Afterpay review: Interest-free payments on online purchases

More than 7,200 stores use Afterpay, a financing option that allows you to evenly divide your payments over time. Shoppers can score no-interest financing without fees — so long as the balance is paid on time.

Sound too good to be true? Well, kind of. There are risks involved — like getting overwhelmed with debt and late fees. We took a closer look at the pros and cons of Afterpay and how to avoid those pesky charges.

How does Afterpay work?

Start shopping with Afterpay by signing up and linking your debit or credit card. Then select Afterpay as your payment option at checkout.

At the time of purchase, you’ll need to pay the first quarter of the total amount. The remaining three quarters are paid back every two weeks after that. You’ll receive reminders before payments are due, and payments are automatically processed.

Unlike other financing services, Afterpay doesn’t perform a credit check. But your spending amount at any one time is subject to approval, and you don’t always know what it is ahead of time.

Afterpay uses an automated system to approve you on a purchase-by-purchase basis. According to Afterpay, the longer you’ve held an account and the more purchases you successfully repay, the more likely you’ll be approved for a higher amount.

See the full Afterpay store list here

Features of shopping with Afterpay

Interested in using Afterpay as a payment method? Here are some nifty features the service offers.

How much does Afterpay cost?

Afterpay is a free service. There are only two costs involved: your total purchase price and late fees for missed installments.

You’ll receive notification if a payment is unsuccessful with the option to choose an alternate payment method. If you don’t pay by the grace period indicated on your payment schedule, Afterpay charges an initial $10 late fee.

Late fees are capped at 25% of the purchase value. Charging customers late fees is one main way Afterpay earns revenue. The other way is charging its partner retailers fees for offering the service.

Having trouble making your payment? Try reaching out to Afterpay directly.

Opt to change payment methods at any time or set up multiple payment options.

Is Afterpay safe?

Afterpay is touted as a new way to pay from traditional credit products. But remember that Afterpay is still a type of credit. Afterpay may report defaults to credit reporting bureaus such as Experian or Equifax.

When it comes to your data, Afterpay is a PCI DSS Level 1 certified compliant Service Provider organization. This means it abides by the comprehensive set of requirements to keep your information secure.

Does Afterpay hurt your credit?

No. Afterpay does not report to any credit bureaus, so your score will stay the same even if you miss a payment. But, you can still get saddled with debt if you fail to pay on time.

How to sign up for Afterpay

To sign up for Afterpay, you need to:

• Be at least 18 years old and capable of entering into a legally binding contract (19 in Alabama)
• Have a valid and verifiable email address and mobile number
• Have a credit or debit card

Afterpay is not a store credit application. You don’t have to sign anything or fill out an application form. Simply read the details, sign up online and you’re good to go.

Alternatives to Afterpay

Afterpay is a flexible payment system that can help take the stress out of making larger or unexpected purchases. It’s free and its user-friendly interface makes managing your account a snap. But watch out — late repayments can limit future spending amounts while racking up some high late charges.

Not sold on Afterpay? Compare other similar options that offer no-interest financing:

• Klarna
• PayPal Pay in 4
• Sezzle
• Affirm

Image: Afterpay