PayPal vs AFTERPAY
Choose PayPal if you need to accept several payment methods or bill customers repeatedly; choose AFTERPAY if your main goal is to add installment payments to retail checkout. Both offer online and in-store options, but PayPal publishes rates for its U.S. checkout products, while AFTERPAY does not publish a standard U.S. merchant transaction rate.
Last updated October 24, 2026.
At a glance
| Dimension | PayPal | AFTERPAY |
|---|---|---|
| Primary use | Multi-method payment acceptance | Installment payment option |
| Payment methods | Cards, PayPal, Venmo, wallets, Pay Later | Pay in 4 and Pay Monthly |
| Recurring billing | Subscriptions in Checkout and Expanded Checkout | Not available |
| Installment terms | Pay in 4 and Pay Monthly | Four payments over six weeks; monthly option |
| Sales channels | Online, in person, payment links | Online, in store, in app |
| Published U.S. card rate | 2.99% + $0.49 with PayPal Checkout | Not available |
| Published installment merchant rate | 4.99% + $0.49 per U.S. transaction | Not available |
| Account and setup fees | No monthly or setup fee for Checkout | Free sign-up |
| Integrations | E-commerce partners, REST APIs, JavaScript SDK | E-commerce partners, APIs, iOS and Android SDKs |
| International reach | Customers in 200+ markets; 130+ currencies | Cross-border and multi-currency options |
| Published order limits | Not published | Merchant-specific minimum and maximum |
| Support | Help Center, chat, available phone support | Merchant email, phone, integration support |
Scroll the table sideways to compare each row.
Which should you choose?
Choose PayPal if
- Businesses accepting cards alongside PayPal and Venmo
- SaaS businesses billing customers on a recurring schedule
- Sellers needing invoices or payment links
- Businesses selling across multiple markets
Choose AFTERPAY if
- Retailers adding Pay in 4 at checkout
- Stores offering installment payments in person
- Merchants adding installment checkout to an iOS or Android app
- Retailers seeking an installment option alongside existing payments
The verdict
The deciding factor is whether you need a broader payments platform or a dedicated installment option. PayPal is the better fit for businesses collecting card, wallet, invoice, and subscription payments through one provider. AFTERPAY is the better fit for retailers adding Pay in 4 or Pay Monthly to an existing checkout, with settlement to the merchant while the shopper pays over time. Compare the applicable merchant fees and integration terms before choosing.
PayPal vs AFTERPAY: common questions
- Should I use PayPal or AFTERPAY to accept more payment methods?
- PayPal is the better fit for accepting cards, PayPal, Venmo, digital wallets, and installment payments. AFTERPAY focuses on adding installment payments to a merchant's checkout.
- Do PayPal and AFTERPAY both offer buy now, pay later?
- Yes. PayPal offers Pay in 4 and Pay Monthly. AFTERPAY offers four payments over six weeks and a monthly option for eligible purchases.
- Which is a better fit for subscriptions?
- PayPal is the clearer fit for subscriptions: it publishes recurring billing features for PayPal Checkout and Expanded Checkout. AFTERPAY does not publish a comparable merchant recurring-billing product on its U.S. product pages.
- What would a U.S. merchant pay to accept cards?
- PayPal publishes a domestic card rate of 2.99% plus $0.49 per transaction for PayPal Checkout; Expanded Checkout starts at 2.89% plus $0.29. AFTERPAY does not publish a standard U.S. merchant card-processing rate.
- What are the merchant fees for installment payments?
- PayPal publishes a U.S. Pay Later merchant rate of 4.99% plus $0.49 per transaction. AFTERPAY does not publish a standard U.S. merchant transaction rate, so a merchant needs its applicable terms to compare costs.
- Can I use either product in a physical store?
- Yes. PayPal offers point-of-sale and tap-to-pay options. AFTERPAY supports in-store installment purchases using its app or card with a merchant's existing point of sale.
- Can I add either product to my mobile app?
- AFTERPAY publishes iOS and Android SDKs for in-app checkout. PayPal publishes APIs and a JavaScript SDK for customized checkout; the appropriate integration depends on the app and checkout flow.
- Does AFTERPAY set minimum and maximum purchase amounts?
- Yes. AFTERPAY says eligible order amounts have merchant-specific minimums and maximums that can be retrieved through its configuration API. It does not publish one universal U.S. merchant limit.