Why doesn’t Affirm accept credit cards?

Affirm and some other buy now, pay later services don’t accept credit cards because financially it’s not a good move for you or them.

Unlike a credit card that you have to pay down each month, buy now, pay later services are designed to make payments more digestible, allowing you to pay for purchases over time (like a layaway plan if you remember those). It doesn’t really make sense to choose a BNPL option if you’re just going to pay it down with a credit card. 

Paying for BNPL plans with a credit card could set off a cycle of debt that’s hard to escape. If you use a credit card to cover your BNPL payments, you’re not only delaying payment further but may also potentially accrue interest charges (if you don’t pay off your credit card balance in full). 

This means a purchase could end up costing you more than its price tag, defeating the purpose of using BNPL for budgeting and financial ease.

Another reason Affirm and other services may not take credit cards is because it cuts into their profits. Processing credit card payments cost money. By skipping credit cards, Affirm can cut down on costs.