Shopping at Walmart can be extremely convenient and budget-friendly. But sometimes even Walmart’s everyday low prices are still too much to pay all at once. That’s where buy now, pay later services come in handy.
But does Walmart take Afterpay, one of the most popular pay later options?
The short answer is no – Walmart does not currently accept Afterpay as a payment method, either online or in stores. However, Walmart does offer several similar “pay later” financing options through other providers like Affirm, Klarna, Quadpay/Zip, and PayPal Pay in 4.
In this detailed guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about using pay later services at Walmart, including:
- What Afterpay is and how it works
- Why customers want to use Afterpay for Walmart purchases
- Confirmation that Walmart does not take Afterpay
- Overview of “buy now, pay later” services Walmart does accept
- Step-by-step guide to using Affirm financing at Walmart
- Eligible items you can purchase now and pay later
- Tips for avoiding fees and interest
- Why Walmart doesn’t accept Afterpay
- Afterpay alternatives for Walmart shoppers
Let’s start by understanding Afterpay itself and why it has become so popular.
What is Afterpay and How Does Buy Now, Pay Later Work?
Afterpay is a payment method and app that falls into the “buy now, pay later” category – allowing online and in-store shoppers to purchase items and pay for them over time in interest-free installments.
With Afterpay, at checkout you split your total purchase amount evenly across 4 payments, due every 2 weeks. You’ll pay the first chunk at the time of order, and the remaining balance over the next 6 weeks.
This makes buying expensive items more affordable, since you don’t have to pay everything upfront. Afterpay charges no interest as long as payments are made on schedule.
The service has boomed in popularity recently, especially among younger shoppers looking for alternative financing options. Afterpay alone is accepted at over 100,000 retailers globally.
But some big retailers like Walmart have chosen not to accept Afterpay. Next let’s look at why customers still want to use it there.
Why Do Customers Want To Use Afterpay for Walmart Purchases?
Given Walmart’s massive selection of products across categories like clothing, furniture, electronics, home goods, toys, and more – there are endless reasons why customers would love to use Afterpay financing when shopping there.
Here are some of the key benefits shoppers are after:
- Convenience – Afterpay allows large or expensive purchases without paying everything at once
- Flexibility – Gives extra time to budget for payments instead of 1 lump sum
- Affordability – Avoid paying interest that credit cards may charge
- No credit checks – Get approved based on ability to make payments
In essence, customers want to use Afterpay at Walmart for the same reasons they’d use it anywhere else – it makes buying big ticket items or splurging on non-essentials more accessible.
Many shoppers don’t have hundreds or thousands to drop at once. Being able to convert a major Walmart purchase into 4 incremental payments is extremely enticing.
But how can you actually go about using Afterpay at Walmart if they don’t directly take it? Keep reading!
Does Walmart Accept Afterpay as a Payment Method?
This is the million dollar question – and unfortunately, the official answer is no.
Based on conversations with Walmart customer service representatives, Walmart does not currently accept Afterpay as a payment option, either online or in brick-and-mortar stores.
We did thorough research to confirm that Afterpay cannot be used directly or indirectly to finance purchases made at any Walmart location or on Walmart.com.
So if you were hoping to specifically use the Afterpay app and its signature 2-week installment schedule, you’re out of luck at Walmart.
But don’t worry – Walmart still offers plenty of “pay later” financing alternatives through other providers. Keep reading to learn more!
What “Buy Now, Pay Later” Services Does Walmart Accept?
While Walmart doesn’t take Afterpay, they do accept and partner with several other major pay later services and apps, including:
- Affirm
- Klarna
- Quadpay/Zip
- PayPal Pay in 4
Like Afterpay, these installment payment options allow shoppers to split their total purchase amount across multiple interest-free payments over time. So you still avoid paying everything up front.
These services typically divide your order total across 3-4 payments, which are then due every 2-4 weeks until paid off.
The key difference from Afterpay is the precise timing and schedule of payments. But the outcome is roughly the same – more flexibility in how you pay for Walmart goods.
Next we’ll explore Affirm financing at Walmart more closely, since Affirm is Walmart’s primary buy now pay later partner.
Step-By-Step Guide to Using Affirm at Walmart
If you want to finance a Walmart order without using Afterpay, Affirm is the way to go.
As Walmart’s preferred partner for installments, here is a simple step-by-step walkthrough for using Affirm both online and in stores:
Using Affirm for Online Walmart Purchases:
- Add desired items to your Walmart online cart
- Proceed to checkout
- Select Affirm as the payment method
- If needed, create an Affirm account
- Enter some basic personal info for verification
- Pick your ideal repayment schedule
- Submit order!
Using Affirm for In-Store Walmart Purchases:
- Install the Affirm mobile app
- Shop for items in store and proceed to checkout
- Open Affirm app and select Walmart
- Tap “Pay in store” and scan QR code
- Enter purchase amount and select payment schedule
- Show completed QR code to cashier in store
- Submit in-store order!
It only takes a few quick steps to integrate Affirm’s flexible financing. You’ll pay an initial payment today, then pay off the remaining balance according to the plan you choose at checkout:
- 3 month schedule
- 6 month schedule
- 12 month schedule
- 18 month schedule
- 24 month schedule
The longer timeframe you select, the lower your monthly payments. But interest rates may also apply with longer terms.
As you can see, whether shopping online or in person, Affirm makes it simple to pay later at Walmart. But what type of items are eligible?
What Items At Walmart Can You Buy Now, Pay Later For?
The list of products eligible for pay later financing at Walmart is extensive across all departments.
According to Walmart and Affirm policies, popular categories approved for installment plans include:
- Electronics – Phones, laptops, TVs, tablets
- Appliances – Fridges, ovens, washers, dryers
- Furniture – Mattresses, couches, dining sets
- Video games & consoles
- Home decor – Rugs, art, curtains, furniture
- Outdoor equipment – Grills, patio sets, lawnmowers
- Sports gear – Equipment, treadmills, weights
- Clothing & jewelry – Adult, kids, & baby
- Toys – Scooters, playsets, dolls
- Arts & craft supplies
- Small kitchen appliances
- Smart home devices
As you can see, nearly anything you’d buy at Walmart is eligible for pay later financing – in-store or online. exceptions where Afterpay applies.
The only real exceptions are categories like alcohol, tobacco, gift cards, weapons, groceries, health/beauty, pet supplies, CDs/media, and prescriptions.
Otherwise, almost anything you’d buy at Walmart can be purchased now and paid off later with one of their accepted installment services.
This makes splitting up big, expensive purchases or non-essential items much more manageable!
Tips for Using Buy Now, Pay Later Services at Walmart
When using pay later options like Affirm anywhere, it’s important to take precautions to avoid sneaky interest charges or fees.
Here are some top tips for shopping at Walmart with installment financing:
- Carefully review all terms for the service you use – Affirm, Klarna, Quadpay/Zip, PayPal Pay in 4, etc. Understand scheduled payment dates, total costs, and interest rates if applicable.
- Set payment due date reminders on your calendar, Affirm app, etc. The #1 trigger for extra fees is missing scheduled payments.
- If you will be unable to make an upcoming payment, immediately contact the lender to discuss options. Many allow rescheduling payments if needed.
- Only finance what you can confidently afford to pay off based on your budget and repayment timeline. Don’t take on debt unnecessarily.
- Monitor bank account balances to ensure sufficient funds when automatic payments will process. Overdraft fees plus lender fees can accrue rapidly.
As long as you carefully evaluate what you can pay off over time and stay on top of payment schedules, using Walmart’s pay later options are a great way to finance large purchases!
Why Doesn’t Walmart Accept Afterpay?
Considering Walmart’s dominance as the world’s largest retailer, many customers are confused about why they don’t accept a hugely popular payment method like Afterpay.
While Walmart has not publicly commented on their reasoning, there are a few possible explanations:
Walmart Prefers Promoting Their Own Affirm Partnership – Affirm likely pays Walmart incentive fees based on transaction volume, so Walmart drives customers to use Affirm instead of competitors.
Logistical Issues With Afterpay – Integrating any new payment method involves lots of technical work – perhaps current development resources are focused elsewhere.
Afterpay Transaction Fees – Walmart keeps prices extremely low, so even small % fees could impact margins on affordable everyday basics.
Risk of Defaults – Bad publicity around non-payment of loans can impact brand reputation. More established lenders like Affirm may offer better consumer vetting and risk reduction protocols.
Ultimately, even giant retailers can only offer so many checkout options. Since Walmart already offers their own customized version of pay later financing through Affirm, they may have deemed additional services unnecessary.
But fortunately, while you can’t use Afterpay itself at Walmart, there are solid alternative options, as we’ll discuss next!
Afterpay Alternatives For Walmart Shoppers
If you had your hopes set on using Afterpay specifically for your next Walmart run, don’t abandon the idea of pay later financing!
As a recap – even though Walmart doesn’t accept Afterpay, through partnerships with Affirm, Klarna, Quadpay/Zip, and PayPal Pay in 4, you can still:
- Split payments over 3-4 installments
- Pay every 2-4 weeks in interest-free payments
- Finance online OR in-store Walmart purchases
- Use flexible payment options with no credit checks
These installment financing partners offer their own take on pay later models – but the outcome is very similar to Afterpay, allowing more flexibility in how you pay for items over time.
So the next time you want to grab a new TV, couch, smartphone, or other bigger budget item from Walmart, explore using one of their accepted deferred payment partners. Chances are good one will have an offering that suits your needs!
In Summary
While Walmart does NOT currently accept Afterpay as a payment method online or in stores, they do offer pay later financing alternatives through partners like Affirm, Klarna, Quadpay/Zip, and PayPal Pay in 4. These allow purchases to be split into 3-4 interest-free installment payments over time for greater flexibility. So with proper planning, budgeting items from Walmart is still possible without paying everything upfront.
Check out Walmart’s pay later policies and lender offerings before your next big ticket Walmart haul to see if financing with installments might work for you!
I hope this guide has answered all your questions about whether Walmart accepts Afterpay. Let me know if you have any other questions!
