Accept payments with ease using Stripe. This guide helps you configure both test and live modes.

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1. Test Mode vs. Live Mode

Stripe has two modes:

• Test (for development)
• Live (for real users)

You can toggle between the two at the top right of your Stripe dashboard.

• Go to your account → Switch to sandbox → Test mode

  

  Stripe

👉 Make sure you're in Test mode while developing.

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2. Test Mode Setup (for development)

 **2.1 Create a Stripe account**

 → Go to [stripe.com](<https://stripe.com/>) and sign up for free.

2.2 Activate test mode

→ On your top right, you will see “Test mode” with a button, toggle it to be in Test mode

2.3 Get your test secret key

→ In the search bar, type Developers > API Keys

→ Copy the key that starts with sk_test_...

→ Paste it in your .env file:

STRIPE_SECRET_KEY=sk_test_abc123...

2.4 Create your test products

• Create your product
• Copy the product ID
• Use test card to simulate payments

3. Live Mode Setup (for real payments)

  **3.1 Switch to live mode**

  → Toggle OFF “Viewing test data”

3.2 Create your products again

→ Use the same name & pricing as in test mode

3.3 Get your live secret key (sk_live_...)

→ Go to Developers > API Keys

→ Paste it in your .env:

STRIPE_SECRET_KEY=sk_live_xyz456...

3.4 You are now ready to receive real payments!

4. Tips and tools

⚠️ For Lucius buyers, when you create a product, don’t forget to add the price description so users can see the name of the plan they bought in their profile

Stripe - Create a price for a subscription → Add a Price description

Pytherin - User Profile → Show the price description of the subscription