Using Affirm on Amazon: How to buy now, pay later this Prime Day

How to avoid the budgeting-to-overspending pipeline ahead of Prime Day.
By Leah Stodart and Elizabeth de Luna  on 
Amazon logo, Affirm logo, and Amazon package with purple and blue tint
What does the option to delay payment mean for one of the most click-happy shopping days of the year? Credit: Amazon / Affirm / Mashable photo edit

Affirm is the first BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) service to be available directly through Amazon Pay, and shoppers love it. Last year, BNPL orders increased by 85 percent during Cyber Week compared to the week before, while revenue increased 88 percent. And during last year's Amazon Prime Day there was a 20% increase in BNPL use from the previous year. With inflation still wreaking havoc, it's no stretch of the imagination to assume that Affirm use will remain high for Prime Day 2024.

The ability to pay for items in installments can sweeten your Prime Day prospects. But before going BNPL-wild on your haul, there are some factors to consider about Affirm versus other BNPL apps, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of using these tools in general.

Why Buy Now, Pay Later is so appealing

Layaway programs were popular with shoppers in the '90s until they were overtaken by credit cards. But there is a key difference between layaway and BPNL. When you put an item on layaway, it was held for you until you paid it off, at which point you could take it home. With BPNL, you get the goods shipped to you right away but then pay off that item in installments.

When combined with Amazon's typically lightning-fast shipping and Affirm's lack of late fees, BPNL can make big purchases feel easier to stomach.

Affirm's interest rates typically range from 0 to 30% APR based on your credit and payments can be spread out over three to 48 months. Different plans are available for different purchase amounts, and the minimum purchase amount to use Affirm is $50. Affirm's APR calculator can help you estimate how much interest you'll rack up on a certain purchase, which could hit $100 or more if you get a loan for, say, a pricey piece of furniture.

Mashable Deals
Want more hand-picked deals in your inbox?
Sign up for Mashable's daily Deals newsletter.
By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up!

When it's wise to buy now and pay later

There are moments when BPNL is a good choice:

  • For some big purchases, using BNPL services may make sense. Breaking up the cost of big investments like a new MacBook Pro or premium robot vacuum can be easier to manage over time rather than laying down the whole amount in one go.

  • Using BNPL services on necessities like groceries depends on your habits. Habitually funding little daily expenses (like Starbucks) with an installment app can trigger a domino effect of debt, but may work better if you're buying something like toilet paper in bulk.

  • When used responsibly, apps like Affirm can also help you work around the timing of your paycheck and monthly costs that require up-front payment, like rent. Be aware that Affirm's "soft inquiry" to determine your credit won't affect your credit score, but the company doesn't promise not to report your payment history to credit bureaus. To make sure you always pay on time, we recommend turning on automatic payments and confirming that your payment method won't expire over the pay period.

When you shouldn't buy now and pay later

There are times when you should absolutely avoid relying on BPNL:

  • Before purchasing with BPNL, consider whether you'd buy that item if you didn't have the option to break up the payment.

  • Don't snag something just to hit Affirm's $50 minimum.

  • Make a wishlist ahead of time if you have to, and hold yourself accountable. The devil on your shoulder saying "You need this, though" can get louder when something is on sale. Especially during big shopping events like Prime Day, you don't want to cancel out your savings with a serotonin booster that you didn't know existed five minutes ago.

  • Impulse purchases may feel less risky at the moment, thanks to tools like Affirm. But they can swiftly feel unnecessary once the Affirm reaper returns for payment month after month. Making a series of small payments can create the harmful illusion that you're spending less money. While that's technically accurate (and admittedly blissful) for the first few months, you'll still be spending the same amount of money by the time you've paid out every installment.

Frequently Asked Questions


Affirm performs a soft pull that won't affect your credit score. However, there's no guarantee that Affirm won't report your payment history to credit bureaus. Making late payments to your Affirm plan (or not paying at all) could still indirectly affect your credit score.


Amazon's only official buy now, pay later options are through Affirm and Amazon's own Monthly Payments plan, meaning these are the only integrated BNPL options that will show up directly through Amazon. To use Afterpay specifically, you will have to open Amazon through the Afterpay app.

Leah Stodart
Leah Stodart
Senior Shopping Reporter

Leah Stodart is a Philadelphia-based Senior Shopping Reporter at Mashable where she covers essential home tech like vacuums and TVs as well as sustainable swaps and travel. Her ever-growing experience in these categories comes in clutch when making recommendations on how to spend your money during shopping holidays like Black Friday, which Leah has been covering for Mashable since 2017.

Leah graduated from Penn State University in 2016 with dual degrees in Sociology and Media Studies. When she's not writing about shopping (or shopping online for herself), she's almost definitely watching a horror movie, "RuPaul's Drag Race," or "The Office." You can follow her on X at @notleah or email her at [email protected].

Mashable Image
Elizabeth de Luna
Culture Reporter

Elizabeth is a digital culture reporter covering the internet's influence on self-expression, fashion, and fandom. Her work explores how technology shapes our identities, communities, and emotions. Before joining Mashable, Elizabeth spent six years in tech. Her reporting can be found in Rolling Stone, The Guardian, TIME, and Teen Vogue. Follow her on Instagram here.

Amazon Prime Day 2024

All Prime Day Coverage




Recommended For You
How to use Apple Pay on Amazon ahead of October Prime Day
Apple Pay logo in front of a blue background

How to sign up for Amazon Prime ahead of October Prime Day
Prime Day photo

Amazon's 55-inch Fire TV Omni Series is now $20 cheaper than it was on Prime Day
an amazon fire tv omni series surrounded by colorwashed objects

What not to buy during Amazon's October Prime Day sale
a thumbs down cutout over a pink box against a purple grid background and surrounded by shopping icons

Best Buy's 48-hour flash sale competing with October Prime Day may be over, but these deals are still live
best buy logo

More in Life
Deals under $25 still live after Prime Day: AirTags, speakers, more
An illustrated background with an Amazon Echo Pop, Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, Apple AirTag, and Anker P20i earbuds.

The best Amazon Prime Day deals still live: Roomba, Apple, Dyson, and other top brands
various tech products

October Prime Day is over but no one told these wireless earbud deals
A person working out with a pair of Apple AirPods

Prime Day is over but you can still find deals on noise-cancelling headphones: Save on Apple, Beats, Sony
A pair of Amazon Echo Buds and Apple AirPods on an illustrated background.

Samsung Galaxy Prime Day deals are still live: Save $250 on cult-favorite Z Flip 6 AI phones
Samsung Galaxy devices overlayed on blue and green illustration
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!