What is the difference between Afterpay and a credit card? 

Afterpay is leading the charge for Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) service providers in Australia. It offers customers the chance to pay off a purchase in four instalments, paid fortnightly. A credit card, by contrast, gives users access to a continuous active line of credit, with the net total paid in bulk at the end of the statement period. Each product has its benefits and drawbacks, making them suitable for different purchasing needs.  

What is Afterpay, and how does the Afterpay card work? 

Afterpay allows consumers to make a purchase today that they can repay in smaller increments without interest charged. Afterpay gives consumers access to interest and fee-free (if paid on time) Point-Of-Sale loans. They cover some or all the cost of a purchased item, and you pay them back over four equal fortnightly instalments.  

It differs from the traditional concept of layby in that you can use the purchase immediately even though you’re yet to pay for it – hence the term Buy Now, Pay Later. If you’re looking for an alternative to Afterpay in Australia, they are not the only operators in this space. Bank, Visa, and Mastercard Buy Now, Pay Later credit card products are also available, as well as other Afterpay-type companies like Klarna or Zip.  

Afterpay charges vendors a fee for every sale transacted using its service, forming the bulk of its revenue. In addition, it collects late fees from users if they fail to make timely payments. New users typically need to front 25% of the purchase at the point of sale, although this may change if using the loyalty program: Afterpay Pulse. You open the Afterpay card app in your digital wallet, just as with a credit or debit card, and can pay at participating businesses via their point-of-sale (PoS).  

At the time of writing, Afterpay payment options have a maximum purchase limit of $1500 and a maximum account limit of $2000. New users will generally start with lower limits than these, which will increase with positive payment behaviour. Some vendors may apply their own caps regarding the use of Afterpay. This relatively low max limit means that Afterpay is only suitable for certain purchases. 

Afterpay FAQ 

• How do I get an Afterpay card? Sign up via their website or app.
• Where can you use an Afterpay card? See a list of participating retailers here.
• How to view my Afterpay card number? On the Afterpay app on your digital device.
• How do I get an Afterpay statement? On the Afterpay app on your digital device.
• Can you split the payment with Afterpay? Yes, you can make custom payments in the Afterpay app. 

What is a credit card, and how does it work? 

A credit card offers a line of credit to the cardholder up to a set credit limit. What you choose to purchase with that card is up to you (depending on the terms and conditions of the product). The balance of the credit account needs to get paid in full by the end of the statement period or risk accruing interest. There may also be upfront and ongoing fees and costs that apply.  

Credit limits offered on credit cards are typically higher than Afterpay’s spending limits. The total amount you can borrow with a credit card can vary from $1000 to $100,000+, depending on your income and the type of card. This difference widens the scope of the number of purchases you can make with a credit card and the value of the items you buy, as well as the debt you could accrue.  

Credit cards are accepted as a payment method by most businesses across the globe. Alternatives to credit cards may not allow the same flexibility.  

How are they similar? 

Afterpay and credit cards are similar in that they both facilitate purchases without needing cash on hand at the time. Purchases made with either can be interest-free if paid off on time. The differences lie in the associated fees and costs, rewards programs, and the application process.  

What are the differences between Afterpay vs a Credit Card? 

Before we begin, it’s important to remember that many kinds of credit cards are available on the market. The fees, purchase rate, transaction rates, and other factors can all differ significantly from one credit card product to the next. Due to this variance, you should always conduct your own research before determining which product will be best for you.  

The information provided is correct as of 11/5/2023.  

Application Requirements 

Afterpay 

• No hard credit enquiry 
• Requires a debit or credit card to link 
• Sign up via the Afterpay app or website 
• Users must be over 18 
• Identity verification via Driver’s Licence, Medicare Card, Aus Passport or International Passport 

Credit cards 

• Typically, a hard credit enquiry 
• Proof of income 
• Employment status, marital status, residential status 
• Identity verification via documents such as a licence or passport 

Which is better? 

A significant difference is the hard credit check on your personal credit file for a credit card vs Afterpay. The credit check itself can affect your credit score, rendering it harder to secure credit if your application fails. That said, it works both ways. Positive payment behaviour with a credit card can improve your credit score and creditworthiness over time as you prove you can meet your obligations. Because there is no Afterpay credit reporting, it has no impact on your credit scores, one way or the other.  

Fees, Interest and Other Costs 

Afterpay 

• Zero signup fee, monthly account fees, or establishment fees 
• Purchases below $40 – one late fee capped at 25% (max $10) 
• Purchases above $40 – late fees capped at 25% of the purchase price, or $68, whichever is less. 

Credit Card 

• Annual fee: $0 – $250 
• Purchase rate: 13.74% – 19.99% 
• Balance transfer: 21.49% 
• Late Payment fees: $5 – $35 
• Cash Withdrawal fee: $0 – $6 
• Over the credit limit fee: $10 – $40 

Which is better? 

As you can see, there are more costs associated with credit card products, although that will depend on the credit card you choose, as low-rate and low-fee, budget-friendly credit card options are available. Plus, if you always pay your card balance in full each statement period, you may also never pay interest – just like Afterpay. The impact of interest on purchases depends on your habits as a credit account holder. If you pay your card bill on time, you can avoid interest stacking up.  

Rewards Programs 

Afterpay 

• Pulse Rewards Program 
• Every eligible, on-time payment earns the user 10 points 
• Afterpay rewards points offer access to exclusive product deals, payment flexibility, early sale access and buy now pay later gift card options 

Credit Cards 

• Frequent flyer rewards 
• Product deals and discounts 
• Concierge services at events 
• Discounts on account fees 
• Extra linked cards 
• Event pre-sale or priority access 
• VIP Seating 
• Account and identification fraud protection 
• Travel insurance packages 
• Warranty extensions 
• Guaranteed pricing schemes 

Which is better? 

Credit cards may be more flexible and varied in rewards, perks and customer satisfaction programmes. Many credit cards focus on reward programme delivery as a priority incentive for customers. A credit card may be more suitable if you seek to boost your frequent flyer points or leverage a rewards programme for insurance or discounts. 

Comparison of Afterpay and Commonwealth Bank Credit Card  

To help you in your comparison, here is how Afterpay stacks up to a Platinum credit card from Australia’s biggest bank, Commonwealth Bank. Keep in mind that this is for demonstrative purposes only, and different credit cards will provide different results.