Download the Afterpay app to buy now and pay in four interest-free instalments over 6 weeks.
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Why use Afterpay?
Quick account setup.
It's simple to apply. Download the app then go through a quick eligibility assessment.
Smart limits that move with you
Your spend limit starts low and may increase over time with consistent on time payments.
Widely accepted online and in-store.
Pay it in 4 for fashion, travel, health and wellness, automotive, entertainment and so much more by selecting Afterpay at checkout.
No fees when you pay on time.
It’s all in the app.
98% of Australian and New Zealand users rate the Afterpay app 5 stars*.
*Afterpay app is rated 4.9 stars on the Apple App Store (AU & NZ).
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Here’s why you should download the app today:
Still got questions?
How does Afterpay work?
With Afterpay, you get what you purchase now, and pay for it in 4 payments over 6 weeks, interest-free.
We pay the merchant in full, you make your first payment (approximately 25% of the total) at the time of purchase, and the remaining three payments are automatically deducted from your nominated debit or credit card approximately every two weeks.
We apply an approval process for each transaction that considers multiple factors, including your available to spend and on-time payment history. This process is carried out on every order, not just your first one.
When you start using Afterpay, your spend limit starts low. Depending on various factors, including consistent on-time payments, you may become eligible for a higher spend limit.
How do I set up an Afterpay account?
Setting up an Afterpay account is simple. To get the best experience, download the Afterpay app to sign up. You can also sign up during the checkout process at participating online retailers.
You must be over the age of 18 and provide some personal information, and link a valid debit or credit card.
To make it quick and easy for you, we verify your identity electronically (rather than you having to do time-consuming paperwork). Then, when you want to make a purchase with any of our partner retailers, just choose Afterpay as your payment method at the checkout.
It’s important to know that we do apply an approval process for individual purchases. Our approval process takes a number of factors into account, including whether there are sufficient funds in your account (particularly for new customers), and how much you will have to repay on the purchase.
We carry out this process on every order you make with Afterpay, not just the first one.
Will applying for Afterpay impact my credit score?
When you sign up, we'll perform a credit check as part of your application to join Afterpay. This enquiry may be visible on your credit report and may impact your credit score.
Our credit checks are undertaken by illion Australia. If you have questions regarding your credit score, please contact illion Australia directly via their website.
What happens if my application to use Afterpay is not successful?
We review several factors when assessing your Afterpay application, which may include information contained in your credit report, which is provided by illion Australia, a trusted credit reporting bureau. If we can’t approve your application, we'll let you know.
If you’d like more information about our application process please visit our help article.
Afterpay can be used both online and in physical stores, depending on the retailer or service. To shop in-store with participating retailers, you’ll need to set up the digital Afterpay Card. You can do this through the Afterpay app; just go to the In-store tab and follow the prompts to add the digital Afterpay Card to your phone's wallet. Then when you’re shopping in-store, just tap to pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay.
Is Afterpay secure and safe to use?
It’s always interest-free when you pay it in 4 instalments. If you do miss a payment, you might incur a late fee and you won’t be able to pay with Afterpay until you settle your account.
Are there any fees for using Afterpay?
What happens if I miss a payment?
If you can't make a payment, you can reschedule your next payment up to 3 times a year in the Afterpay app, or you should contact us as soon as possible to discuss your options. You may be able to reschedule the payment or make a partial payment.
We may charge a late fee if you miss a payment. But first, we will do everything we can to help you avoid this, including sending reminders leading up to the payment due date and an alert after a payment has failed.
If you do miss a payment, we will pause your account and you won’t be able to buy anything else with us until your payments are up to date. You may notice your spending limit decreases too; this is because our system takes into account a range of different factors, including late payments, in deciding spending limits. Ultimately, all steps we take are to help you spend responsibly with Afterpay.
How much are late fees?
We cap late fees to help keep costs manageable for customers who miss a payment.
Late fees will never exceed 25% of the order total or $68 per order, whichever is lower. How this works:
- For orders under $40: A one-time late fee of up to 25% of the order total applies.
- For orders of $40 or more: A $10 late fee is charged when a payment is missed. If the outstanding amount remains unpaid after seven days, an additional $7 late fee applies . This is the same for all late payments until the 25% cap or $68 amount is reached. To remain within the cap, we may charge partial amounts of the $10 and $7 fees.
You can check your General Terms for other late fees caps that may apply.
We’re committed to doing everything we can to help you not miss a payment, including sending you payment reminders and offering options to reschedule upcoming payment dates.
We’ve designed Afterpay to be completely different to traditional credit products that charge interest, so that our customers are never in a situation of high compounding interest and revolving debt.
How does Afterpay make money?
The simple answer is that Afterpay charges a fee to merchants for each transaction; this is the main way we make money. Monthly fees apply to Afterpay Plus subscribers.
Is Afterpay really interest-free?
It’s always interest-free when you pay in 4 payments.
Is using Afterpay bad for my credit score?
Your credit score can be impacted when a company does a credit check on you.
In Australia, it is fast and free to join Afterpay without a credit check. We start new customers off at a low spend limit and increase it gradually over time with on-time payments.
Depending on a variety of factors, including payment history and how long you've been with Afterpay, we may notify customers that are eligible to apply for a limit increase. In this circumstance, we may conduct a credit check to make sure an increased limit is right for you.
We don’t believe that missing a payment with Afterpay should result in a bad credit history. Our main aim is always to help you spend responsibly, and we take a number of steps to help ensure this, including pausing your account when you miss a payment.
What if I don’t want credit checks, will I still be able to use Afterpay?
Credit checks help us fulfill our regulatory obligations in Australia. Our Privacy Policy outlines how we work with credit reporting bureaus to perform these checks.
For new customers:
When you sign up, a credit check helps us assess your application to join Afterpay. We can’t approve new accounts without completing a credit check.
For existing customers:
We may perform a credit check when assessing whether a higher spend limit is appropriate. Without completing a credit check, we may not be able to assess you for a spend limit increase.
How can I increase my spend limit?
Our spending limits start low, at around $600, and increase gradually over time with consistent on-time payments.
If you’re a new Afterpay customer, the amount you can spend will be lower than if you’ve been responsibly using Afterpay for a long time. We take the time to get to know you, and before each transaction, we assess your ability to make repayments on your instalment plan.
Just as there are circumstances which may lower the amount you can spend (such as missing a payment), consistent on-time repayment history can increase what you can spend with Afterpay. Typically, the longer you’ve been using your account and making repayments on time, the more likely the amount you can spend will increase.
Can I request a spend limit increase?
The short answer is that we cannot manually increase your available spend limit, as your limit is determined based on a range of different factors.
Here are a few of the key factors that we take into consideration when determining your limit:
- On-time payment history.
- How long you’ve been with Afterpay.
- Any declined orders or payments.
How does Afterpay work?
When you use Afterpay, you pay for your purchases in 4 equal instalments over 6 weeks, without incurring any interest.
We pay the retailer in full and upfront on your behalf. You pay for the first instalment of 25% at the time of purchase, and the remaining three instalments will be automatically deducted from your nominated debit or credit card over the following six weeks.
How do I set up an Afterpay account?
Setting up an Afterpay account is simple and only takes a few minutes. To get the best experience, download the Afterpay app to apply. You can also apply during the checkout process at participating online retailers, where you’ll be redirected to an Afterpay sign-up page..
To apply, you’ll need to be an Australian resident, 18 years or older, and earning a regular income. We’ll ask for some basic details like your address, email and mobile number. As part of the process, we’ll verify your identity electronically and run a quick eligibility check. If you’re approved, just link a valid debit or credit card — and you’re good to go.
If you're having trouble signing up, reach out to our customer service team here.
Once approved, when you want to make a purchase, just choose Afterpay as your payment method at checkout, where available.
Afterpay can be used both online and in physical stores, depending on the retailer or service. To shop in-store with participating retailers, you’ll need to set up the Afterpay Card. You can do this through the Afterpay app; just go to the In-store tab and follow the prompts to add the Afterpay Card to your digital wallet. Then when you’re shopping in-store, just tap to pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay.
What happens if my application to use Afterpay is not successful?
We review several factors when assessing your Afterpay application, which may include information contained in your credit report, which is provided by illion Australia, a trusted credit reporting bureau. If we can’t approve your application, we'll let you know.
If you’d like more information about our application process please visit our help article.
Are there any fees for using Afterpay?
Afterpay is free when you pay on time.
Unlike most credit cards, there are no hidden or annual fees, and we don’t charge interest.
If you miss a payment we do charge late fees. These fees never exceed 25% of the purchase price or $68; whichever is less.
We do everything we can for you to avoid late fees, including sending reminders leading up to the payment due date and an alert after a payment has failed.
Monthly fees apply to Afterpay Plus subscribers. You can upgrade to Afterpay Plus for $9.99 a month to use Afterpay almost anywhere. Eligibility criteria, fees and T&Cs apply. Please see afterpay.com for full terms.
Is Afterpay secure and safe to use?
Your security is our priority. Afterpay has been built with a range of security features and services to help keep your accounts secure, including monitoring transactions to identify fraudulent trends and behaviours, multi-factor authentication, and encryption to protect your information. We also protect our network of customers and merchants with a thorough screening process before they gain access to our services. You can find out more on our safety and security page.
How much are the late fees?
Total late fees are capped at 25% of the order price, and will never exceed $68 per order, regardless of the order amount. There are slight differences for orders below and above $40:
- For orders below $40: the late fees charged will be capped at 25% of the total order value, never more;
- For example, a $20 order with four $5 instalments will only ever incur a one-off $5 late fee.
- For orders of $40 or above: our model is slightly different. Each time an instalment is late, an initial fee of $10 is charged. If the instalment remains unpaid seven days after the due date, a further partial late fee (of up to $7) will also apply. This is the same for all late instalments until the 25% cap or $68 amount is reached.
We also pause your account until the balance is paid and you're back on track. We’re committed to doing everything we can to help you not miss a payment. We’ve designed Afterpay to be completely different to traditional credit products that charge interest, so that our customers are never in a situation of high compounding interest and revolving debt.
What happens if I miss a payment?
If you miss a payment, we may charge late fees. To help you avoid missing a payment, we send reminders leading up to the due date and an alert after a payment has failed.
We may also pause your account and you won’t be able to buy anything else with us until you’ve paid the outstanding amount you owe us. You may notice your spend limit decreases too; this is because our system takes into account a range of different factors, including late payments, when setting spend limits. We’ll let you know if your spend limit changes.
For more information on how to reschedule a payment on an existing order see our help article here. Or reach out to customer service via the app if you need further assistance.
Is Afterpay really interest-free?
It’s always interest-free when you pay it in 4 instalments. If you do miss a payment, you will incur a late fee and you won’t be able to pay with Afterpay until you settle your account.
How does Afterpay make money?
The simple answer is that Afterpay charges a fee to merchants for each transaction; this is the main way we make money. Monthly fees apply to Afterpay Plus subscribers.
Is using Afterpay bad for my credit score?
Your credit score can be impacted when a company does a credit check on you.
In Australia, it is fast and free to join Afterpay without a credit check. We start new customers off at a low spend limit and increase it gradually over time with on-time payments.
Depending on a variety of factors, including payment history and how long you've been with Afterpay, we may notify customers that are eligible to apply for a limit increase. In this circumstance, we may conduct a credit check to make sure an increased limit is right for you.
We don’t believe that missing a payment with Afterpay should result in a bad credit history. Our main aim is always to help you spend responsibly, and we take a number of steps to help ensure this, including pausing your account when you miss a payment.
Does Afterpay perform credit checks?
We perform credit checks to comply with industry-wide regulations.
We will check your credit report when you apply to join Afterpay, as part of our assessment process.
We may also perform a credit check to assess your eligibility for a spend limit increase.
Is using Afterpay bad for my credit score?
Your credit score can be impacted when a company does a credit check on you.
In Australia, it is fast and free to join Afterpay without a credit check. We start new customers off at a low spend limit and increase it gradually over time with on-time payments.
Depending on a variety of factors, including payment history and how long you've been with Afterpay, we may notify customers that are eligible to apply for a limit increase. In this circumstance, we may conduct a credit check to make sure an increased limit is right for you.
We don’t believe that missing a payment with Afterpay should result in a bad credit history. Our main aim is always to help you spend responsibly, and we take a number of steps to help ensure this, including pausing your account when you miss a payment.
Will using Afterpay affect me being able to get a home loan?
Using Afterpay should not affect your ability to be approved for other lending, such as a home loan. When applying for a home loan, banks and lenders may undertake a range of checks to make sure that you can afford your future loan repayments, including accessing your credit report and asking you about your regular expenses. This may include your spending on Afterpay; but spending on discretionary items - which is what Afterpay is used for - should not affect how much you can borrow for your home loan. However, this is always subject to the lender’s credit criteria.
How can I increase my spend limits?
Our spend limits start low, at around $600, and increase gradually over time with consistent on-time payments.
If you’re a new Afterpay customer, the amount you can spend will be lower than if you’ve been responsibly using Afterpay for a long time. We take the time to get to know you, and before each transaction, we assess your ability to make repayments on your instalment plan.
Just as there are circumstances which may lower the amount you can spend (such as missing a payment), consistent on-time repayment history can increase what you can spend with Afterpay. Typically, the longer you’ve been using your account and making repayments on time, the more likely the amount you can spend will increase.
How is Afterpay different from credit cards?
Afterpay offers a distinct alternative to traditional credit cards by providing an interest-free payment plan that divides the cost of purchases into four instalments, over 6 weeks.
We're dedicated to enabling you to get access to what you need while spending responsibly. Afterpay is free when you pay on time. Unlike most credit cards, there are no hidden or annual fees, and we don’t charge interest.
Afterpay is designed to promote responsible spending by starting users off with lower spend limits, which may increase over time with a track record of on-time payments. Credit cards, on the other hand, may offer higher initial credit limits, which can potentially lead to overspending.
If you miss a payment with us, we may charge a late fee, but these fees are capped and do not accumulate over time. They won’t exceed 25% of the original order value or $68, whichever is less. We’ll also pause your account so that you won’t be able to buy anything else with us until your payments are up to date. In contrast, credit card companies may charge late payment fees that can accumulate, and often charge interest on unpaid balances. They may also encourage minimum payments, rather than a payment of the whole amount owed, potentially leading to a cycle of debt.
We think Afterpay is the better way to pay; but don’t just take our word for it. As of May 2025, 94% of reviews on Trustpilot and 98% of reviews on Apple App Store are 5 stars. Can your bank say the same?
For more information… head to our Get the Facts page.
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Late fees, eligibility criteria, retailer terms and T&Cs apply. Australian Credit Licence 527911
