How-to's · Shopify · 2 min read
How to Set Up Afterpay on Shopify
Short answer
Afterpay's Shopify integration requires a US store address and USD store currency. Apply for an Afterpay merchant account, add Afterpay as a payment method in Settings > Payments following Afterpay's Shopify guide, choose automatic payment capture, then add on-site messaging so shoppers see installment pricing on product pages.
Buy now, pay later (BNPL) options split a purchase into smaller payments. For shoppers, that makes a $160 jacket feel like four payments of $40. For merchants, it can lift conversion on mid-priced items. Afterpay, now part of Block and branded Cash App Afterpay in the US, is one of the most recognized BNPL providers. Here's how to add it to Shopify.
Check eligibility first
According to Afterpay's developer documentation for Shopify:
- Your Shopify store address country must be the United States (Settings > General).
- Your store currency must be US dollars (Settings > General > Store defaults / Standards and formats).
- Your payment capture setting must be "Automatically at checkout" or "Automatically when order is fulfilled" (Settings > Payments). Manual capture has its own setup.
Afterpay also reviews merchants, and some product categories aren't eligible. If your store sells restricted items, check Afterpay's merchant terms before applying.
Step 1: Apply for an Afterpay merchant account
Go to Afterpay's business site and sign up as a merchant. You'll provide business details, bank information and your store URL. Once approved, you'll receive credentials and access to the merchant portal.
Step 2: Add Afterpay at checkout
Follow Afterpay's "Add Afterpay at Checkout" guide for Shopify, which walks through:
- Going to Settings > Payments in Shopify admin.
- Finding Afterpay in the list of supported or alternative payment methods.
- Connecting your Afterpay merchant credentials.
- Saving and activating.
Afterpay's guide also covers adding Cash App Pay at checkout if you want it.
Step 3: Add on-site messaging
BNPL works best when shoppers see it before checkout. Afterpay offers:
- An On-Site Messaging app in the Shopify App Store, or a code snippet you add to your theme.
- A banner for your homepage or collection pages.
Messaging on the product page ("or 4 interest-free payments of $40 with Afterpay") is the part that changes buying decisions. Without it, many shoppers never realize the option exists.
Step 4: Test it
Place a test order to see Afterpay appear at checkout. Try carts at different values. Afterpay sets minimum and maximum order amounts per merchant, so very cheap or very expensive carts may not show it.
Why Afterpay might not appear
The most common causes:
- Store address or currency isn't US/USD.
- The cart total is outside your Afterpay limits.
- The shopper's shipping address or currency doesn't match.
- Manual capture is on without the matching setup.
- A checkout customization or app is hiding payment methods.
Our full troubleshooting guide is Afterpay not showing up at checkout.
Afterpay vs other BNPL options on Shopify
| Option | How it's added |
|---|---|
| Shop Pay Installments | Built into Shopify Payments in supported regions |
| Afterpay | Afterpay merchant account and integration |
| Sezzle | Sezzle Payments app. See how to add Sezzle to Shopify |
| Klarna | Available through Shopify Payments in some regions and as a separate provider |
Offering one well-known BNPL option is usually enough. Several can clutter checkout and each one adds fees. Pick based on who your customers already use and the fees in your agreement.
Is BNPL worth it?
BNPL tends to help most when your average order value sits in the range where a single payment feels like a stretch, often fashion, beauty, home goods and electronics accessories. For low-priced items, the fee may outweigh the benefit. Track conversion rate and AOV for a couple of months after launch and compare against your fees. Our article on increasing your conversion rate explains how to measure changes like this properly.
Frequently asked questions
Is Afterpay available for Shopify stores outside the US?
Afterpay's current developer documentation for Shopify states that its Shopify integration is available to merchants with a US store address and USD currency. Merchants elsewhere should check with Afterpay and consider other buy-now-pay-later options.
Does Afterpay charge merchants fees?
Yes. Afterpay charges merchants a fee per transaction set in your merchant agreement. Shoppers pay no interest when they pay on time.
What capture setting does Afterpay need?
Afterpay works with 'Automatically at checkout' or 'Automatically when order is fulfilled.' Manual capture needs a separate setup guide.
Sources and further reading
Platform features, prices and policies change. Check the official help pages linked above before you act on a detail that matters to your store.