18 Jul 2025
  

Apps Like Afterpay: Cost, Features, & Development Guide 2025

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Rupanksha

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BNPL apps such as Afterpay have recently become very popular. The concept is not new but has gained traction in the market. According to research, 50% of all consumers have used the BNPL option during the past year. In actuality, as much as 67% of customers prefer to use buy now and pay later services, apps like Afterpay, in preference to credit cards.

Furthermore, as all significant e-commerce platforms provide a BNPL option, it is estimated that up to 53% of customers choose this option. Unsurprisingly, purchasing electronic products is among the most significant costs we face today. According to statistics, 47% of customers use services like Afterpay to buy similar items. This is 38% of buy-now and pay-later customers who utilize BNPL at least once per month or longer.

These numbers show this revolutionary payment system’s immense market potential and rapid growth. Unsurprisingly, this trend has drawn the attention of many startups and businesses all over the United States of America and other regions of the world. Today, plenty of people are looking to develop their very own Afterpay clone mobile app. If you’re one of them, you’re in the right spot.

This blog will examine everything you need to know about creating your application, such as Afterpay, and the most basic details about the BNPL platform.

What is the Afterpay App?

Afterpay App

Afterpay has become extremely popular, particularly in Australia. It is one of the top BNPL platforms. When customers choose Afterpay as their preferred payment method when they purchase online, they can split their purchase into four equally sized installments due over eight weeks. This option is appealing because it is fee-free when the payments are completed punctually within the stipulated time frame.

With its easy-to-shop-and-pay payment method, Afterpay has significantly transformed the shopping experience and accommodates the needs of consumers who want more flexible payment options.

Why Are BNPL Apps Becoming Popular?

A myriad of factors for merchants and consumers fuels the growth of BNPL apps:

#For Consumers

1. Convenience

This means you can buy something now without worrying about your ability to repay it immediately, which is essential for those with poor cash flow.

2. Low or No Interest

Certain BNPL services permit consumers to pay their bills without interest if they make them within the specified timeframe. These services are less expensive than credit cards with high interest rates.

3. Growth of Online Shopping

In particular, following the pandemic in the last few years, the number of people who use BNPL to buy items has risen to 51%.

4. Better Financial Control

BNPL helps customers conveniently arrange and pay the correct amount so they don’t get deeper into debt.

#For Merchants

5. Higher Sales

Retailers who provide BNPL generally have more sales because consumers buy more products and services if they can pay later.

6. Increased Conversions

Integrating BNPL can result in an improvement in the abandonment rate and an increase in sales of 20-30 percentage points.

7. New Customers

BNPL is a magnet for all kinds of youths and consumers who may not have access to it.

Benefits of Apps Like Afterpay For Businesses in Fintech

BNPL Power

Learn about the transformational effects of apps such as Afterpay within the fintech space by examining the benefits they can provide to companies. Explore how these revolutionary technologies revolutionize the financial sector, improve operational efficiency, and boost customer satisfaction.

1. Expanding Customer Base

Incorporating an exclusive BNPL application can broaden the reach of customers for Fintech companies. It can serve more people by providing flexible payment options that appeal to customers looking for alternatives to traditional payment methods. Through the option to break payments into more manageable installments, Fintech companies can attract customers who may have been swayed. The increased customer base is not just a boost in the market’s penetration but also broadens the customer base, which results in more robust business models.

2. Augmenting Sales Volume

Utilizing a specialized BNPL application for your company can dramatically increase sales for Fintech companies. The lure of deferred payment allows customers to make more essential purchases, which increases average transaction values. The spending increase directly affects the revenue generated and profits for Fintech companies. Additionally, offering BNPL options could turn skeptical buyers who would have otherwise walked away from their carts into confirmed buyers, increasing overall sales numbers and growth potential.

3. Enhancing Customer Loyalty

Creating your own BNPL application for your fintech company and integrating AI and machine learning can help build stronger customer relationships by offering simple and flexible payment options. Dividing payments across time increases the customer’s trust and satisfaction. Happy customers are more likely to become regular customers, leading to a higher rate of retention and brand recognition for Fintech businesses. This loyalty does not just translate into higher sales but also results in positive word-of-mouth referrals, which attract new customers, helping to accelerate the company’s growth.

4. Minimizing Cart Abandonment

A specific BNPL application for your fintech business can reduce abandoned carts for Fintech companies. Research has shown that giving customers the option of splitting payments can encourage them to finish their transactions, especially when they make larger purchases. By providing customers with various payment options, companies can significantly reduce the possibility of abandoning their carts, which results in increased sales and maintaining the growth of their business.

5. Competitive Advantage

Utilizing a customized BNPL application can give your Fintech firms an edge in a competitive marketplace. With innovative payment options like BNPL, firms can present themselves as cutting-edge, customer-centric, and able businesses. This distinctive feature distinguishes them from traditional banking services and attracts new customers while enhancing their position in the market.

6. Improved Cash Flow

A custom BNPL application can help your Fintech company maximize its cash flow. These apps guarantee timely customer payments and allow the business to manage its finances better. By providing a structured payment plan, companies can forecast revenue and plan expenses more accurately, resulting in excellent financial stability and improved cash flow management.

7. Lowering Default Risks

A specific BNPL application for your Fintech company can help reduce the chance of default. These apps usually conduct thorough assessments of risk and credit checks on clients, reducing the possibility of a default in payment. Furthermore, the ability to establish spending limits and payment schedules minimizes the chance of financial debts, protecting companies from potential losses.

8. Encouraging Higher Purchase Frequency

If you have a dedicated BNPL application for your fintech development company, it could help customers spend more often by offering them the ability to buy items without complete payment. This increase in purchasing frequency directly affects Fintech company’s revenue streams. The ease of deferred payments encourages customers to make more purchases or purchase more expensive items and leads to an increase in sales frequency as well as the overall growth of the business.

9. Strengthening Brand Perception

Adopting a custom BNPL application can enhance the appearance of Fintech firms. Customers view companies that provide flexible payment options as more contemporary, customer-centric, and adaptable. This positive perception of a brand’s image attracts new customers and increases the trust and loyalty of existing customers. A better image of the brand helps the company distinguish itself in a crowded market, improving customer acquisition and helping to sustain business growth.

10. Facilitating Financial Inclusion

A dedicated BNPL application can aid financial integration by making purchases accessible to people facing financial difficulties. Your fintech business can help create an inclusive and diverse customer base. With various payment choices, companies allow a greater variety of customers to avail themselves of the products or services they need, increasing economic empowerment and promoting the social inclusion of all customers.

app idea like Afterpay

Guide To Develop An App Like Afterpay

BNPL app

The Afterpay fintech app development process adheres to strict standards, which include rigorous planning development, iterative design, solid development, and thorough testing to ensure a smooth user experience and high-quality performance. Here are a few essential steps to develop an app that is similar to Afterpay

1. Market Research and Analysis

Conduct a thorough market study to determine what the customer is looking for, what’s popular in the BNPL business, and what the competition is doing. Discover the most sought-after characteristics of the target demographics, as well as the potential obstacles. Furthermore, you must monitor consumer behavior, preferences, and purchase habits to optimize the application’s features and marketing techniques.

Consider conducting surveys or focus group discussions to collect feedback from potential users. Incorporating their opinions can also enhance the app’s value.

2. Choosing Features and Functionalities

Based on market research, determine the essential features and capabilities. These include account administration, transaction history, payment processing, installment management, user authentication, and interaction with other eCommerce platforms. Focus on features that meet customers’ requirements and set the app apart from competitors.

To increase involvement and keep users engaged, include features such as social sharing and rewards programs, budgeting tools, and personalized recommendations. Ensure your feature’s flexible and scalable development meets changing market needs and upcoming changes.

3. UX/UI Design

To enhance the user experience, design an interface that’s easy to navigate and user-friendly. Create wireframes and prototypes to assess the app’s style, user-friendliness, usability, and flow. Use Afterpay’s branding guidelines to develop a uniform design. Test the design’s usability using the intended target audience to get their feedback and make incremental changes.

To ensure accessibility and ease of use, create a seamless and consistent user experience across various screens and devices. Additionally, focus on mobile devices and user-friendly navigation to speed up the checkout process and increase user engagement.

4. Development

Develop the application’s front-end user interfaces, back-end system architecture, and system integration. Choose the appropriate technologies and frameworks according to the platform’s scalability, security, and compatibility requirements. Apply agile development methods to facilitate flexible and efficient project management.

Review routine tests, code reviews, or iteration cycles to ensure the quality of code and quickly correct any issues. In addition, continuous pipelines for integration and deployment into the system should be considered to guarantee stability and scalability throughout development and release.

5. Security Measures Implementation

Data encryption, secure authentication methods, and regular security audits are examples of businesses taking robust security measures.

Utilize biometrics and two-factor authentication technology to enhance user account security. Install monitoring systems and algorithms for detecting anomalies to improve the security of your app against cyberattacks. This will help you detect and deal with any suspicious behavior immediately.

6. Testing and Quality Assurance

Conduct thorough testing to find and fix bugs, usability issues, and security flaws—test for usability, functionality, and security to meet the app’s quality standards.

Prioritize testing user acceptance (UAT) to collect feedback from real users and verify the app’s usability and function in a real-world setting. Continuous development cycles must continually enhance testing techniques to ensure the highest standards throughout the app.

7. Deployment and Launch

Get your app ready for launch by creating marketing materials, activating it for launch, and enhancing your listing on the App Store. Then, start the app through the Google Play Store and App Store and track the performance indicators.

Keep track of the performance of key metrics of performance (KPIs), such as engagement with users, downloads, and retention rates, following the launch, using analytics tools to assist the data-driven decision-making process and continue to improve strategies.

8. Post-launch support and Iteration

We will continue to provide maintenance, upgrades, and support to address user feedback, resolve issues, and introduce new features. Based on user input, market data, and the latest trends, we will continuously improve the app’s user experience and functionality.

Create channels for user feedback, including forums for community members, in-app feedback forms, and issues with customer support, to gather user feedback effectively and prioritize feature updates. Employ agile development techniques to rapidly implement incremental updates and improvements into the app, ensuring it remains current with users’ evolving demands and industry trends.

How do Buy-Now-Pay-Later Apps Make Money?

Afterpay Make Money

Strategies for revenue generation and business focus on BNPL applications, which offer clients various payment plans. Here are a few common examples:

1. Merchant Fees

Some BNPL applications set a commission for merchants who want to advertise their services on the app. It could be a percentage of the sale or a set amount charged for this fee. Retailers benefit from higher conversion rates and more average order values, which BNPL options can provide.

2. Interest and Late Payment Fees

Specific BNPL applications can offer their services at an additional cost to customers, including interest and charges for not meeting the monthly installment payment. This could be an excellent option for earning the necessary revenue for the particular application. However, the interest rates are lower than those of credit cards, so customers who cannot pay for the purchase can select the BNPL alternative.

3. Consumers’ Fees for Premium Plans

Certain BNPL apps have an upgrade option that allows users to pay a monthly subscription fee to receive other benefits, such as longer payment terms, higher credit limits, or lower interest fees. This model helps determine the flow of routine transactions that generate monthly or recurring revenue.

4. Data Monetization

BNPL platforms can gather valuable consumer data, such as consumers’ habits and creditworthiness. They can profit from this data by selling insights to financial institutions, retailers, and marketers. However, consumer privacy concerns and data protection laws must be considered when developing this method.

5. Collaborations with Financial Institutions

BNPL apps may partner with financial institutions to provide additional services like loans or credit cards. These partnerships can involve revenue-sharing agreements or commissions on successful customer referrals.

6. Advertising and Sponsored Content

BNPL applications can offer advertising opportunities in their platform, such as marketing specific merchants or offering sponsored content. Retailers can pay for advertising to increase the customers they attract or their sales.

7. Transaction Fees from Consumers

Specific BNPL applications charge users transaction fees each time they use the service, particularly for small or low-risk transactions. The cost can be a set amount or a percentage of the transactions.

Cost to Develop an App Like Afterpay

Build a BNPL App

Creating an application like Afterpay can range from $20,000 to $300,000 or more. The price is typically based on many factors, including the app’s complexity, selected features and capabilities, the team’s location, and more.

In reality, developing an application with limited features will be less expensive than creating one with sophisticated features, such as sophisticated algorithms or chatbots. Let’s look at the many factors influencing the price of developing alternatives to Afterpay.

1. Chosen Features

Transaction history, account administration, transaction history, and the payment timetable affect cost. To increase user satisfaction, options like real-time push notifications, customized offers, live chat support, and more must be included. This will improve the user experience and impact the price.

2. Design

Design is another important factor. A well-designed UX (UI) and user experience (UX) require experienced designers and extensive testing, which could add costs.

3. Chosen Platform

The choice of development platform (iOS, Android, web) impacts costs, as each platform has its demands and complexity.

Integrating external systems

Integration with other systems, such as payment gateways or customer service platforms, further complicates development and could increase costs.

4. Security Needs

Strict security requirements to safeguard users’ data and comply with regulations can increase development costs.

5. Developer’s Location

The location of the team’s office affects labor costs. Hiring a mobile app development company in areas with higher living expenses typically results in higher wages, which can impact the project’s budget.

Tips to Reduce BNPL App Development Costs

Here are some tips to lower the cost associated with BNPL developing apps. These guidelines will ensure that your app meets your company’s needs and adds value to your clients.

1. Hire a Trustworthy App Developer

Choose a knowledgeable BNPL service provider with an excellent record of producing high-quality work. This will reduce the possibility of costly mistakes and ensure that the job is finished on time and to a very high quality.

2. Clearly Define  Your Project Specifications

A clear and concise project outline helps reduce the possibility of scope creep. It also ensures that the project team understands precisely what they need to know, reducing the chance of costly delays and revisions.

3. Partner with Remote Developers

If you want to collaborate remotely, you can often find lower-cost alternatives. These can include working with mobile app developers in USA who are from different regions of the world, where the costs of living and labor are lower.

4. Conceptualize with MVP

By testing and prototyping early, you can identify problems and make adjustments before they become costly, reducing the total development cost.

5. Plan for Scaling

From the beginning, create a plan for scalability to incorporate more features or users later. This will lessen the need to make costly changes and upgrades in the future.

AI app development

Conclusion

BNPL App Like Afterpay

The BNPL market is ever-changing, and developing an application such as Afterpay is a rewarding experience that requires careful planning, technical expertise, and knowledge of your intended audience.

In this article, you’ve learned the intricacies of this sector that will assist you in developing a unique BNPL application like Afterpay. Make sure you define the essential features of your application and that it is seamless with payment systems, ensuring safety and security. Every detail is critical when developing an efficient and friendly BNPL platform.

While the process is complicated, it’s important to divide it into manageable steps and collaborate with a seasoned developer aware of your project requirements. Create your application to provide users with user-friendly, unique features that promote ethical fiscal methods.

Lastly, work to improve your app continuously to ensure its long-term profitability. Be attentive to user feedback, keep up with market trends, and be prepared to adjust your app to keep pace with your customers’ changing requirements.

Ready to bring your BNPL app idea to life? Get in touch with Techugo today, and let’s build something extraordinary!

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