Connect and Test PayPal Complete Payments Sandbox With MemberPress

This document explains how to set up and test PayPal Complete Payments Sandbox mode with MemberPress. Testing in sandbox mode lets you check the setup before accepting real payments.

Note: This feature is available to MemberPress Growth and Scale plan members. To upgrade from the Launch plan, click the Change Plan link on the MemberPress account page.

Note: MemberPress PayPal Complete Payments gateway is available with the MemberPress 1.12.15rc1 (Edge) plugin version.

PayPal Sandbox Overview

Connecting PayPal Complete Payments to MemberPress lets you accept payments from members worldwide. The setup supports both one-time and recurring payments for different membership models.

PayPal Sandbox is a testing area that copies the live payment system. However, it does not process real charges. As a result, you can test payment flows and settings using test card numbers instead of real payment details.

Testing with PayPal Sandbox before accepting live payments is a good idea. However, sandbox testing is optional. To skip testing and connect directly to Production, see How To Connect PayPal Complete Payments To MemberPress.

Prerequisites

Before testing with PayPal Sandbox, make sure you have:

• MemberPress Growth or Scale plan activated on the site;
• A PayPal Developer account (free to create);
• A PayPal Complete Payments gateway created in MemberPress settings;
• At least one membership created for testing.

Note: A PayPal Developer account is different from a regular PayPal account. You can create one at developer.paypal.com. Use your existing PayPal login or create a new account.

Creating Sandbox Accounts

PayPal Sandbox needs separate test accounts for the merchant (Business) and buyer (Personal). These sandbox accounts only exist in the test area.

Creating a Sandbox Business Account

1. First, log in to the PayPal Developer Dashboard.
2. Next, click Testing Tools in the left menu. Then, click Sandbox Accounts.

3. Click the Create account button.

4. Select Business as the account type.
5. Select a Country/Region for the test merchant.
6. Finally, click Create to make the sandbox Business account.

Creating a Sandbox Personal Account

1. On the Sandbox Accounts page, click Create account.
2. Select Personal as the account type.
3. Select a Country/Region for the test buyer.
4. Click Create to make the sandbox Personal account.

Tip: You can create sandbox accounts for different countries. This lets you test which payment methods appear by region. For example, Venmo only appears for US-based buyers.

Viewing Sandbox Account Details

1. On the Sandbox Accounts page, find the account you want to view.
2. Click the three-dot menu (…) next to the account.

3. Click View/Edit Account.
4. Note the email address and system-made password.

Connecting MemberPress to PayPal Sandbox

With sandbox accounts created, you can now connect MemberPress to the PayPal Sandbox area. During the connection process, you will need to log in with your sandbox Business account. Use the email and password you found in the “Viewing Sandbox Account Details” section above.

You can log in to your sandbox Business account before starting the connection. Alternatively, PayPal will prompt you to log in during the connection process.

Connecting the Sandbox Account

1. Open another browser tab and log in to your WordPress website.
2. Go to Dashboard > MemberPress > Settings > Payments tab.
3. Click on the PayPal Complete Payments gateway to expand its settings.
4. Under the Sandbox section, click the Connect with PayPal button.

5. If you are not already logged in, log in with your sandbox Business account details. Use the email and password from the account info.

6. Grant permissions and complete the connection.
7. After that, PayPal redirects back to the MemberPress settings page.
8. Check the Use PayPal Sandbox option to enable test payments.

9. Click Update Options to save.

Note: The Use PayPal Sandbox checkbox must be checked for test payments. When checked, MemberPress uses Sandbox instead of Production.

Testing PayPal Payments

With Sandbox connected and enabled, you can now test the payment flow. You will use the Personal Sandbox account you created earlier for testing. During checkout, you can pay using a test credit card, bank account, or PayPal balance.

Managing Test Payment Methods

To manage test payment methods for your Personal Sandbox account:

1. Go to PayPal Developer Dashboard > Testing Tools > Sandbox Accounts.
2. Find your Personal Sandbox account in the list.
3. Click the three-dot menu (…) next to the account.
4. Click View/Edit account.
5. Scroll down to the “Sandbox account info” section.

6. Manage your test payment methods:
   • Credit Cards – Click Manage to add or edit test credit cards;
   • Banks – Click Manage to add or edit test bank accounts;
   • PayPal balance – Click the pencil icon to edit the test balance.

Processing a Test Payment

1. First, open a new private or incognito window in your browser.
2. Go to the registration page of any existing membership or a test membership.
3. Fill in the registration form with test user details.
4. Click the PayPal button to open the payment pop-up.

5. Log in with the sandbox Personal account details.
6. Complete the payment in the pop-up window.

Checking Test Transactions

After completing the test payment, verify the transaction in both MemberPress and PayPal.

In MemberPress:

1. Go to Dashboard > MemberPress > Transactions.
2. Find the test transaction in the list.
3. Check that the transaction status shows Complete.

For recurring subscriptions, also check the subscription at Dashboard > MemberPress > Subscriptions.

In PayPal Sandbox Dashboard:

1. Go to https://sandbox.paypal.com/.
2. Log in using your Business Sandbox account credentials (email and password).
3. Navigate to Activity > All Transactions.
4. Find the test transaction in the list and verify the details match.

The connection is working correctly if transactions appear in both MemberPress and PayPal Sandbox.

Testing Other Payment Methods

By default, the PayPal button is enabled. You can enable additional payment options to test them in Sandbox mode.

Enabling Payment Options

1. Go to Dashboard > MemberPress > Settings > Payments tab.
2. Click on the PayPal Complete Payments gateway to expand its settings.
3. Click the Customize Payment Methods button below the Production and Sandbox sections.

4. In the pop-up, toggle the payment methods you want to test.

5. Click outside the pop-up to close it.
6. Click Update Options to save your changes.

Testing Card Payments

To test card payments, enable the Card or Card Fields option under “Accept Card Payments” in the Customize Payment Methods pop-up.

PayPal provides test card numbers for Sandbox testing. For a full list of test cards, visit the PayPal Card Testing documentation.

Testing Other Checkout Options

PayPal supports additional checkout options like Venmo, Pay Later, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. Each option has specific requirements:

• Venmo – Create a US sandbox Personal account and use USD currency. Venmo hides for other regions;
• Pay Later – Requires a supported currency (USD, GBP, EUR, AUD) and a minimum purchase amount;
• Apple Pay – Requires setup in the merchant PayPal account;
• Google Pay – Only works with one-time payments. PayPal hides Google Pay for recurring memberships.

For detailed testing instructions, visit the PayPal Checkout documentation.

Switching to Production

After successful testing, you can enable live payments:

1. Navigate to Dashboard > MemberPress > Settings > Payments tab.
2. Under the Production section of your PayPal Complete Payments gateway, connect your live PayPal Business account (not the Sandbox Business account).
3. Uncheck the Use PayPal Sandbox checkbox.
4. Click Update Options to save your changes.

Now, users can register for your memberships and pay through PayPal.

Troubleshooting Sandbox Issues

Blank screen when connecting – First, open the Sandbox Dashboard in another tab. Then, click Connect in MemberPress.

Cannot log in to sandbox – Use sandbox account details from the Developer Dashboard. Do not use regular PayPal login details.

Payment buttons not appearing – Check that Use PayPal Sandbox is checked. Also, verify that Sandbox shows Connected status.

Test card declined – Ensure you are using valid test card numbers from the PayPal Card Testing documentation. Also, use a future expiration date.

Venmo not appearing – Create a US sandbox Personal account and use USD currency.

Transaction not recorded – Check for pending transactions. Also, verify no firewall blocks PayPal. Review the WordPress debug log for errors.