Affirm operates the largest buy-now-pay-later platform in the United States, providing transparent installment loans at the point of sale across online, in-store, and digital wallet channels. The company was founded in 2012 by Max Levchin, a PayPal co-founder, and serves nearly 26 million users whilst processing $37 billion in annual payments across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
The company's core product uses machine learning for transaction assessment and credit underwriting to offer simple installment loans with no late fees, no hidden charges, and no compounding interest. Clear terms are presented upfront, distinguishing Affirm's approach from traditional credit products. Affirm also provides merchant-facing financing solutions designed to increase conversion rates and order values for retail and e-commerce partners.
Affirm's technical work spans credit underwriting, machine learning, payments infrastructure, and point-of-sale financing systems. The company has built its operations around ethical underwriting practices and transparent pricing, positioning honesty and friendliness as core to its credit model. Its stated principle - that customer success drives company success - shapes both product design and business strategy across its platform.
