Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Affirm vs PayPal

Affirm 4.9★ · Free to download 75
Winner Affirm
PayPal 4.8★ · Free to download 60

Affirm is better for users seeking flexible payment plans and credit building, while PayPal is better for established online payments and money transfers, despite its recent app issues and customer service complaints.

Full reviews: Affirm · PayPal

Affirm excels in offering flexible payment options and helping users build credit, though it faces criticism for inconsistent purchasing power and customer service. PayPal, a long-standing payment processor, is praised for security and convenience but is currently plagued by app performance issues, payment holds, and poor customer support.

Head to head

Features & Flexibility edge: AffirmR2R8R9R11
Affirm Affirm users appreciate the ability to choose payment plans, pay off purchases over time, and the potential to build credit R2R8R11. Many find it a convenient alternative to credit cards R2. However, some users desire the ability to combine multiple payments, a feature available on other platforms R8R9.
PayPal PayPal offers features like 'Pay in 4' for splitting payments , cash back offers , and secure online payments . Users also use it for receiving paychecks and saving money . However, some note the app lacks full functionality compared to the website, such as recovering chat with customer service , and wish for more in-store offers .
Ease of Use & Reliability tieR3R4R5R6
Affirm Many Affirm users find the app easy to use and navigate R5. However, recent updates have introduced issues like excessive verification steps R6 and a difficult-to-manage layout . A significant number of users report problems with 'purchasing power' being inconsistent or misleading, leading to declined transactions even after approval R3R4. Payment processing can also be slow .
PayPal PayPal is generally considered easy to use for payments . However, recent updates have led to a significant decline in app performance, with users reporting slow loading times R63, inability to log in R75R99, and difficulty moving money R69. Some users experience issues with payments not processing or autopay failing . The app is also criticized for being stuck in portrait mode on iPad and having a clumsy interface .
Customer Service & Support tieR1R10R16R25
Affirm Affirm receives widespread criticism for its customer service, with users reporting non-existent or unhelpful support, reliance on AI bots, and agents closing conversations prematurely R1R10R16R25. Many describe receiving automated or inconsistent information, even from human agents R10R25. Issues like fraudulent charges, payment disputes, and account problems often go unresolved R25.
PayPal PayPal also faces significant complaints regarding customer service. Users describe it as unhelpful, with AI chatbots failing to resolve issues , and phone support being unavailable or ineffective . Many report being scammed or having money held without adequate support . Some users explicitly state that support is rude and provides false information .
Price & Value tieR21R28R31R37
Affirm Affirm is valued for offering payment plans with $0 down and $0 interest for some purchases , and for being accessible with reasonable interest rates R37. Users appreciate the ability to pay off items early to save money R31. However, some users feel the company is predatory, especially when credit limits are reduced or denied despite good payment history R28. There are also complaints about being charged down payments for voided plans R21.
PayPal PayPal users often appreciate the security and convenience of online payments . However, many complain about fees, especially for international transfers , and money being held for extended periods . Some users feel they are charged unconsciously for subscriptions . PayPal's 'Pay in 4' feature has also been criticized for charging down payments multiple times .
Pick Affirm if

You want flexible payment plans for purchases, need an option to build credit, and are comfortable with a buy-now-pay-later model.

Pick PayPal if

You need a secure and established platform for online payments, sending money, and occasional split payments, and are willing to tolerate recent app performance issues.

Evidence note: Both apps have a significant number of negative reviews, especially concerning customer service and recent app performance. Affirm's negative reviews often focus on inconsistent purchasing power and support, while PayPal's recent issues are largely about app functionality, payment holds, and scam protection.

Frequently asked

Does Affirm help with credit building?
Yes, many Affirm users report that the service has helped them build or improve their credit R11R47R51.
Are there issues with PayPal's app performance?
Yes, recent updates to the PayPal app have caused it to run slowly, fail to open, and prevent users from logging in or moving money around R63R69R75R99.
Do these apps send unwanted notifications?
Yes, both Affirm and PayPal users report receiving unwanted push notifications, including ads, even when notification settings are supposedly turned off R16R38R103R110.
Can I combine payments on Affirm?
No, several Affirm users have requested the ability to combine multiple payments, noting that this feature is available on other platforms but not currently on Affirm R8R9.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 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. [R2] Affirm 5/5 · US Excellent!: I highly recommend Affirm. You can’t go wrong. I’m ready to dump my credit cards and just use affirm, honestly.
  2. [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.
  3. [R9] Affirm 3/5 · US Update your system to combine multiple payments.: You can combine payments on other platforms like after pay. You should be able to here. Upgrade your system.
  4. [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!
  5. [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.
  6. [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
  7. [R5] Affirm 5/5 · US Very reliable: I really love how easy I can solve problems with this credit
  8. [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.
  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. [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.
  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. [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
  13. [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
  14. [R28] Affirm 1/5 · US Predatory: I kept a perfect history with affirm at one point I had more than 2k out and showed available a balance of a few hundred so I paid all of my debt off expecting to use a portion of what the app said I could only to be denied any credit. My score was lower than it had been but my credit with affirm was perfect I guess that didn’t matter funny I would have had better credit if I didn’t mak
  15. [R31] Affirm 5/5 · US Love it!!: I absolutely love Affirm!! It is so convenient for me. I try to pay each one up early to save a few dollars and it works wonderfully well for me. Try it!! You will love it too!! Thanks Affirm!!
  16. [R37] Affirm 5/5 · US La mejor financiera del mercado: Sin dudas son muy accesibles con sus intereses me encanta esta financiera
  17. [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
  18. [R51] Affirm 5/5 · US Great loan: Easy to apply and quick response good to build your credit .
  19. [R63] PayPal 3/5 · US App runs so slow: App runs so slow. It takes forever to bring up the home page and then trying to get to the screen to unlock it is horrible as well. My app is updated to the latest update. I’ve had PayPal over 10 years please fix this
  20. [R69] PayPal 3/5 · US Issues since last update: Never had a problem with this app until the latest update. Now I’m rarely able to move money around and it takes forever to get my Cash back points. The app won’t let my husband and I send money to each other and I still have points pending from almost a month ago. I hope this gets fixed soon 😕
  21. [R75] PayPal 3/5 · US app: since last week i loved my pay pal now everytime i go to open my app it will not open i’ve done everything. I close the account like the account of my Facebook off my phone reinstall it shut my phone off to Noeville PayPal. I cannot get into anymore so I don’t like them.
  22. [R99] PayPal 3/5 · GB Can’t log in: I love PayPal and always use it when I can. But recently the app Won’t allow me to log in. I can sign in on the website but not the app. I’m using the same details. Very frustrating
  23. [R38] Affirm 1/5 · US Annoying: Has ad notifications that you can’t turn off
  24. [R103] PayPal 1/5 · US Ad push notifications: Started sending push notification ads today after years of trusting it for financial urgency. Turned off now.
  25. [R110] PayPal 1/5 · US Bad Behavior Notifications: PayPal app has badly behaving notifications. Two categories for notifications under ‘You’re receiving…’ that are unchecked, but are still sending notifications. I assume the category is ‘announcements offers and incentives tailored to you’ but it’s just trash promotions.

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store