Home › Borrow › Buy now, pay later apps › Affirm vs PayPal Pay in 4
Both let you split purchases. Here's how Affirm and PayPal Pay in 4 compare on late fees, interest and credit reporting.
| Affirm | PayPal Pay in 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Late fee | None (Affirm says it never charges late or hidden fees) | not found |
| Interest | Varies by loan (0% or APR shown at checkout) | not found |
| Credit check | not found | Applying doesn't affect your credit score (per PayPal) |
| Credit reporting | Reports all pay-over-time loans to Experian (from Apr. 1, 2025) and TransUnion (from May 1, 2025); Affirm says this isn't factored into traditional scores yet | not found |
Sources: Affirm announcements (Mar./Apr. 2025) (checked 2026-10-12) · PayPal Pay in 4 page (checked 2026-10-12)
More on Affirm · More on PayPal Pay in 4 · All buy now, pay later apps
Late fee: Affirm None (Affirm says it never charges late or hidden fees), PayPal Pay in 4 not found; Interest: Affirm Varies by loan (0% or APR shown at checkout), PayPal Pay in 4 not found; Credit check: Affirm not found, PayPal Pay in 4 Applying doesn't affect your credit score (per PayPal); Credit reporting: Affirm Reports all pay-over-time loans to Experian (from Apr. 1, 2025) and TransUnion (from May 1, 2025); Affirm says this isn't factored into traditional scores yet, PayPal Pay in 4 not found.
Estimates, not financial advice. Taxes, insurance, PMI and fees vary by lender, county and city; confirm with your lender, dealer and state agency before acting.