans and pay off early to save money R8.
Afterpay Afterpay has issues with autopay randomly failing , and users report being double-charged or having payments applied incorrectly . There are complaints about credit card payment options disappearing and being punished with lower spending limits for a single late payment . Afterpay also removed interest on gift card purchases, which was a positive change for some .
Pick Affirm if

You prioritize flexible payment plans and the potential for credit building, and are willing to navigate occasional inconsistencies in purchasing power and customer support R11R47.

Pick Afterpay if

You are looking for a buy now, pay later service primarily for smaller, interest-free installments and value the ability to manage payments easily, provided you don't encounter app glitches or need customer support .

Evidence note: Both apps have a significant number of negative reviews, particularly regarding customer service and app functionality. Affirm's positive reviews often highlight the benefit of credit building and flexible payments, while Afterpay's positive reviews are fewer and often focus on convenience when the app works.

Frequently asked

Do Affirm and Afterpay help build credit?
Affirm users report that the service can help build credit and increase purchasing power with minimal payments R11R47R51. Afterpay reviews do not frequently mention credit building, with some users even stating that good payment history does not prevent spending limits from being lowered R63.
Are there issues with customer service for Affirm and Afterpay?
Both Affirm and Afterpay receive widespread criticism for their customer service, with users reporting difficulties reaching human agents, receiving inconsistent or automated responses, and unresolved issues R1R25R40R58.
Do Affirm and Afterpay have app problems?
Yes, both apps have reported issues. Affirm users mention problems with login verification, payment processing speed, and app layout R6R12R18R22. Afterpay users frequently report glitches, freezing, and checkout failures, especially with certain retailers, and find recent updates have made the app less user-friendly .

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 110 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R3] Affirm 3/5 · US Purchasing Power: Purchasing power is annoyingly inconsistent. Like if I’m approved for a certain amount, tell me that. If I’m not approved, tell me that. A constantly fluctuating number is not helpful.
  2. [R4] Affirm 1/5 · US Bs purchasing power: Says “YOU HAVE $700 SPENDING POWER” but yet it can’t give me any plans for a $200 order? AI assistant says the $700 is an “estimate” which would still make no sense not being able to do anything with a $200 order not even letting me pay half up front. App is pointless and misleading
  3. [R7] Affirm 1/5 · US Got declined at checkout after approved: I picked a plan and everything. Approved for the purchase. Added the card to apple wallet. Got decline at checkout. Support really don’t give af. They be trolling you. Don’t do business with them .
  4. [R10] Affirm 1/5 · US Not customer friendly: I have been using this company for years and in the beginning they were good I didn’t have any problems. In the last year or so things have changed. I don’t get approved for anything anymore, even though I always pay everything off in a quick manner. When I ask, what’s going on they tell me pretty much a automated answer, even if I’m talking to a human anything is going on.
  5. [R6] Affirm 3/5 · US APP is not great: The cool thing about this app was that you could enter your passcode and begin shopping. Now you ask for a text verification and then have the audacity to also ask for an email verification as well. It’s too much! Idk why you had to change it.
  6. [R8] Affirm 5/5 · US Comes in Handy: I enjoy using the app and like that it lets you choose your payment plan options. One thing that could make the app better is being able to select multiple orders to pay off together.
  7. [R12] Affirm 3/5 · US Too long to process payments: I would give them 5 stars but they don’t process payments quick enough for me.
  8. [R18] Affirm 3/5 · US Can You Please: Not everyone has a cellphone. Please add an email for other ways to verify account. Everything shouldn’t be attached to a damn phone number 🤦🏻‍♀️
  9. [R1] Affirm 1/5 · US Non existent customer service: I’ve had a minor technical issue that should be easy to resolve yet their service is a maze of AI bots and human chat agents that close the conversation before it’s ever started
  10. [R13] Affirm 1/5 · US Spending power is a lie: Needed to use Affirm in an emergency and was relieved to see my spending power is $2680, except it was all a lie. The reasons they give don't match their own terms. If they'd have been honest upfront I could have figured out another payment method in time, but I'm missing vacation with my family because of deadlines hit while hearing false information from support.
  11. [R16] Affirm 1/5 · US Amazing App, very friendly: I have Location Notifications turned off and I STILL get push notifications for stores. “Bed Bath and Beyond takes Affirm.” It’s so predatory. So I chat with their AI Slop who doesn’t even know where the settings are and gives me runarounds like a chicken with its head cut off. What a useless chat feature. If I meed Affirm again with my $6,700!purchasing power then
  12. [R21] Affirm 3/5 · US Down payments: The app is great , but i have had this happen several times , when setting up a plan , i am charged a down payment but the plan disappears in the app or gets voided out without me even using it , and this happens immediately , so then i am left without that money, for 7-10 days
  13. [R24] Affirm 3/5 · US Payment: Do not ever make a double payment. That double payment does not go towards your next payment., that second payment goes to the back of your Loan. They had asked me if I wanted payment on one of my loans, I said sure.. then guess what they continue to call me and send me text telling me that I am 22 days past due on my payment.. that goes against your record with them. I was not 22days p
  14. [R30] Affirm 1/5 · US Failed Payments: If the payment fails, affirm will still hold your money for up to 10 days. Payments fail often. Klarna is much better and reliable. Don’t use affirm
  15. [R11] Affirm 5/5 · US Buena opcion: Funciona tanto para ahorrar el dinero accesible de tu cuenta bancaria como para darle poder de crecimiento de credito .Siempre me ha funcionado , Affirm me ha dejado viajar varias veces y nunca me ha fallado en mis compras de viajes, escolares y/o personales. Ademas que con un pago minimo incrementa el poder de compra $$$. En mi casa amamos Affirm!
  16. [R47] Affirm 5/5 · US I’m grateful for this App: It is a fact that we all experience hard times. I am delighted to have discovered this App, which has been instrumental in helping me navigate those difficult periods. I have been using Affirm for years and would like to express my deepest gratitude for their help in getting me through those tough times. Not only has Affirm helped me through those challenging times, but
  17. [R51] Affirm 5/5 · US Great loan: Easy to apply and quick response good to build your credit .
  18. [R63] Afterpay 3/5 · US Where are the real reviews?: You never really have your entire balance and they will lower it during high purchase times like ie: Christmas season. Limited buying options and random denials but if you can successfully clear a purchase pay on time! Theyll lower your credit for anything by ALOT!!! Good payment history means nothing.
  19. [R25] Affirm 1/5 · US Customer: I am extremely dissatisfied with Affirm's customer service. I had to repeat my issue many times and received inconsistent and incorrect information from multiple representatives. There was no way to identify or track the representatives I spoke with, resulting in a lack of accountability. After nearly 50 calls over more than two months, my issue was still not properly resolved despite ca
  20. [R40] Affirm 1/5 · US Terrible Customer Service: I strongly discourage anyone from using this app. I spent over a month trying to resolve a dispute and obtain a refund, speaking with approximately 10 different customer service representatives, yet no one was able to provide a resolution. On multiple occasions, representatives ended the chat without addressing my issue. I also spoke with two different phone representati
  21. [R58] Affirm 1/5 · US Useless: Their excuses and notice is pitifully pathetic. Don’t waste your time with these hyenas cause it’ll give you a headache.
  22. [R22] Affirm 2/5 · US Help: I can’t log in to my account I need to log in there to switch my account card the one I have is the credit one and every time I try the app says you can create an account at this time but hey I already have a stupid account which by the way has a payment which I need to update am trying to login but the app says you can’t create an account at this time which by the way is wrong I do already

Synthesized from 110 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store