Affirm Technology Intelligence

What is Affirm?

Affirm is a buy now, pay later platform offering flexible financing options for online purchases. Founded in 2012 by Max Levchin (PayPal co-founder), Affirm provides transparent financing with no hidden fees.

Unlike traditional credit cards, Affirm shows total cost upfront including any interest, and offers terms from 3 to 36 months depending on purchase size and merchant.

Key Features

Financing Options

• Pay in 4: Interest-free split
• Monthly: 3-36 month terms
• 0% APR: Merchant-subsidized
• Transparent: No hidden fees

Merchant Tools

• Checkout: Embedded financing
• Prequalify: Soft credit check
• Marketing: Promotional tools

Consumer Features

• App: Manage payments
• Card: Affirm virtual card
• Anywhere: Shop at any store

Use Cases

High-Ticket Electronics

Electronics retailers offer financing for expensive items. Laptops and TVs become affordable with monthly payments.

Fitness Equipment

Peloton and similar brands use Affirm for premium products. Monthly payments match subscription mindset.

Mattress Industry

Sleep brands offer 0% financing. Large purchases spread over time increase conversion.

Travel

Airlines and travel sites offer trip financing. Vacations become more accessible with payment plans.

Code Examples

Promotional Messaging

<!-- Affirm Promotional Messaging -->
<script>
_affirm_config = {
    public_api_key: "YOUR_PUBLIC_KEY",
    script: "https://cdn1.affirm.com/js/v2/affirm.js"
};
</script>
<p class="affirm-as-low-as"
   data-page-type="product"
   data-amount="150000">
</p>

Checkout Integration

affirm.checkout({
    merchant: { user_confirmation_url: '/confirm' },
    shipping: { name: { first: 'John', last: 'Doe' } },
    items: [{ display_name: 'Product', unit_price: 150000 }],
    total: 150000
});
affirm.checkout.open();

Comparison

vs Afterpay

• Amounts: Affirm higher limits
• Terms: Affirm longer options
• Simplicity: Afterpay simpler

vs Klarna

• Transparency: Affirm clearer
• Flexibility: Both offer many options
• Target: Affirm higher tickets

Why Affirm

• Best for high-value purchases
• Transparent pricing always
• Longer financing terms
• Strong brand partnerships