Do you know that revenue for Affirm Holdings increased by 51.23% year over year to $0.576 billion during the quarter that ended on March 31, 2024? Showing us the rise of BNPL and how it’s changing the marketplace. 

The BNPL industry is too on the rise and is estimated to be $500 billion big. Also, half of the American citizens are interested in BNPL. Thus, making the BNPL market the right time to invest. 

If you are here to know the cost of creating a BNPL app like A Affirm then you are at the right place. Here we will be discussing the cost of development and some additional features that you can have for your app. So, let’s dive in and check the content of this post:

What Is Affirm App?

Offering payment plans for in-store and online purchases, Affirm is one of the biggest buy now, pay later (BNPL) lenders in the United States. With Affirm loans, you may spread out your payments over three, six, or twelve months and pay for your goods over time. There is also an option to pay no interest.

If you can only afford to pay for a crucial buy over time, Affirm is the best option. Make sure you can afford the monthly payments on a BNPL loan before taking one out because it’s simple to overborrow.

Must-Have Features In An App Like Affirm

The Affirm app offers several features designed to provide users with a convenient and flexible way to manage their finances, particularly focusing on financing purchases. Here are some of the key features:

1. Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL)

  • Installment Payments: Users can split their purchases into monthly payments over 3, 6, or 12 months.
  • Zero to Low Interest Rates: Depending on the user’s creditworthiness, interest rates can range from 0% to a fixed percentage, disclosed upfront.
  • Flexible Terms: Various repayment options tailored to the user’s budget and preferences.

2. Transparent Financing

  • No Hidden Fees: Affirm promises no late fees, service fees, or prepayment penalties.
  • Upfront Costs: Users are shown the total cost of the loan, including any interest, before committing to a purchase.

3. Seamless Integration

  • Retail Partnerships: Affirm partners with numerous online and brick-and-mortar retailers, allowing users to select Affirm as a payment method at checkout.
  • Virtual Card: Users can generate a one-time virtual card number to use at checkout with any retailer that accepts Visa.

4. User-Friendly Interface

  • Mobile App: Available for iOS and Android, enabling users to manage their loans, make payments, and track spending on the go.
  • Payment Reminders: Users receive notifications for upcoming payments to help avoid missed payments.

5. Credit Score Impact

  • Soft Credit Check: Applying for financing through Affirm involves a soft credit check, which doesn’t affect the user’s credit score.
  • Credit Reporting: Affirm may report payment history to credit bureaus, potentially helping users build their credit scores with timely payments.

6. Financial Management

  • Spending Limit: Users can view their spending limit based on their creditworthiness.
  • Loan Management: Detailed breakdowns of all active loans, including payment schedules and remaining balances.

Steps To Create An App Like Affirm

Creating an app like Affirm takes several steps that are necessary for the success of the app. 

Market Research and Planning

  • Identify Target Audience: Understand the demographics, needs, and preferences of your potential users.
  • Analyze Competitors: Study existing BNPL apps like Affirm, Klarna, Afterpay, etc., to identify their strengths and weaknesses.
  • Define Unique Selling Proposition (USP): Determine what will set your app apart from competitors.

Legal and Compliance

  • Regulatory Requirements: Ensure compliance with financial regulations and consumer protection laws in the regions you plan to operate.
  • Licensing: Obtain necessary licenses for offering financial services.
  • Privacy Policies: Develop comprehensive privacy and data protection policies.

Business Model and Partnerships

  • Revenue Model: Decide on how your app will generate revenue (e.g., interest on loans, merchant fees, etc.).
  • Merchant Partnerships: Establish partnerships with retailers who will offer your BNPL service to their customers.
  • Banking Partnerships: Partner with financial institutions for underwriting and managing loans.

Design and Prototyping

  • User Experience (UX) Design: Focus on creating a seamless, intuitive, and user-friendly interface.
  • User Interface (UI) Design: Develop the visual aspects of the app, ensuring it’s aesthetically pleasing and consistent with your brand.
  • Prototyping: Create wireframes and interactive prototypes to test the design and functionality before development.

Technology Stack and Development

  • Backend Development: Choose a robust backend framework and database management system to handle user data, transactions, and security.
  • Frontend Development: Develop the app’s frontend using appropriate technologies for iOS, Android, and web platforms.
  • API Integration: Integrate with third-party services for credit checks, payment processing, fraud detection, and customer support.

Core Features Development

  • User Registration and Authentication: Implement secure sign-up/login mechanisms, possibly including multi-factor authentication.
  • Loan Application and Approval: Develop algorithms for assessing creditworthiness and approving loans.
  • Installment Payment Plans: Create flexible repayment options and schedules.
  • Payment Processing: Integrate with payment gateways to handle transactions.
  • Notifications: Implement a system for sending payment reminders and other important notifications.
  • Customer Support: Develop in-app chat, email, and phone support options.

Security and Compliance

  • Data Encryption: Ensure all sensitive data is encrypted both in transit and at rest.
  • Fraud Prevention: Implement measures to detect and prevent fraudulent activities.
  • Compliance Checks: Regularly audit the app for compliance with financial regulations and data protection laws.

Testing

  • Unit Testing: Test individual components for functionality.
  • Integration Testing: Ensure different modules work together seamlessly.
  • User Acceptance Testing (UAT): Gather feedback from a group of end-users to identify any issues.
  • Load Testing: Test the app’s performance under high-traffic conditions.

Launch and Deployment

  • App Stores: Submit the app to Google Play and Apple App Store, ensuring it meets all submission guidelines.
  • Marketing: Launch marketing campaigns to attract users and merchants.
  • Feedback Loop: Encourage user feedback to identify areas for improvement.

Post-Launch Support and Maintenance

  • Regular Updates: Continuously update the app with new features, performance improvements, and security patches.
  • Customer Support: Provide ongoing support to resolve user issues and maintain satisfaction.
  • Analytics: Monitor app performance and user behavior to make data-driven decisions.

Cost To Create An App Like Affirm

The cost to create an app like Affirm depends on various factors such as:

Scope and Complexity of Features

  • Core Features: Implementing essential features like user registration, loan application, installment payment plans, and payment processing.
  • Advanced Features: Adding more sophisticated functionalities such as credit scoring algorithms, AI-based fraud detection, and personalized financial advice.

Design and User Experience

  • UI/UX Design: Costs vary depending on the complexity and quality of the design. A highly polished, user-friendly interface requires more time and expertise.
  • Prototyping and Testing: Creating prototypes and conducting user testing to refine the user experience.

Development Team

  • Team Composition: The cost depends on the size and expertise of the development team, including project managers, developers, designers, QA testers, and data scientists.
  • Location of Team: Development costs vary significantly based on the geographical location of the team. Developers in North America or Europe tend to be more expensive than those in Asia or Eastern Europe.

Technology Stack

  • Backend Development: Choosing a robust backend framework and scalable infrastructure can impact costs.
  • Frontend Development: Developing the app for multiple platforms (iOS, Android, web) increases costs.
  • Third-Party Integrations: Costs for integrating services like credit scoring, payment gateways, fraud detection, and customer support.

Security and Compliance

  • Data Protection: Implementing advanced security measures such as encryption, secure authentication, and compliance with regulations like GDPR, CCPA, and financial industry standards.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring the app meets all legal and regulatory requirements, which might involve legal consultations and additional development efforts.

Testing and Quality Assurance

  • Manual and Automated Testing: Comprehensive testing to ensure the app is bug-free and performs well under various conditions.
  • Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD): Implementing CI/CD pipelines for streamlined testing and deployment processes.

Post-Launch Support and Maintenance

  • Ongoing Maintenance: Regular updates, bug fixes, and performance improvements.
  • Customer Support: Providing support services to handle user queries and issues.

Marketing and User Acquisition

  • Marketing Strategy: Costs associated with launching marketing campaigns to attract users and merchants.
  • User Acquisition: Expenses related to acquiring users through various channels like social media, paid ads, and partnerships.

Infrastructure and Hosting

  • Cloud Services: Hosting the app on cloud platforms like AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure, which involves costs related to servers, databases, and other infrastructure components.
  • Scalability: Ensuring the infrastructure can scale to accommodate growing user numbers.

Miscellaneous Costs

  • Licensing Fees: Costs for any necessary software licenses or third-party services.
  • Legal and Consulting Fees: Expenses for legal advice, financial consulting, and other professional services.

Keeping all the above-listed factors in mind Appic Softwares can build an app similar to Affirm for $15,000 to $50,000. The cost usually varies due to the above-listed factors. 

Conclusion

Now, in the end, we hope that through this post you were able to gain knowledge on how much it costs to create an app like Affirm. 

Moreover, if you are looking for a Fintech app development company that can assist you with all your requirements and help you create a future-proof application then you must check out Appic Softwares. 

So, what are you waiting for?

Reach out to us!