How to Accept Affirm Payments in WordPress (2 Easy Methods)

2 days ago, WordPress Plugin, 2 Views
Accept Affirm payments in WordPress, step by step.

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How to Accept Affirm Payments in WordPress (2 Easy Methods)

Integrating Affirm, a popular “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) service, into your WordPress website can significantly boost sales by offering customers flexible payment options. This article will guide you through two straightforward methods to accept Affirm payments on your WordPress site, empowering you to reach a wider audience and enhance your customer experience.

Method 1: Using the Affirm WooCommerce Plugin

The most convenient way to integrate Affirm into your WordPress store is through the official Affirm WooCommerce plugin. This plugin seamlessly integrates with WooCommerce, the leading e-commerce platform for WordPress, offering a user-friendly setup and reliable performance.

Step 1: Install and Activate the WooCommerce Plugin

If you haven’t already, the first step is to install and activate the WooCommerce plugin.

  • Navigate to your WordPress dashboard.
  • Go to “Plugins” > “Add New”.
  • Search for “WooCommerce”.
  • Click “Install Now” and then “Activate”.
  • Follow the WooCommerce setup wizard to configure your store’s basic settings, such as currency, shipping zones, and payment gateways (you can skip the payment gateway setup for now, as we’ll be focusing on Affirm).

Step 2: Install and Activate the Affirm WooCommerce Plugin

Now, let’s install the Affirm WooCommerce plugin.

  • Navigate to your WordPress dashboard.
  • Go to “Plugins” > “Add New”.
  • Search for “Affirm WooCommerce”. (Ensure it’s the official plugin developed by Affirm.)
  • Click “Install Now” and then “Activate”.

Step 3: Configure the Affirm Plugin

After activating the plugin, you’ll need to configure it with your Affirm API keys.

  • Go to “WooCommerce” > “Settings”.
  • Click on the “Payments” tab.
  • Locate “Affirm” in the list of payment methods and toggle the switch to enable it.
  • Click “Manage” to access the Affirm settings page.

On the settings page, you’ll find the following key configuration options:

  • Enable/Disable: Make sure this is enabled to offer Affirm as a payment option.
  • Title: Customize the title displayed to customers during checkout (e.g., “Pay with Affirm”).
  • Description: Add a brief description to inform customers about Affirm’s BNPL service.
  • Environment: Choose between “Sandbox” (for testing) and “Production” (for live transactions). Use the Sandbox environment during development and testing.
  • Public API Key: Enter your Affirm Public API Key. This key identifies your store to Affirm.
  • Private API Key: Enter your Affirm Private API Key. This key allows you to process transactions securely.
  • Merchant ID: (Optional) If you have a specific Merchant ID provided by Affirm, enter it here.
  • Show Affirm As Low As: This enables the “As low as” messaging on product pages and in the cart. Customize the settings below to fit your website’s design.
  • Product Page “As Low As” Placement: Choose where the “As low as” message should appear on product pages (e.g., above the add to cart button, below the price).
  • Cart Page “As Low As” Placement: Choose where the “As low as” message should appear on the cart page.
  • Modal Styling: Customize the look and feel of the Affirm modal window to match your brand.
  • Advanced Settings: Explore advanced options such as automatically capturing payments or authorizing them.

Important: You’ll need to obtain your Public and Private API keys from your Affirm merchant account. If you don’t have an account, you’ll need to create one on the Affirm website. Make sure to use the correct keys for the chosen environment (Sandbox or Production).

Step 4: Test the Integration (Sandbox Mode)

Before going live, thoroughly test the integration in Sandbox mode.

  • Enable Sandbox mode in the Affirm plugin settings.
  • Use the test API keys provided by Affirm for the Sandbox environment.
  • Place a test order on your website using Affirm as the payment method.
  • Verify that the transaction is processed correctly in the Affirm Sandbox environment.
  • Check that the order status is updated appropriately in your WooCommerce dashboard.

Step 5: Switch to Production Mode and Go Live

Once you’ve verified that the integration is working correctly in Sandbox mode, switch to Production mode.

  • Disable Sandbox mode in the Affirm plugin settings.
  • Enter your Production API keys.
  • Save the changes.

Your website is now ready to accept Affirm payments from your customers.

Method 2: Using a Custom Code Solution (For Advanced Users)

For users with more technical expertise, a custom code solution offers greater flexibility and control over the integration process. This method involves using the Affirm API directly to create charges and manage transactions. This approach requires a strong understanding of PHP, HTML, and API integration.

Disclaimer: Implementing a custom code solution can be complex and requires careful coding and testing to ensure security and functionality. Incorrect implementation can lead to errors and security vulnerabilities. We recommend using the official plugin whenever possible.

Step 1: Obtain Affirm API Keys

As with the plugin method, you’ll need to obtain your Public and Private API keys from your Affirm merchant account. Choose the correct keys based on whether you’re working in the Sandbox or Production environment.

Step 2: Install an HTTP Request Library

You’ll need a library to make HTTP requests to the Affirm API. WordPress provides the `wp_remote_post()` function, which is sufficient for basic API interactions.

Step 3: Create a Payment Form

Create a form on your website where customers can enter their order details and choose to pay with Affirm. This form should include necessary information such as order total, shipping address, and billing address. You can create a custom form using HTML and PHP or modify an existing WooCommerce checkout form if you prefer.

Step 4: Integrate with the Affirm API

When the customer submits the form, your PHP code needs to send a request to the Affirm API to create a charge. The request should include the following information:

  • Amount: The total amount of the order (in cents).
  • Currency: The currency of the transaction (e.g., “USD”).
  • Order ID: A unique identifier for the order in your system.
  • Items: An array of items in the order, including their names, quantities, and prices.
  • Shipping Address: The customer’s shipping address.
  • Billing Address: The customer’s billing address.
  • Success URL: The URL to which the customer will be redirected after successfully completing the Affirm checkout process.
  • Cancel URL: The URL to which the customer will be redirected if they cancel the Affirm checkout process.

Here’s a basic example of how to send a request to the Affirm API using `wp_remote_post()`:

“`php
10000, // $100.00 in cents
‘currency’ => ‘USD’,
‘order_id’ => ‘ORDER-12345’,
‘items’ => array(
array(
‘display_name’ => ‘Product 1’,
‘unit_price’ => 5000,
‘quantity’ => 2,
‘url’ => ‘https://example.com/product1’
)
),
‘shipping’ => array(
‘name’ => ‘John Doe’,
‘address1’ => ‘123 Main St’,
‘city’ => ‘Anytown’,
‘state’ => ‘CA’,
‘zipcode’ => ‘91234’,
‘country’ => ‘USA’
),
‘billing’ => array(
‘name’ => ‘John Doe’,
‘address1’ => ‘123 Main St’,
‘city’ => ‘Anytown’,
‘state’ => ‘CA’,
‘zipcode’ => ‘91234’,
‘country’ => ‘USA’
),
‘redirect_url’ => ‘https://example.com/success’,
‘cancel_url’ => ‘https://example.com/cancel’
);

$args = array(
‘headers’ => array(
‘Content-Type’ => ‘application/json’,
‘Authorization’ => ‘Basic ‘ . base64_encode($api_key . ‘:’)
),
‘body’ => json_encode($order_data),
‘method’ => ‘POST’,
‘data_format’ => ‘body’
);

$response = wp_remote_post( $affirm_api_url, $args );

if ( is_wp_error( $response ) ) {
$error_message = $response->get_error_message();
echo “Something went wrong: $error_message”;
} else {
$body = wp_remote_retrieve_body( $response );
$data = json_decode( $body, true );

// Check for errors in the response
if (isset($data[‘error’])) {
echo “Affirm API Error: ” . $data[‘error’][‘message’];
} else {
// Redirect the customer to the Affirm checkout URL
header(‘Location: ‘ . $data[‘redirect_url’]);
exit;
}
}
?>
“`

Important: Replace `”YOUR_PRIVATE_API_KEY”` and the API endpoint with your actual credentials. Ensure that your API keys are kept secret and are not exposed in client-side code.

Step 5: Handle Redirects and Callbacks

After creating the charge, Affirm will redirect the customer to their platform to complete the payment process. Once the payment is complete, Affirm will redirect the customer back to your website using the `redirect_url` or `cancel_url` that you provided in the initial request.

You’ll need to create pages or endpoints to handle these redirects. When the customer returns to your website, you’ll need to verify the payment status with the Affirm API.

Step 6: Verify Payment Status

To verify the payment status, you’ll need to send another request to the Affirm API, this time to retrieve the charge details. Use the charge ID that was returned in the initial response.

“`php
array(
‘Content-Type’ => ‘application/json’,
‘Authorization’ => ‘Basic ‘ . base64_encode($api_key . ‘:’)
),
‘method’ => ‘GET’
);

$response = wp_remote_get( $affirm_api_url, $args );

if ( is_wp_error( $response ) ) {
$error_message = $response->get_error_message();
echo “Something went wrong: $error_message”;
} else {
$body = wp_remote_retrieve_body( $response );
$data = json_decode( $body, true );

// Check the charge status
if ($data[‘status’] == ‘authorized’) {
// Payment is authorized, proceed with fulfilling the order
// You might want to capture the payment at this point.
echo “Payment Authorized! Charge ID: ” . $charge_id;
} elseif ($data[‘status’] == ‘captured’) {
// Payment is captured
echo “Payment Captured! Charge ID: ” . $charge_id;
} else {
// Payment failed or is pending
echo “Payment Failed or Pending. Status: ” . $data[‘status’];
}
}
?>
“`

Based on the payment status, you can update the order status in your system and fulfill the order.

Step 7: Secure Your Implementation

Security is paramount when handling financial transactions. Make sure to:

  • Protect your API keys: Never expose your private API key in client-side code. Store them securely on your server.
  • Validate all data: Sanitize and validate all data received from the user and the Affirm API.
  • Use HTTPS: Ensure that your website uses HTTPS to encrypt all communication.
  • Implement proper error handling: Handle errors gracefully and provide informative messages to the user.
  • Regularly update your code: Stay up-to-date with the latest security patches and updates for WordPress and any libraries you are using.

Step 8: Test Thoroughly

Before going live, thoroughly test your custom code solution in the Affirm Sandbox environment. Test all possible scenarios, including successful payments, failed payments, and cancellations.

By implementing Affirm payments on your WordPress website, you can offer your customers a flexible and convenient way to pay, potentially increasing your sales and expanding your customer base. While the custom code method offers greater flexibility, the Affirm WooCommerce plugin provides a simpler and more secure integration option for most users. Always prioritize security and thorough testing when implementing any payment gateway integration.
“`

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