Affirm alternative for deposits and payment plans
Affirm decides who can use it and on what terms. If your customers just need to spread a deposit and balance across the weeks before your date, SPLTR does that on your own Stripe account — free for the business.
| SPLTR | Affirm |
|---|---|
| Who sets the schedule | |
| You do: deposit today, then weekly, every two weeks or monthly, finishing by the date you choose. | Affirm does: it offers the shopper its own plan options. |
| When you get the money | |
| As each instalment is charged, straight into your own Stripe account. | Up front, at the sale, less Affirm's fee. |
| What it costs the business | |
| Nothing. A flat $1 plan fee sits inside each instalment the customer pays, and you can set it higher and keep the difference. | A merchant fee on each sale, set in your agreement with Affirm. |
| If a payment fails | |
| Smart retries on the customer's card. If a payment still fails, it is yours to sort out with your customer — you hold the plan. | Affirm's to chase — you were already paid. |
| Checks on the customer | |
| None. It is your customer's own card on your schedule. | Affirm decides at checkout whether the shopper can use it. |
Affirm's terms vary by country and by agreement — check theirs for your business.
When Affirm is the better choice
You sell high-ticket goods and want the full amount at the sale.
Your customers expect long plans offered at checkout.
You never want to deal with a failed payment yourself.
When SPLTR is the better choice
Your customer pays a deposit now and the rest before the event or start date.
You want every customer who asks for a plan to be able to have one, with no approval step.
You want to set your own plan fee and keep the difference, rather than pay one.
See your own plan
Put in your price, the deposit and the date it has to be paid by — the payment plan calculator gives every date and amount.