Trust check
Is Affirm legit?
Affirm is licensed as a lender, has an excellent BBB rating and publishes their privacy policy. However, they are not CLA certified.
Affirm: Overview
If you're looking to make your next purchase easier to afford, consider Affirm, a BNPL company that offers payment plans for online and in-store purchases in Canada through Affirm Canada Holdings Ltd. In this Affirm review for Canada, you'll learn how its plans work, what they cost and whether using Affirm affects your credit.
The short answer: Affirm offers interest-free Pay in 4 plans and monthly plans from 0% to 31.99% APR, it doesn't charge late fees, and applying won't affect your credit score1. Before you take on any new payment plan, it helps to know what can make your credit score drop and which factors hurt your credit the most.
If you used PayBright in the past, Affirm now runs its Canadian plans. Affirm bought PayBright in 2021, and new purchases can no longer be made through PayBright.
Is Affirm Right For You?
Affirm can be a good fit if:
- You want to spread out a big purchase without surprises. Affirm shows your APR, total interest and every payment before you agree, and they don't charge any fees.
- You'd rather avoid interest on smaller buys. Pay in 4 splits your purchase into 4 interest-free payments every 2 weeks, and some stores offer 0% APR on monthly plans too.
- You're worried a credit check will lower your score. Applying with Affirm won't affect your credit, so you can see your options at checkout before you decide.
What BNPL Plans Does Affirm Offer In Canada?
Affirm offers two main ways to pay over time in Canada: Pay in 4 and monthly payments. Depending on the store you're buying from, you may be offered both or just one of these options. Some plans may not be available in every province or territory.
Pay In 4
Pay in 4 splits your purchase into 4 interest-free payments made every 2 weeks. For example, an $800 purchase becomes 4 payments of $2001. There's no interest and no fees from Affirm. To avoid forgetting a payment, you can turn on AutoPay.
| Payments | 4 interest-free payments |
| Payment Schedule | Every 2 weeks |
| Interest | 0% |
| Fees | None from Affirm |
Equal Monthly Payment Plan
Monthly plans suit more expensive items. You repay the purchase in equal monthly payments, with interest from 0% to 31.99% APR, subject to provincial limits1. Not everyone qualifies for 0%. The rate you get depends on your overall financial profile, including your credit history.
Here's Affirm's own example: an $800 purchase paid over 12 months at 15% APR costs $72.21 a month, for a total of $866.48. That's $66.48 in interest1.
Loan amounts and terms depend on the store.
| Payments | Equal monthly payments |
| Interest Rate | 0% to 31.99% APR, subject to provincial limits |
| Example | $800 over 12 months at 15% APR: $72.21 a month, $866.48 in total |
| Fees | None from Affirm |
Shop Pay Installments
Canadian online stores built on Shopify can offer Shop Pay Installments, which is powered by Affirm. You can use it on purchases from $35 to $30,000 and choose 2 or 4 interest-free payments every 2 weeks, or a monthly plan. Orders over $20,000 need a $10,000 down payment.
| Purchase Amount | $35 to $30,000 |
| Payments | 2 or 4 interest-free payments every 2 weeks, or a monthly plan |
| Where To Use It | Canadian online stores built on Shopify |
How Fast Your Order Goes Through
You choose Affirm, review your plan and confirm it all within checkout. Affirm then pays the store for your purchase, and you pay Affirm back on the schedule you agreed to.
How Does Affirm Work?
Affirm pays the store for your purchase, and you pay Affirm back on a schedule you agree to at checkout. You may see Affirm as a payment option when you shop with partner stores online, in an app or in person.
To use Affirm, follow this 4-step process:
Who Can Use Affirm In Canada?
Affirm is available in all provinces and territories, including Quebec. You can create an account at checkout, in the Affirm app or at affirm.ca. To use it, you need to:
- Live in Canada
- Be the age of majority in your province or territory (18 or 19, depending on where you live)
- Have a Canadian mobile number
- Have a credit history in Canada
- Have an email address
Meeting these basics doesn't guarantee approval.
What An Affirm Plan Costs
Pay in 4 is interest-free, and monthly plans range from 0% to 31.99% APR. Not everyone qualifies for 0%, so here's what a monthly plan costs at Affirm's highest rate of 31.99% APR:
| Purchase | Term | Monthly Payment | Total Interest | Total You Repay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $500.00 | 6 months | $91.28 | $47.68 | $547.68 |
| $500.00 | 12 months | $49.23 | $90.76 | $590.76 |
| $1,000.00 | 12 months | $98.47 | $181.64 | $1,181.64 |
| $1,000.00 | 24 months | $56.94 | $366.56 | $1,366.56 |
| $2,000.00 | 24 months | $113.88 | $733.12 | $2,733.12 |
These numbers are for illustrative purposes only. Actual numbers may vary.
Is Affirm Licensed?
Affirm Canada Holdings Ltd. offers Affirm's payment plans in Canada and is licensed as a lender in Nova Scotia. Their highest rate, 31.99% APR, sits just under the 32% APR level at which Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba require a high-cost credit licence.
Will Using Affirm Affect Your Credit Scores?
Signing up for Affirm won't affect your credit score. Applying and checking if you prequalify won't affect your credit score. How you repay is what matters, because Affirm may report your loan to the credit bureaus.
Does Affirm Do A Credit Check?
Affirm runs an eligibility check when you apply, and applying or checking if you prequalify won't affect your credit score.
Does Affirm Report To The Credit Bureaus?
Affirm's Canadian terms say it may report information about your loan to credit reporting agencies. Affirm also says Shop Pay Installments payments may be reported to a credit bureau. Since you can't count on which payments show up, it's safest to treat every Affirm payment as one that could appear on your Equifax or TransUnion report. Learn more about how buy now, pay later services affect your credit.
If you see an error from Affirm on your credit report, you can dispute it with Equifax Canada or TransUnion Canada. Affirm says it will correct any confirmed errors in its reporting.
What Happens When You Make An Early Payment?
If you pay your Affirm loan early, you won't pay any fees or penalties. Paying ahead of schedule can also help you save on interest.
Will Late Payments At Affirm Affect Your Credit Scores?
Affirm doesn't charge late fees. However, a late or partial payment may hurt your chances of getting another loan with Affirm, and since Affirm may report your loan, it could also show up on your credit report. Your own bank may still charge you a fee if a payment bounces.
If you know you'll be late, call Affirm at (888) 484-4282, from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET, seven days a week. Affirm can't change your due date, but it can note when you plan to pay.
Will Missed Payments At Affirm Affect Your Credit Scores?
Yes, missed payments can hurt your credit, mainly if your loan goes to collections.
Warning: Unpaid Affirm Loans Can Go To Collections
Affirm's Canadian terms say that if you don't pay, it may send your information to a collection agency or take legal action. An account in collections can lower your credit score.
What Customers Say About Affirm
While Affirm's Trustpilot score is low, they hold an A+ rating with the BBB and have been BBB accredited since 2020. Affirm has been offering payment plans since 2012, and they've run PayBright's Canadian plans since buying the company in 2021.
From 7,847 customer reviews.
BBB accredited since 2020.
Founded in San Francisco in 2012.
Pros And Cons Of Affirm
Before you make a purchase with Affirm, review the benefits and drawbacks of its payment plans:
Pros
- Reasonable costs: Affirm doesn't charge late fees or prepayment penalties, and Pay in 4 is interest-free.
- Flexible plans: You can choose Pay in 4 every 2 weeks or monthly payments, depending on the store.
- Clear pricing: Affirm shows your total cost before you agree.
- No impact to apply: Creating an account or checking if you prequalify won't affect your credit score.
- Multiple loans possible: There's no set limit on how many Affirm loans you can have at once.
Cons
- Interest on monthly plans: Monthly plans can cost up to 31.99% APR, depending on your financial profile.
- Potential down payments: If you don't qualify for the full amount, Affirm may ask for a down payment at checkout.
- Possible credit damage: Affirm may report your loan, and unpaid loans can go to collections.
Which Stores Allow You To Use Affirm In Canada?
Affirm is offered by many large Canadian retailers and by Shopify stores through Shop Pay Installments. Canadian stores that offer Affirm include:
- Apple
- Samsung
- Wayfair
- Williams Sonoma, West Elm and Pottery Barn
- Brown's Shoes
- REVOLVE
- Royal Caribbean
- H&R Block Canada
What Happens If You Want To Return Something You Purchased?
You can return an item you bought with Affirm, but you start the return with the store, not with Affirm. There are two options you can try:
Cancelling Your Order
To cancel an order that hasn't shipped yet, contact the store you bought it from. If your loan hasn't been finalized, Affirm removes it from your account as if it never happened. If the loan is already finalized, the refund usually takes about 21 days, and in rare cases up to 90 days.
Getting A Refund
To get a refund, contact the store. Once the store confirms it, the refund shows up on your Affirm loan balance within 3 to 10 business days. Interest you've already paid isn't refunded. If the refund is more than you owe, the extra goes back to your card within 3 to 10 business days or comes by cheque within 19 business days.
You can log into your Affirm account at any time to see your loan balance.
Affirm Vs. Afterpay Vs. Sezzle In Canada
Comparing Affirm, Afterpay and Sezzle on loan amount, interest rate, term, availability, funding time, funding method, repayment options, eligibility and required documents, as listed by each lender.
| Feature | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loan amount | Depends on the store | Depends on the store | Depends on the store |
| Interest rate | 0% - 31.99% | 0% | 0% APR |
| Term | 2 weeks + | 6 weeks | 0-6 weeks |
| Available in | All provinces | All provinces | All provinces |
| Funding time | At checkout | At checkout | At checkout |
| Funding method | Affirm pays the store for your purchase | Afterpay pays the store for you | Sezzle pays the store in full when you place your order |
| Repayment |
|
|
|
| Eligibility |
|
|
|
| Requirements & documents |
|
|
|
Figures are as listed by each lender and can change. Check the lender's site before you apply.
Our Affirm Review For Canada: The Bottom Line
Affirm is a flexible way to split up a purchase in Canada, with interest-free Pay in 4, monthly plans up to 31.99% APR and no late fees. Signing up won't affect your credit, but missed payments can, so only use Affirm for amounts you know you can repay. If you need a larger amount or more time to pay, you can also compare personal loans.
Before You Borrow, Try These
A Cash Advance App
A cash advance app can lend you a smaller amount against your next paycheque, often with no interest and no credit check. Most start you off with a few hundred dollars and take the advance back automatically on payday, so they work best when you only need to cover a small gap.
| Lender | Product | Interest Rate | Amount | Fees | Availability | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Cash advance line of credit | 0% | Up to $750 | No mandatory feesOptional fee for express delivery |
| Apply |
| | Credit building line of credit | 0% | Up to $250 | FreeOptional $11.99/month membership fee with added perks |
| Apply |
| | Cash advance | 0% | Up to $500**Eligibility criteria and Terms and Conditions apply. | Starting at $2/monthCover bundle subscription; KOHO account required |
| Sign up |
| | Loan | 28.9%About 29.9% APR with the $1 access fee. May drop as you unlock bigger loans | $100 – $2,500On-time payments unlock higher amounts | One-time $1 access feeOptional Spark Plus: $9.99 bi-weekly |
|
Check Out Your City Services
211.ca is a free, confidential directory of community and government services across Canada that you can search by postal code. It can point you to emergency help with rent, utilities and other urgent bills that you don't have to pay back.
Affirm FAQs
What credit score do I need to use Affirm?
Does Affirm do a hard credit check?
Does Affirm report to Equifax or TransUnion in Canada?
Do I have to make a down payment to use Affirm?
What credit limit is offered by Affirm?
What does Affirm look at when assessing eligibility?
Are there any fees for late payments?
Is PayBright the same as Affirm?
Is Affirm safe to use?
Can Affirm help build my credit?
Sources
- Affirm Canada, "Pay over time with Affirm," affirm.com/en-ca, accessed November 2026.
