Can I place an order on Webflow without purchasing a plan by using a sandbox account?
TL;DR
- Sandbox mode allows testing checkout with simulated transactions but doesn’t process real payments.
- To accept live payments, you need a Webflow Ecommerce plan, a connected payment provider, and a published custom domain.
- You can preview checkout in sandbox mode, but real orders require an upgrade.
Webflow allows you to test the checkout process using a sandbox account, but placing an actual order requires a paid Ecommerce plan. Here’s how sandbox mode works and what you need to purchase for live orders.
1. Understanding Sandbox Checkout
- Sandbox mode lets you simulate test transactions using a test payment provider (e.g., Stripe’s test mode).
- No actual payments are processed, and orders do not appear in live reports.
- This is useful for verifying your checkout flow before launching.
2. Requirements for Live Orders
- To accept real payments, you need an Ecommerce Standard, Plus, or Advanced plan.
- A supported payment provider (e.g., Stripe or PayPal) must be connected.
- Your project must be published to a live custom domain (Webflow's free subdomain won't work for live checkout).
3. Testing Orders Without a Plan
- You can preview your checkout process using sandbox mode.
- You cannot place real orders or accept payments without upgrading to an Ecommerce plan.
Summary
You can test the ordering process in sandbox mode, but to process real transactions, you must purchase a Webflow Ecommerce plan and connect a payment provider.