Can I place an order on Webflow without purchasing a plan by using a sandbox account?
TL;DR
- Build and preview product pages, cart, and checkout in Webflow without a paid plan.
- Connect a Stripe test account via Project Settings > Ecommerce > Payments and enable Test Mode.
- Publish your site, use Stripe test card details to simulate a checkout.
- A paid eCommerce plan is required to process real orders or use a custom domain.
You cannot place a real order in Webflow without purchasing an eCommerce site plan, but you can simulate checkouts using Webflow’s sandbox mode with Stripe test credentials.
1. Understand How Webflow eCommerce Works
- Webflow eCommerce requires a paid site plan (Standard, Plus, or Advanced) to process actual transactions.
- Without a paid plan, the eCommerce features are disabled on the live site.
- However, within the Designer and preview mode, you can still build product pages, carts, and checkout flows.
2. Use a Stripe Test (Sandbox) Account
- Webflow integrates with Stripe to handle payments.
- Before activating a live eCommerce site, you can connect a Stripe test mode account to simulate transactions.
- Stripe test mode allows you to place orders using test card numbers without moving real money.
3. Enable Test Mode in Webflow
- Go to Project Settings > Ecommerce > Payments.
- Under Stripe, connect your Stripe test account. You need to first create one at stripe.com.
- After connecting, activate Test Mode in the Webflow settings.
4. Place a Test Order
- Publish your Webflow site (a Webflow.io subdomain is fine for test mode).
- Navigate to the checkout page and use a test card number, such as
4242 4242 4242 4242, with any valid future expiry and any CVC. - Submit the order. Webflow will simulate this as a successful purchase.
5. Limitations Without a Paid Plan
- You cannot use a custom domain for eCommerce features without a paid plan.
- Advanced features like automated emails, real fulfillment data, and custom checkout branding require a paid eCommerce plan.
- With only the free plan, Webflow may limit the number of products and functionality is geared only for development/testing.
Summary
You can simulate eCommerce orders in Webflow using Stripe test mode and a sandbox account, but to accept real payments or launch an actual store on a custom domain, you need a paid eCommerce site plan.