Affirm provides buy now, pay later financing through transparent installment loans offered at the point of sale across online, in-store, and digital wallet channels. The company serves nearly 26 million users and processes $37 billion in annual payments, positioning itself as the largest U.S.-based buy now, pay later financier. Its core product eliminates practices common in traditional consumer credit: loans carry no late fees, no hidden charges, and no compounding interest, with payment terms disclosed upfront.
The company operates across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, offering merchant payment solutions designed to increase conversion rates and average order values. Affirm's technical infrastructure spans machine learning, credit underwriting, payments processing, point-of-sale integration, digital wallets, and transaction risk assessment. The company employs ethical underwriting practices that evaluate creditworthiness through multiple factors beyond traditional credit scores.
Founded in 2012 by PayPal co-founder Max Levchin, Affirm was established to address what the company identified as predatory practices in conventional consumer lending. Its operating philosophy - "when customers win, Affirm wins" - reflects a mission-driven approach to financial services that prioritises consumer transparency and merchant growth through accessible credit options.
