> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.agentaos.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Test mode and live mode

> Build and test your integration safely in test mode, with test money, before you go live.

Test mode lets you build and test your AgentaOS integration in a completely isolated environment. Payments, webhooks, customers, and invoices are kept separate from live, so you can develop with confidence and never risk a real charge.

<Note>
  Always build and test in test mode first. Every new account starts there, so there is nothing to switch on.
</Note>

## Test and live are chosen by your key

AgentaOS has one base URL. The **key prefix** decides which environment you hit, so you never point at the wrong host.

| Key prefix | Environment | Data                 |
| ---------- | ----------- | -------------------- |
| `sk_test_` | Test mode   | Test money, isolated |
| `sk_live_` | Production  | Real money           |

```typescript theme={null}
import { AgentaOS } from '@agentaos/pay';

const test = new AgentaOS('sk_test_...'); // test mode
const live = new AgentaOS('sk_live_...');  // production
```

Find both keys under **Settings → Developers → API Keys**. Store them as environment variables and never commit them.

```bash .env theme={null}
AGENTAOS_API_KEY=sk_test_your_key
```

## Testing payments

Test-mode checkouts render the secure card form. Use these test cards with any future expiry and any CVC:

| Card number           | Behavior                          |
| --------------------- | --------------------------------- |
| `4242 4242 4242 4242` | Successful payment                |
| `4000 0000 0000 0002` | Card declined                     |
| `4000 0000 0000 9995` | Insufficient funds                |
| `4000 0025 0000 3155` | Requires 3D Secure authentication |

<Warning>
  Only type a card number into the checkout page (the secure card form). Never send a card number to any API, in test mode or live.
</Warning>

## Testing webhooks

In test mode, events go to the webhook URL you register in **Settings → Developers → Webhooks**. To receive them on your machine, expose your local server with a tunnel like ngrok and register the tunnel URL. This lets you verify signature validation and your event handlers before going live. See [Webhooks](/payments/webhooks).

## Going live

<Steps>
  <Step title="Finish testing in test mode">
    Run your full flow with the test cards above, including a webhook round-trip, until every path behaves.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Verify your business">
    Complete business verification (KYB) in the dashboard. This is required before you can accept real money as Merchant of Record.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add a payout account">
    Add a bank account or wallet so your earnings have somewhere to settle. See [Payouts](/payouts/overview).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Swap to your live key">
    Replace `sk_test_` with `sk_live_` in your environment variables. Nothing else changes.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Register your live webhook">
    Add your production webhook URL and copy its live signing secret.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Watch your first payments">
    Keep an eye on your first live transactions to confirm everything behaves as it did in test mode.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  Never use a `sk_test_` key in production. Test-key calls never touch live money and will not settle.
</Warning>

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Checkouts" icon="basket-shopping" href="/payments/checkouts">
    Create checkout sessions and payment links.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Go live guide" icon="rocket" href="/guides/go-live">
    The full test-to-production checklist.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Subscriptions" icon="rotate" href="/payments/subscriptions">
    Recurring billing and cancellation.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Webhooks" icon="bell" href="/payments/webhooks">
    Receive and verify real-time events.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>