Testing PayPal Payments in Sandbox Mode
What is PayPal Sandbox?
The PayPal Sandbox is a free testing environment provided by PayPal that lets you simulate real transactions without moving any actual money. It creates a separate, parallel version of the PayPal platform where you can use fake (test) buyer and seller accounts to verify that your payment process works correctly from start to finish.
In short, the PayPal Sandbox answers a simple need: before you start charging real attendees, you want to be sure that payments are processed, confirmed, and recorded the way they should be. By using test Sandbox accounts, you can place orders, complete checkout, and review the results exactly as your participants would, but in a completely safe, risk-free setting.
With CONREGO, the Sandbox is especially useful when you sell paid registrations through the PayPal gateway. It allows you to confirm that the connection between your registration system and PayPal is configured properly, that the correct currency is applied, and that successful payments are reflected in your event panel, all before going live.
Why test PayPal Sandbox before launching paid registration?
Before launching paid registration using the PayPal gateway, it is recommended to test the entire process. You can find the necessary data on the PayPal portal to ensure the process runs smoothly. Running a full test in the Sandbox helps you:
- Confirm that the PayPal integration is connected to your CONREGO panel correctly.
- Verify that the selected currency and payment amounts are processed as expected.
- Make sure successful and failed payments are handled and recorded properly.
- Avoid surprises and refunds caused by misconfiguration once real attendees start paying.
Follow the steps below to test the payment process using a PayPal Sandbox test account:
1. Logging into the test account
Log in to your PayPal account at https://developer.paypal.com/home/
2. Choosing options
- Select the TESTING TOOLS option, then SANDBOX ACCOUNTS.
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In the table, click the three dots next to the BUSINESS email address and select VIEW/EDIT ACCOUNT.
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In the opened window, you will see the test email address from the sandbox account.
Tip: The Sandbox provides two types of test accounts. The BUSINESS account represents you (the seller/merchant) receiving payments, while the PERSONAL account represents the buyer (your attendee) making payments. You will use both during the test.
3. Configuration in the CONREGO panel
Go to the CONREGO Panel: Settings > Integrations > Payment Methods > Add payment method and select PayPal.
4. Select the payment type
Enter a PAYMENT METHOD NAME, e.g., PAYPAL test, select the integration type TEST and enter the test email address from the sandbox account. Also, remember to choose an acceptable currency.
5. Save the settings
After correctly entering the test account data, save the settings. Set the payment as visible using the checkbox in the VISIBLE TO PARTICIPANTS column. Now you can test the payment by performing the next steps during registration.
6. Go through the registration process
At the payment form screen stage, select the paid test PayPal. Return to your PayPal account at https://developer.paypal.com/home/ to copy the buyer's email and password from the Sandbox Test Accounts table (row marked as Personal > View/Edit account). Use the buyer's data to complete the test transaction.
7. Final configuration
If everything works correctly and you have the proper client PayPal account data, you can replace the test data with the production data. Don't forget to change the integration type from TEST to SALE.
Frequently asked questions about PayPal Sandbox
Is the PayPal Sandbox free to use? Yes. The Sandbox is a free environment available to anyone with a PayPal developer account. No real money is ever charged or transferred.
Do I need a separate PayPal account for the Sandbox? You log in at https://developer.paypal.com/home/ using your PayPal credentials. The Sandbox then generates dedicated test BUSINESS and PERSONAL accounts that exist only within the testing environment.
What is the difference between TEST and SALE integration types in CONREGO? The TEST type connects to the Sandbox environment for safe testing with fake accounts. The SALE type connects to the live PayPal environment and processes real payments from your attendees. Always switch to SALE only after your tests succeed.
Will Sandbox test payments appear in my real PayPal balance? No. Sandbox transactions are isolated from your live account, so they never affect your real balance, reports, or payouts.