Account & verification
Test mode for developers
3 min read
Build and test your integration with sk_test keys - no real money can ever move.
Test keys vs live keys
API keys come in two modes. sk_test_ keys create test escrows: they look and behave exactly like real ones - same endpoints, same webhooks, livemode: false on every object - but they can only ever fund through the built-in demo bank. No real money can move, even in production.
A typical test run
- Create a test key from Developers > API keys.
- Create a checkout with your sk_test_ key.
- Open the checkout link - a banner marks it as a test payment.
- 'Pay' it at the demo bank, approve the release, and watch the webhooks arrive.
Going live
When your test run is clean, create a live key (sk_live_). Live keys only ever see real escrows and test keys only ever see test ones - the two worlds never mix, including when you reuse the same reference. You will need a completed identity verification before live keys are issued.
Test escrows stay out of the real ledger, payout queue, and your live balance - experimenting costs nothing and risks nothing.