Affirm vs Paytm: Revenue, Profit and Business Model
Affirm had $4.3B of annual revenue in FY2026 and $1.9B of net income. Paytm had ~$978.7M of annual revenue in FY2026 and ~$64.1M of net income.
Latest financial snapshot
Financial summary
Affirm
Affirm's results depend on transaction volume, credit performance, funding costs, and loan-sale markets. FY2026 revenue was $4.261 billion on $50.2 billion of GMV. Net income was $1.930 billion, but included a $1.45 billion income-tax benefit from releasing a valuation allowance on domestic deferred tax assets.
Paytm
Paytm lost money every year after its 2021 IPO, with net losses of about $278 million (₹2,393 crore) in FY22 and ~$206 million (₹1,776 crore) in FY23. The 2024 RBI action on Paytm Payments Bank cut FY25 revenue to ~$800 million (₹6,900 crore). Recovery followed: FY26 revenue from operations rose 22.2% to ~$979 million (₹8,437 crore) with a full-year profit of about $64 million (₹552 crore), and Q4 FY26 profit was about $21.3 million (₹184 crore) against a ~$62.6 million (₹540 crore) loss a year earlier. Q1 FY27 set records with ~$284 million (₹2,448 crore) revenue (+28%), EBITDA of ~$23.5 million (₹203 crore) (8% margin) and profit after tax of ~$25.5 million (₹220 crore) (+79%). In July 2026 the board decided not to proceed with a proposed bonus share issue. One97 Communications, operating as Paytm, is India's pioneer in digital payments, experiencing a highly volatile market valuation of approximately $3 billion following severe regulatory crackdowns by the Reserve Bank of India.
Revenue and profit by year
Affirm
| Year | Revenue | Net income | Margin | Growth | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | $4.3B | $1.9B | 45.3% | +32.2% | Source |
| FY2025 | $3.2B | $52.2M | 1.6% | +38.8% | Source |
| FY2024 | $2.3B | -$517.8M | -22.3% | +46.3% | Source |
| FY2023 | $1.6B | -$985.3M | -62.1% | +17.7% | Source |
| FY2022 | $1.3B | -$707.4M | -52.4% | +55.0% | Source |
| FY2021 | $870.5M | -$441M | -50.7% | +70.8% | Source |
| FY2020 | $509.5M | -$112.6M | -22.1% | +92.7% | Source |
| FY2019 | $264.4M | -$120.5M | -45.6% | — | Source |
Paytm
| Year | Revenue | Net income | Margin | Growth | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | ~$978.7M | ~$64.1M | 6.6% | +22.3% | Source |
| FY2025 | ~$800.4M | ~-$76.4M | -9.6% | -30.8% | Source |
| FY2024 | ~$1.2B | ~-$164.4M | -14.2% | +24.9% | Source |
| FY2023 | ~$926.9M | ~-$206M | -22.2% | +60.6% | Source |
| FY2022 | ~$577M | ~-$277.6M | -48.1% | — | Source |
Where the revenue comes from
Affirm
- Merchant network revenue
Not separately reported as a percentage
Fees earned when merchants use Affirm's payment network to facilitate transactions.
- Card network revenue
Not separately reported as a percentage
Network revenue associated with virtual cards and Affirm Card transactions.
- Interest income
Not separately reported as a percentage
Interest earned on loans held for investment.
- Gain on sales of loans
Not separately reported as a percentage
Gains recognized when Affirm sells loans to third-party investors.
- Servicing income
Not separately reported as a percentage
Fees earned for servicing loans owned by third parties.
Paytm
- Merchant payments
Not formally reported
Monthly subscription fees for Soundbox devices and card machines, plus processing revenue on cards, EMI and online payments.
- Consumer payments
Not formally reported
UPI, bill payments, recharges and travel bookings in the Paytm app.
- Financial services distribution
Not formally reported
Paytm sources merchant and personal loans for partner lenders and does not lend from its own balance sheet. FY26 revenue from operations was ~$979 million (₹8,437 crore).
Business model and strategy
Affirm
How it makes money
Affirm earns merchant-network revenue when consumers use its payment options, interest income on interest-bearing loans, card-network revenue, gains when it sells loans to third parties, and servicing income. Some plans carry 0% APR, while interest-bearing loans disclose a fixed repayment schedule. Affirm says it does not charge late or hidden fees.
Growth strategy
Affirm's disclosed growth priorities include increasing transaction frequency, expanding Affirm Card, adding merchants and platform integrations, entering additional markets, and maintaining diverse funding sources for originated loans.
Competitive advantage
Affirm underwrites each transaction individually in real time and offers fixed payment schedules without late fees. Its distribution includes integrations with major commerce platforms and merchants, while its funding model uses warehouse facilities, securitizations, and loan-sale partnerships.
Paytm
How it makes money
Paytm runs a capital-light, two-sided model. On the merchant side it deploys QR codes, Soundbox audio devices and Android card machines, charging monthly device subscription fees and earning payment processing revenue on cards, EMI and online payments (UPI person-to-merchant payments carry zero MDR, so device rentals and online gateway fees matter).
Growth strategy
Paytm's strategy since 2024 has three parts: grow the device merchant base and its payment processing revenue, use merchant and consumer data to distribute more loans for partner banks and NBFCs, and keep costs flat through AI and automation. In 2026 the company said it would hire about 4,000 people, mostly in sales, while trimming roughly 1% of staff. Marketing spend fell 19% in FY26.
Competitive advantage
Paytm's edge is its offline merchant base. It pioneered the Soundbox in 2019 and added about 2.7 million Soundboxes in the year to June 2026. Daily transaction data from these device merchants lets partner lenders underwrite small shopkeepers who lack credit bureau history, which is why lending distribution has become Paytm's fastest-growing revenue line.
Questions about Affirm vs Paytm
Which company has higher revenue — Affirm Holdings, Inc. or Paytm?
Affirm Holdings, Inc. had $4.3B (FY2026), while Paytm had ~$978.7M (FY2026). By latest annual revenue, Affirm Holdings, Inc. is the larger business, with Paytm showing a smaller revenue base.
What is the market cap of Affirm Holdings, Inc. vs Paytm?
Affirm Holdings, Inc.'s market capitalisation stands at $24.0B, while Paytm's is $12.0B. Affirm Holdings, Inc. carries the higher market valuation, reflecting investors' expectations of its future earnings power relative to Paytm.
How does revenue per employee compare for Affirm Holdings, Inc. and Paytm?
Affirm Holdings, Inc. has $1.81M / employee in revenue per employee, while Paytm has $24k / employee. Headcounts may use different dates, so the ratio alone does not establish which business operates more efficiently.
How do Affirm Holdings, Inc. and Paytm make money?
Affirm Holdings, Inc. and Paytm generate revenue in fundamentally different ways. Affirm Holdings, Inc.: Affirm earns merchant-network revenue when consumers use its payment options, interest income on interest-bearing loans, card-network revenue, gains when it sells loans to third parties, and servicing income. Paytm: Paytm runs a capital-light, two-sided model.
Which company is valued higher relative to revenue — Affirm Holdings, Inc. or Paytm?
On a price-to-sales (P/S) basis, Affirm Holdings, Inc. trades at 5.6x P/S and Paytm at 12.3x P/S. Paytm commands a higher revenue multiple, typically indicating that investors expect faster growth or higher future margins compared to Affirm Holdings, Inc.. A higher multiple is not inherently better — it may also signal that the stock is priced for perfection.
Is Affirm Holdings, Inc. bigger than Paytm?
By last reported revenue, Affirm Holdings, Inc. ($4.3B (FY2026)) is the larger company compared to Paytm (~$978.7M (FY2026)). Revenue scale is one dimension of size — market capitalisation, employee count, and geographic reach are also relevant depending on the context.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Affirm vs Paytm overview