---
title: "Sandbox"
description: "Open a sandbox account on your own, get your test_ credentials, switch between sandbox and live from the dashboard, and pay with test methods."
canonical: https://www.charitips.com/docs/get-started/sandbox
---

# Sandbox

> Open a sandbox account on your own, get your test_ credentials, switch between sandbox and live from the dashboard, and pay with test methods.

The sandbox is the test environment of the API: the same calls, rules and plans as live, with test credentials and test payment methods. No real money moves and no donation is paid out. Build and test your whole integration there before going live.

## Open a sandbox account

[Create a sandbox account](https://app.sandbox.charitips.com/signup/sandbox) on your own: your company, your name and your work email; the SIREN or VAT number is optional. A login link arrives by email. Answer three questions about your project and you land on your API keys.

The account starts with an active subscription on the plan your answers call for, free on the sandbox, so your campaigns activate from the first call. Our team opens your production account afterwards.

## Credentials and hosts

Sandbox credentials start with `test_`, live credentials with `live_`. Find them in the dashboard under Settings, API. Each pair only works on its own environment: a `test_` pair sent to live answers `401`.

The sandbox has its own hosts. Replace:

- `https://api.charitips.com` with `https://api.sandbox.charitips.com`
- `https://embed.charitips.com` with `https://embed.sandbox.charitips.com`: a widget loads from `https://embed.sandbox.charitips.com/widgets/default`

The data is separate too. Nothing you create on the sandbox exists on live: an id from the sandbox answers `404` or `400` there.

## Switch between sandbox and live

Once your production account is linked to your sandbox account, the dashboard's bar shows a Sandbox and Production switch. It opens the other environment's account without signing in again, provided a user with your email address exists on both accounts: an administrator of the other account can invite you. Until the two accounts are linked, ask our team to link them.

## Test payment methods

On the sandbox, pay with these test methods. They are refused on live.

- **Card**: `4970105181818183`, CVC `123`, expiry `02/2030`. The payment asks for a 3-D Secure confirmation, on a test page.
- **SEPA direct debit**: IBAN `FR7630004000031234567890143`, BIC `BNPAFRPP`.

## What's next

Run [your first donation](https://www.charitips.com/docs/get-started/first-donation.md) with your `test_` credentials, then go through the [go-live checklist](https://www.charitips.com/docs/get-started/go-live.md) before the first real donation.