No, Amazon Doesn‘t Accept Afterpay in 2023 – Here‘s Why and What To Do Instead
As an experienced Amazon seller, one of the first questions I get from customers is: "Can I use Afterpay on Amazon?"
The short answer is no, Amazon does not currently accept Afterpay in 2023.
I know, it‘s disappointing if you were hoping to use Afterpay installment plans on Amazon. But don‘t worry – in this detailed guide, I‘ll explain everything you need to know about why Amazon doesn‘t take Afterpay and what buy now, pay later alternatives you can use instead as an Amazon shopper.
Let‘s dive in!
Why Hasn‘t Amazon Adopted Afterpay?
As one of the leading experts in Amazon account management and ecommerce analytics, I have some insights into why Amazon hasn‘t jumped on the Afterpay bandwagon:
1. Amazon doesn‘t rely on BNPL to drive sales
With over 197 million Prime members as of 2022, Amazon simply doesn‘t need to offer Afterpay to boost sales. Their subscription model already has customers locked in to regular spending on Amazon.
2. Concerns about profit impacts
Afterpay charges retailers a merchant fee. For high-volume sellers like Amazon, these fees could quickly eat into margins.
3. Logistical challenges
Integrating Afterpay‘s systems with Amazon‘s complex ecommerce infrastructure would require significant development resources. The costs likely outweigh the benefits.
4. Focus on growing their own programs
Proprietary payment options like the Amazon Store Card and monthly payment plans on Amazon devices are strategic priorities over third-party services like Afterpay.
5. Risks of increased returns and fraud
With BNPL options, some sellers see higher return rates and fraud. Amazon is wary of taking on these risks.
So in summary, while Afterpay is growing exponentially, Amazon is playing it cautiously for now.
The Explosive Growth of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL)
Before we look at alternatives to Afterpay on Amazon, let‘s examine why BNPL has become such a disruptor in retail:
BNPL user count is skyrocketing: Globally, BNPL users are projected to reach 366 million by 2025, up from just 33 million in 2020.
Gen Z and millennials are leading adoption: Over 50% of BNPL users are 18-34 years old, per Insider Intelligence data.
Afterpay leads US market share: Afterpay accounts for nearly 50% of US BNPL transaction volume.
Average order values are higher: The average Afterpay transaction is $150, compared to $70 with credit cards, according to PYMNTS research.
With BNPL usage growing rapidly among younger shoppers and high-value orders, retailers have a strong incentive to offer installment payment options. But Amazon marches to the beat of its own drummer – and has yet to add Afterpay.
Next, let‘s look at what BNPL alternatives exist on Amazon today.
Buy Now, Pay Later Options Available on Amazon
Although direct Afterpay integration isn‘t available, there are a few ways shoppers can split up payments on Amazon purchases:
| BNPL Option | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Amazon Store Card Financing | 0% APR financing offers available for cardholders on select big purchases |
| Monthly Payments on Amazon Devices | Pay for Kindles, Fire tablets, Echo speakers + more over 3-24 months |
| Pay in 4 with Klarna | Break payment into 4 interest-free installments paid every 2 weeks |
| Pay in 4 with Zip | Pay in 4 payments over 6 weeks with virtual Zip card |
| Amazon Layaway (Temporary) | Layaway available for holiday purchases on limited items |
Out of these alternatives, I recommend Klarna as the best Afterpay-like experience on Amazon right now for a few reasons:
Seamless integration: Klarna‘s Pay in 4 option seamlessly integrates with Amazon‘s checkout process using their virtual card number.
No interest: The 4 payments are spread out evenly with 0% APR.
Fast approval: Shoppers can get instant approval for up to $1500 in spending limit.
Flexible schedules: You aren‘t locked into rigid bi-weekly or monthly payments like other options.
The main catch is that Klarna Pay in 4 is only available as an app-based service, while Afterpay is integrated directly into retailer checkout flows online and in-store.
But for shoppers who want BNPL flexibility on Amazon in 2023, Klarna is the best bet in my view as an ecommerce expert.
Top Online Retailers Accepting Afterpay
Given that Amazon doesn‘t offer Afterpay yet, where can shoppers use it online? According to Afterpay, these categories have the most online stores accepting Afterpay:
| Afterpay Online Stores by Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Apparel | Forever21, Adidas, Levi‘s, Ray-Ban |
| Beauty | Sephora, Ulta, MAC Cosmetics |
| Home & Lifestyle | Bed Bath & Beyond, Crate and Barrel |
| Electronics | HP, Bose, Adorama |
| Jewelry | Pandora, Kay Jewelers |
Based on my analysis of top online retailers, these are the 10 most popular stores accepting Afterpay right now:
- Sephora
- Forever21
- Ulta Beauty
- Urban Outfitters
- Ray-Ban
- Pandora
- Adidas
- Bose
- Bed Bath & Beyond
- HP
So for online shoppers who want access to Afterpay, these merchants offer the ability to use installment plans at checkout. But Amazon is noticeably absent from this list – for now.
The Bottom Line
As a seasoned Amazon seller, I hope this insider’s guide has helped explain:
Why Amazon doesn‘t currently accept Afterpay – they simply don‘t need it to drive sales, and other payment options are higher priority.
Growth stats showing BNPL‘s disruptive rise – led by Gen Z/millennials and higher average order values.
What BNPL alternatives exist on Amazon – the best option is Klarna‘s Pay in 4 based on its seamless integration.
Which top online retailers accept Afterpay – spanning categories like apparel, beauty, electronics, and home goods.
While Amazon not accepting Afterpay is disappointing for supporters of flexible payments, other installment options are available. And thousands of non-Amazon online stores do accept Afterpay today.
The BNPL space is constantly evolving, so it remains to be seen if Amazon will eventually add Afterpay down the road. I‘ll be sure to update you if I ever see Afterpay appear as a payment method on Amazon!
