Key Takeaways:
- Atome is a buy now, pay later (BNPL) service that lets you split payments into three interest-free instalments. You can opt for longer instalment options, but they come with processing fee(s).
- You can use Atome at participating online and offline retailers in Singapore, including fashion, beauty, electronics, and travel and lifestyle merchants.
- Atome transactions are coded online under MCC 5999.
- The best Atome credit cards to use include the Citi Rewards Card, DBS Woman’s World Mastercard, HSBC Revolution Card, and DCS Flex Visa Platinum Card, among others.
- You can also use Atome at participating retailers in Malaysia. Payments are automatically converted from MYR to SGD, with a slight FX markup.
While Atome and other buy now, pay later (BNPL) services might have a bad rep, just like everything else, it can be a useful tool when used responsibly.
As a matter of fact, Atome is particularly useful if you prefer to spread out payments without incurring traditional credit card interest. Depending on the payment option and purchase, you can pay upfront or split the cost into instalments over several months, although processing or admin fees may apply.
In this guide, we’ll break down what Atome is, how Atome works, its instalment plans, fees, spending limits and MCC, as well as how to use it overseas. We’ll also look at the best credit cards to use with Atome, plus compare it with other BNPL providers in Singapore, specifically Grab PayLater and SPayLater.
Read on to arm yourself with invaluable knowledge about Atome and learn the tips and tricks to maximising your credit card rewards!
What Is Atome?
Atome is a buy now, pay later (BNPL) service which lets you conveniently split your purchases into three interest-free payments instead of paying the full amount upfront. When you pay with Atome, you receive your purchase immediately but pay for it in instalments.
While Atome provides pay-in-6 and pay-in-12 instalment plans, these come with pesky processing fees (more on this below).
You can use the Atome app at participating online and offline retailers across categories such as fashion, beauty, electronics, food and drinks, and travel and lifestyle.
Atome also has a loyalty programme called Atome+, through which users can earn points from their purchases and redeem them for rewards, vouchers and other perks. You’ll earn 1 Atome+ point per S$2 spent on Atome, and Atome+ points are valid for 12 months from the date of receipt.
How Does Atome Work?
Using Atome is as straightforward as it gets. After downloading the Atome app and registering an account, you can browse participating merchants or select Atome as your payment method at checkout.
How to Set Up an Atome Account
- Download the Atome app.
- Register using your mobile number.
- Complete the necessary identity verification.
- Link a credit or debit card as your payment method.
Once your account is set up, you can use Atome when you see it offered as a payment method at participating merchants online or when you see an Atome QR code at a physical store.
How to Use Atome
For online purchases, select Atome as your payment method during checkout.
For physical stores, look for the Atome QR code at the cashier and scan it using the Atome app.
Once the purchase is approved, the transaction is split according to the applicable Atome instalment plan. At the point of purchase, you’ll be required to pay for the first instalment upfront.
Atome Instalment Plans, Fees, and Charges
As mentioned, Atome offers 3-, 6-, and 12-month instalment plans. There isn’t a processing fee for the pay-in-3 instalment, but longer plans incur processing fees.
| Payment plan | Processing fee |
| Pay-in-3 | No processing fee |
| Pay-in-6 | One-time processing fee of 3% of the total purchase value |
| Pay-in-9 | Monthly processing fee of 0.75% per month of the total purchase value |
| Pay-in-12 | Monthly processing fee of 0.75% per month of the total purchase value |
| Pay in full | No processing fee |
Besides processing fees, Atome also charges an admin fee for missed payments.
- Order amounts under S$1,000: S$15 admin fee for each late bill payment
- Order amounts above S$1,000: S$30 admin fee for each late bill payment
For example, if your order amount is S$500 and you’ve missed two payments, the admin fee would be: S$15 x 2 = S$30.
The admin fee applies to each overdue payment, not to unsuccessful automatic deduction attempts. You’ll need to pay the admin fee and any outstanding amounts.
So, while there isn’t an “Atome interest rate”, Atome’s payment plans may include processing and admin fees for missed payments, depending on your chosen plan and order amount.
⚠️ Take note, however, that missed payments can incur admin fees and repeated missed payments may result in permanent account suspension.
What Is the Atome Limit?
Your Atome limit is based on your default payment card.
For credit card users, the spending limit is S$3,000. For debit cards, the limit is S$1,000.
However, note that the spending limit varies by user. To maintain a higher spending limit, use a credit card as your default payment card and maintain good repayment behaviour (i.e., don’t default on payments).
What Merchant Category Code (MCC) Does Atome Use?
All transactions on Atome are recognised as online and are coded MCC 5999 (Miscellaneous and Specialty Retail Stores), rather than retaining the merchant’s original MCC.
This can be particularly useful when you’re trying to maximise your credit card rewards because it allows you to “convert” the MCC to your favour.
For example, if you’re booking flights or hotels through a travel merchant, such as Agoda or Trip.com, you could still pay with a credit card that doesn’t reward travel spending. If your credit card recognises MCC 5999, the transactions will still be treated as eligible, allowing you to earn bonus points or cashback.
Read this next: Merchant Category Codes (MCCs): Why They Matter for Rewards
Best Credit Cards for Atome
The best Atome credit cards are those that support online transactions and MCC 5999.
| Card | Earn rate | Monthly cap | Monthly minimum spend |
| Citi Rewards Card | 4 miles per dollar | S$1,000 per statement month | None |
| DBS Woman’s World Mastercard | 4 miles per dollar | S$1,000 per calendar month | None |
| KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card | 1.2/2.4 miles per dollar | None | None |
| HSBC Revolution Card | 4 miles per dollar | S$1,000/S$1,200 (enhanced tier) per calendar month | None |
| DBS Live Fresh Card | 6% cashback | S$50 per calendar month (S$877.19 spend) | S$800 per calendar month |
| DCS Flex Visa Platinum Card | 6% cashback | S$25 per category per statement month (S$416.67 spend) | S$600 per statement month |
| OCBC FRANK Credit Card | 8% cashback | S$25 cashback per category per calendar month (S$312.50 spend) | S$800 per calendar month |
One tip when paying with Atome is to manually trigger the monthly repayments (i.e. the second and third repayments) in the app, as auto-deductions may not be eligible for credit card rewards/cashback.
Where Can You Use Atome?
Atome is available across various categories such as beauty, fashion, electronics, lifestyle, accessories, and travel.
Popular merchants include Sephora, Fresh, Secretlab, Zalora, SHEIN, Samsung, Dyson, Gain City, COURTS, iStudio, Marks & Spencer, Alternative Airlines, and Agoda. You can explore the full list of Atome Singapore merchants online, or look for your favourite merchants directly on the Atome app.
Can You Use Atome Overseas?
Yes! You can use your Singapore-registered Atome account to make eligible in-store purchases in Malaysia, except at Sephora.
There are two ways to pay.
For a merchant-presented QR code:
- Open the Atome app.
- Scan the merchant’s QR code.
- Enter the purchase amount in MYR.
- Review the exchange rate and total amount payable in SGD.
- Confirm and complete the transaction.
For a user-generated QR code:
- Open the Atome app.
- Select the QR payment function.
- Generate your Atome payment code.
- Let the merchant scan your generated QR code.
- Review the MYR amount, exchange rate and SGD amount payable.
- Confirm and complete the payment.
The MYR-SGD conversion is based on the exchange rate from Atome’s appointed licensed payment service provider and may include an FX spread. So to avoid surprises, it’s best to check the final SGD amount in the app before confirming the purchase.
You’ll also continue to earn Atome+ points on eligible purchases. Refunds will also be in SGD based on the original exchange rate at the time of purchase.
Some participating Atome Malaysia merchants include Switch, Machines, PRISM+, Oppo, Decathlon, Charles & Keith, Watsons, HOKA, JD Sports, Kate Spade, Jean Yip, and more. You can view the list of Atome Malaysia merchants.
And in case you’re wondering, the Atome MCC will remain MCC 5999!
Atome vs GrabPayLater vs SPayLater
Atome isn’t the only BNPL option available to Singapore consumers. Grab PayLater and Shopee’s SPayLater are also popular alternatives. Below is a quick comparison of how they differ.
| Atome | GrabPayLater | SPayLater | |
| Payment periods | 1, 3, 6, 9, or 12 months
Pay-in-9/12 available only to selected users and brands |
1, 4, 8, 12 months
Pay-in-8/12 available only to selected users |
1, 3, 6, and 12 months
8- and 24-month plans are being rolled out in phases and may not be available to all users/sellers |
| Processing fee/interest | Pay-in-3: no fee
Pay-in-6: one-time processing fee of 3% Pay-in-9 and Pay-in-12: 0.75% processing fee monthly of total purchase value |
Pay-in-4: No fees
Pay-in-8 and Pay-in-12: 0.75% per instalment |
SPayLater sellers:
1-, 3-, and 6-month instalments: no interest 12-month instalment: 0.5% monthly 18- and 24-month instalments: 1% monthly Non-participating SPayLater sellers: 1- and 3-month instalments: no interest 6-,12-,18-, and 24-month instalments: 1% monthly |
| Admin/late payment fee | S$15 for amounts below S$1,000, S$30 for amounts above S$1,000 | S$15 per missed payment (capped at S$45, S$105 or S$165 depending on Pay-in-4, Pay-in-8 or Pay-in-12) | S$5 per overdue bill |
| Spending limits | Up to S$3,000 (credit card) or S$1,000 (debit card) | Based on user profile; capped at S$2,000 based on BNPL Code of Conduct | Based on user profile and spending behaviour |
| Payment options | Linked credit/debit card, Apple Pay, PayNow | Linked credit/debit card or GrabPay Wallet | Linked credit/debit card, PayNow, or ShopeePay |
| Rewards | 1 Atome+ point per S$2 spent | 0.5% GrabCoins for eligible PayLater transaction | 1 to 5% Shopee Coins cashback based on transaction amount |
The best BNPL platform largely depends on where you shop, merchant acceptance, and the promotions available.
For example, Grab PayLater may be a better choice if you frequently use Grab’s services or come across an attractive Grab PayLater promotion. Grab also has a broad network of participating merchants, giving you more opportunities to use the service.
On the other hand, Atome may be more appealing if you’re looking to earn credit card rewards. Grab PayLater and SPayLater transactions are coded under MCC 6540, which is typically excluded from earning credit card rewards by banks.
Pros and Cons of Atome
| Pros | Cons |
| Pay in three, interest-free instalments | Processing fee for longer instalments |
| Available at thousands of online and offline retailers | S$15 to S$30 admin fee for missed payments |
| Easy to manage payments through the app | Overseas purchases may involve an FX spread |
| Can be paired with eligible credit cards to earn credit card rewards | Only available if a merchant accepts Atome |
| Earn 1 Atome+ for every S$2 spent, which can be redeemed for rewards and vouchers | |
| Can be used at participating in-store merchants in Malaysia |
Conclusion
When used responsibly, Atome is a convenient BNPL option to split eligible purchases into instalments.
This not only helps to improve your cash flow, but pairing Atome with an eligible credit card also allows you to earn credit card rewards. On top of that, you’ll also earn 1 Atome+ point for every S$2 spent, which can be redeemed for vouchers and other rewards.
However, longer instalment plans can incur processing fees, while missed payments will result in admin fees and account suspension. Your Atome spending limit is also determined by factors such as your payment method and repayment behaviour.
It’s therefore important to consider the additional costs before choosing a longer instalment plan and to make your repayments on time to avoid unnecessary fees or account suspension.
For more comparisons like these, visit our blog page or use our comparison tool to find and compare products side-by-side with key specifications!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is BNPL?
BNPL stands for buy now, pay later. As its name suggests, it allows you to purchase something immediately and split the cost into multiple payments over a period of time. The main BNPL providers in Singapore are Grab PayLater, Atome, and SPayLater.
What is my Atome spending limit?
Your spending limit depends on your linked payment method. In general, the spending limit is S$3,000 for credit card users and S$1,000 for debit card users.
Do Atome+ points expire?
Yes, Atome+ points are valid for 12 months from the date of receipt.
How to use Atome on Taobao?
To use Atome on Taobao, select Atome as your payment method at checkout in the Taobao mobile app. You’ll need to log in to your Atome account, then pay 1/3 of the total bill first.
Is Atome safe?
Yes, Atome is licensed and regulated by the MAS and operates in compliance with the BNPL Code of Practice.
Atome also protects your privacy and complies with Singapore’s Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA). It only collects your personal information for identification, account setup, fraud protection, and regulatory compliance.
Does Atome affect credit score?
Using BNPL platforms such as Atome doesn’t directly affect your CBS score in the same way as a bank loan or credit card. However, under the BNPL Code of Conduct, BNPL providers may share information on your BNPL accounts and payment history with other participating providers.
So if you default on your payments, it may affect your access, spending limits or approval with other participating BNPL providers. Additionally, BNPL platforms can also take legal action—excluding bankruptcy proceedings—to recover the outstanding debts.
