How To Test Stripe Payments In WordPress

If you’re accepting payments on WordPress in 2026, testing Stripe properly is no longer optional — it’s essential. A single checkout error can cost you sales, damage trust, and create unnecessary refund issues. Before switching to Live Mode, you should always simulate transactions in Stripe’s secure Test Mode environment.

In this updated step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through exactly how to test Stripe payments inside WordPress, verify transactions, troubleshoot common issues, and safely transition to live payment processing without risking real money.

Quick Answer: How Do You Test Stripe Payments in WordPress?

To test Stripe payments in WordPress, enable Test Mode inside your Stripe dashboard, enter your pk_test API keys inside your payment plugin, activate the plugin’s Test Mode option, and complete a transaction using Stripe’s official test card numbers (such as 4242 4242 4242 4242). Once confirmed inside your Stripe dashboard, you can safely switch to Live Mode.

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

What Is Stripe Test Mode?

Stripe Test Mode is a sandbox environment provided by Stripe that allows you to simulate payments without charging real credit cards or transferring actual funds. It mirrors the live environment, meaning every successful or failed transaction appears inside your dashboard — just marked as test data.

This allows you to:

Verify checkout form functionality
Test successful and failed payments
Simulate fraud alerts and declined cards
Confirm email notifications and receipts
Ensure webhook connections are working properly

Why Testing Stripe Payments is Critical in 2026

Testing Stripe payments on your WordPress site is a crucial step before going live. With stricter payment security standards, SCA (Strong Customer Authentication), and increasing fraud prevention mechanisms, skipping test mode can result in failed transactions or blocked payments.

💡 Pro Tip:
Never test with your real credit card while in Test Mode. Stripe provides official dummy card numbers that simulate successful charges, insufficient funds, authentication requirements, and declined payments — 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

Create or Log in to Your Stripe Account: Get your API keys from Developers → API keys. Stripe provides two environments: Test (pk_test_…) and Live (pk_live_…).
2

Install a Stripe Plugin: Add a Stripe-compatible plugin to your WordPress site such as WP Simple Pay or WooCommerce Stripe Gateway.
3

Enter Test API Keys: Inside plugin settings, paste your Test Publishable Key and Test Secret Key.
4

Enable Test Mode: Turn on the “Test Mode” toggle in your plugin settings so it connects to Stripe’s sandbox.
5

Run Test Transactions: Use Stripe’s official test credit card numbers to simulate payments.

Download Stripe Plugin

How to Test Stripe Payments in WordPress (Step by Step – Updated 2026)

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.

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.

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).

Troubleshooting Common Stripe Test Mode Issues

1. Payments Not Showing in Dashboard

Ensure “View Test Data” is toggled on inside your Stripe dashboard.

2. SSL / HTTPS Errors

Stripe requires HTTPS. Make sure your SSL certificate is active.

3. API Key Mismatch

Double-check you are not mixing Test and Live keys.

4. Webhook Errors

If using WooCommerce or advanced setups, confirm webhooks are configured correctly inside Stripe.

How to Switch Stripe from Test Mode to Live Mode Safely (Avoid Payment Failures)

Once all tests are successful:

Replace pk_test keys with pk_live keys.
Disable Test Mode.
Run a small real transaction (e.g., $1).
Refund yourself immediately from Stripe dashboard.

⚠️ Important: Never use 4242 test cards in Live Mode. Live mode requires real payment details.

Start Accepting Secure Stripe Payments on WordPress Today

Once testing is complete and verified inside your Stripe dashboard, switching to Live Mode allows you to start collecting real payments securely. Always run a small live transaction first to confirm your bank connection before launching promotions or ads.

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.

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.