Understand the Test Gateway

By default, your site is set to use the Advanced Billing Test Gateway. The Test Gateway is great for playing around, but to test your integration with a sandbox gateway, or to sell subscriptions using a real gateway, you need to choose a gateway and enter your credentials.

If you need an introduction to the purpose and function of gateways and merchant accounts, or need help obtaining one, see our Payments FAQs.

The Advanced Billing Test Gateway

This gateway doesn't do any real authorizations or captures on credit cards. It allows you to simulate successful and unsuccessful credit card transactions.

When using the Advanced Billing Test Gateway:

• Use the credit card number 1 to simulate a credit card in good status. All payments and authorizations succeed.
• Use the credit card number 2 to simulate a credit card that doesn't accept any payments. Authorizations succeed.
• Use the credit card number 3 to simulate a credit card for which all authorizations and payments fail.

Sites in test mode connect to sandbox gateways

Any site that is in test mode only works with gateway accounts that are provided as test, developer, or sandbox accounts from your gateway provider. Usually, these test gateways use a different URL than their production counterparts, and sites that are in test mode only connect to these URLs.

Sites in production mode connect to live gateways

Any site that is in production mode only works with real, live gateway accounts. If you're experiencing problems with incorrect credentials, ensure that you don't have a mismatch between your Advanced Billing site mode (test vs. production) and your type of gateway (test vs. live).

Related information

Once you're ready to connect a real gateway, see Select a Gateway.