Affirm is a financial technology company founded in 2012 by PayPal co-founder Max Levchin. Based in the United States, it operates as a buy now, pay later (BNPL) lender, offering installment financing at the point of sale - online, in-store, and through digital wallets. The company describes its model as a direct response to what it characterises as predatory practices in traditional consumer credit: its loans carry no late fees, no hidden charges, and no compounding interest, with terms disclosed upfront.
Affirm's technical infrastructure spans payments processing, credit underwriting, and point-of-sale integrations across e-commerce and retail channels. The company uses machine learning to assess transactions, drawing on credit scores alongside other factors in its underwriting process. It positions this approach as more holistic than conventional credit evaluation. Affirm operates across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, and describes itself as the largest U.S.-based BNPL financier.
At scale, the platform serves nearly 26 million users and processes approximately $37 billion in payments annually. On the merchant side, the company claims its financing options help increase conversion rates and raise average order values. Its core technical domains include BNPL systems, machine learning-driven underwriting, and integrations with e-commerce and in-store payment infrastructure.