Getting Afterpay takes about five minutes. You download the app or visit the website, create an account with your email and phone number, link a payment method, and you can start splitting purchases into four interest-free installments. Here’s everything you need to know before signing up.
What You Need to Qualify
Afterpay has a short list of eligibility requirements. You must be at least 18 years old and a resident of one of the 50 U.S. states or Washington, D.C. (the service isn’t available in U.S. territories). You also need a valid email address, a mobile phone number, and a U.S. delivery address.
For payment, you’ll need a U.S.-issued debit card, credit card, or bank checking account that you’re authorized to use. Prepaid cards may or may not work depending on the card type, so a standard debit or credit card is your safest bet.
How to Sign Up Through the App
The most common way to get Afterpay is through the mobile app, available for both iPhone and Android. Download it from the App Store or Google Play, then tap to create an account. You’ll enter your name, email address, phone number, and date of birth. Afterpay sends a verification code to your phone to confirm your number.
Once your account is created, you add a payment method. This is the card or bank account Afterpay will charge for each installment. After that, you can browse participating retailers directly inside the app or use Afterpay at checkout on any store that supports it.
You can also sign up on Afterpay’s website if you prefer shopping on a computer. The process is essentially the same: create an account, verify your identity, and link a payment method. Many people start on the web and later download the app for in-store shopping.
The Soft Credit Check
Afterpay may run a soft credit check when you first sign up. A soft check is the kind that doesn’t show up on your credit report and won’t affect your credit score. It’s one of several factors Afterpay uses to decide whether to approve you and to set your initial spending limit.
There’s no minimum credit score published, and Afterpay doesn’t require a traditional credit history the way a credit card issuer would. The approval decision factors in the soft check along with other internal criteria. If you’re approved, you can start shopping right away. If you’re declined for a specific purchase, you can try again later, as approvals are evaluated on a transaction-by-transaction basis.
One exception to the soft-check rule: if you use Afterpay’s “Pay Monthly” option, which lets you stretch payments over a longer period with interest, the company performs a harder credit assessment to determine your eligibility and the APR you’ll be offered.
Your Starting Spending Limit
New Afterpay users start with a lower spending limit, typically around $600 or less. This cap applies to how much you can have outstanding across all active orders at once, not per transaction.
Afterpay increases your limit gradually based on a few key factors: your on-time payment history, how long you’ve had your account, and whether you’ve had any declined orders or missed payments. You can’t call or message support to request a manual increase. The system adjusts automatically. Consistent, on-time repayments are the fastest way to see your limit grow. Missing payments can lower it.
Afterpay may also perform a credit check when assessing you for a limit increase. Without completing that check, the company says it may not be able to evaluate you for a higher limit.
Setting Up the Afterpay Card for In-Store Shopping
Afterpay isn’t just for online purchases. You can use it at physical stores by adding the Afterpay Card to your phone’s digital wallet (Apple Pay or Google Pay). This lets you tap to pay at any retailer that accepts contactless payments, splitting the purchase into four installments just like you would online.
To set it up, open the Afterpay app and tap “In-Store,” then “Pay in Store.” Follow the prompts to set up the card and add it to your wallet. You’ll receive an SMS verification code to confirm the setup. Once added, the card works like any other card in your digital wallet. You hold your phone near the payment terminal at checkout, and Afterpay handles the installment schedule.
You may need to pass additional identity and eligibility checks when activating the card, so have your information ready. Not every device supports the feature, but most recent iPhones and Android phones with NFC capability will work.
How Payments Work After You’re Set Up
Once you make a purchase, Afterpay splits the total into four equal payments. The first payment is due at the time of purchase, and the remaining three are charged automatically every two weeks. There’s no interest on the standard four-installment plan.
Late fees can apply if a scheduled payment fails. Afterpay charges a fee when a payment is missed and may charge an additional fee if the payment remains unpaid. These fees are capped, but they add up quickly on smaller purchases and can make the convenience less worthwhile. To avoid them, make sure the linked card or bank account has sufficient funds on each payment date. You can also make early payments at any time through the app without penalty.
Your payment schedule for each order is visible inside the app, and Afterpay sends reminders before each installment is due. If you want to pay off a purchase early, you can do so in full or make partial early payments to reduce the remaining balance.
Where You Can Use Afterpay
Thousands of retailers accept Afterpay both online and in stores. Major categories include fashion, beauty, electronics, home goods, and fitness. You can browse the full directory of participating merchants inside the Afterpay app or on the website. With the Afterpay Card added to your digital wallet, you can also use it at stores that may not officially list Afterpay as a payment option, as long as they accept contactless payments.
When shopping online at a participating retailer, you’ll see Afterpay listed as a payment option at checkout. Select it, log into your Afterpay account, confirm the order, and the installment plan is set up automatically.