How To Test Stripe Payments In WordPress

Are you considering the need to evaluate Stripe payments on your WordPress website? It is highly advisable to conduct test transactions using Stripe before transitioning your payment forms to Live Mode.

In this guide, we will demonstrate the process of testing payments within WordPress before enabling actual payment processing, ensuring you don’t lose sales due to technical errors.

Always toggle “Test Mode” on in your Stripe Dashboard before beginning.

Why Testing Stripe Payments is Critical

Testing Stripe payments on your WordPress site is a crucial step before going live with your payment forms. It ensures that everything is functioning as expected and helps you identify and resolve any issues or discrepancies.

💡 Pro Tip:
Never test with your actual credit card or real money. Stripe provides specific “dummy” card numbers that simulate successful charges, declined cards, and fraudulent attempts without touching your bank account.

Steps to Test Stripe Payments (General Method)

Here’s how to test payments in WordPress using Stripe regardless of which plugin you use:

1

Set Up a Stripe Account: If you haven’t already, sign up for a Stripe account. You’ll need your API keys, which you can find in your Stripe dashboard under Developers > API keys. There are two sets of keys: one for testing (pk_test_…) and one for accepting real payments (pk_live_…).
2

Install a Stripe Payment Plugin: To integrate Stripe with your WordPress site, you’ll need a Stripe payment plugin. There are several popular options available in the WordPress plugin repository. Install and activate the plugin of your choice (like WP Simple Pay or WooCommerce Stripe Gateway).
3

Configure the Plugin: In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to the settings or configuration page of the Stripe plugin. Here, you’ll need to enter your Stripe API keys. Be sure to use the keys from your Test Mode to enable test payments.
4

Enable Test Mode: In the Stripe plugin settings, there is usually a checkbox or toggle to “Enable Test Mode.” This tells the plugin to communicate with Stripe’s sandbox environment.
5

Perform a Test Transaction: Go to your product or donation form and checkout. Use the test credit card details provided by Stripe.

Download Stripe Plugin

Stripe Test Card Numbers Reference

You cannot use a random string of numbers. Stripe recognizes specific number patterns to trigger different responses. Save this table for quick reference:

Card Brand	Card Number	CVC	Result
Visa	4242 4242 4242 4242	Any 3 digits	Success
Mastercard	5555 5555 5555 4444	Any 3 digits	Success
Amex	3782 822463 10005	Any 4 digits	Success
Visa (Debit)	4000 0566 5566 5556	Any 3 digits	Success
Generic	4000 0000 0000 0002	Any 3 digits	Declined

Note: For the Expiration Date, you can use any date in the future (e.g., 12/30).

Method 1: Test Using WP Simple Pay (Easiest Method)

To ensure that your payment forms function as intended, it is advisable to perform preliminary tests with Stripe payments. These test payments allow you to simulate transactions without any actual funds being involved.

Step 1: Install WP Simple Pay and Integrate It With Stripe

To confirm the proper functionality of your payment forms, it is a prudent practice to conduct preliminary tests using Stripe payments. These test payments enable you to simulate transactions without involving real funds. Much like actual transactions, Stripe retains the data from these test payments, which can be reviewed in your Stripe dashboard.

Install a WordPress Stripe plugin and ensure seamless integration with Stripe.

Generate a payment form and activate the test mode.

Execute test payments.

Transition to the live mode to start accepting genuine payments.

Step 2: Create a Payment Form & Make Test Payments

WP Simple Pay simplifies the process of crafting a payment form and initiating payments on your website. Utilizing its user-friendly drag-and-drop builder, you have the flexibility to gather the necessary information on your form while securely storing all data on Stripe’s PCI-compliant servers.

After creating and publishing your payment form, it’s essential to conduct a test payment to ensure its functionality aligns with your requirements. Before proceeding with a self-payment test, it’s crucial to verify whether the form is in test mode. To do this, navigate to WP Simple Pay » Payment Forms.

Next, click on the Payment tab and confirm whether your form is still in test mode. If it’s not, activate the test mode and click Update to save the changes made to the form.

Now, click on the Preview button to get a preview of the form. Proceed to make a test payment. While in test mode, live payments won’t be processed. To confirm if Stripe has collected the payment data, log in to your Stripe dashboard and navigate to the Payments section by clicking this link. Here, you’ll find all the payment details processed in test mode.

How to Switch to Live Mode

When you’re prepared to start accepting real payments, you can activate the “Live” mode in WP Simple Pay. You can do this by switching to the live mode either for your entire website or for individual forms.

Site-Wide Live Mode

Navigate to your WordPress dashboard.
Go to WP Simple Pay » Settings.
Click on the Stripe tab.
Under the Test Mode section, select Disabled.
Finally, click Save Changes.

Individual Form Live Mode

Visit your WordPress dashboard.
Go to WP Simple Pay » Payment Forms.
Select the specific form for which you want to switch to Live Mode.
Click on the Payment option on the left.
Ensure that you choose Live Mode for the selected form.

⚠️ Critical Warning: Once you switch to Live Mode, do NOT use the “4242” test card numbers. You must use a real credit card. We recommend running a real transaction of $1.00 on your live form to verify the bank connection, and then refunding yourself immediately via the Stripe Dashboard.

FAQs About Stripe Test Payments

Can I use real credit cards for testing Stripe payments?

No, using real credit cards for testing Stripe payments while in “Test Mode” will result in an error. However, if you are in “Live Mode,” you MUST use a real card.

How can I access my Stripe API keys?

To access your Stripe API keys, log in to your Stripe account and navigate to the “Developers” section. From there, you can find and manage your API keys. Remember to toggle the “View Test Data” switch to see your test keys.

What should I do if a test transaction fails?

If a test transaction fails, it’s important to double-check your settings, including the API keys, and ensure that your Stripe account is in test mode. Verify that your SSL certificate is active (https://) as Stripe requires secure connections.

Can I switch from test mode to live mode without reconfiguring everything?

Yes, you can switch from test mode to live mode in Stripe by updating the API keys in your plugin settings. Simply replace the test API keys (pk_test) with your live API keys (pk_live), and disable the test mode checkbox.

How frequently should I test Stripe payments?

It is recommended to test Stripe payments whenever you make significant changes to your eCommerce site, such as updating plugins, themes, or configurations. Regular testing ensures that your payment process remains seamless and error-free.

Does EDD (Easy Digital Downloads) support other payment gateways?

Yes, Easy Digital Downloads allows you to integrate your eCommerce platform with various payment processors. In addition to Stripe integration, EDD supports PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and many other payment methods.