How to Set Up Stripe or PayPal on Your WooCommerce Store

Accepting payments is at the heart of any online store, and WooCommerce makes it straightforward to connect with trusted providers like Stripe and PayPal.

Setting Up Stripe #

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard and go to WooCommerce > Settings > Payments.
2. Find Stripe in the list of payment methods and click Manage (if Stripe isn’t listed, go to Plugins > Add New, search for “WooCommerce Stripe Gateway,” and install and activate it first).
3. Toggle Enable Stripe to on.
4. Click Connect with Stripe, or manually enter your Stripe API keys if prompted.
5. If connecting a new account, you’ll be guided through creating a Stripe account, including business details and bank information.
6. Choose which payment methods to accept (credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc.).
7. Click Save Changes.

Setting Up PayPal #

1. From WooCommerce > Settings > Payments, find PayPal and click Manage.
2. Toggle Enable PayPal to on.
3. Click Connect to link your existing PayPal Business account, or follow the prompts to create one.
4. Review available options, such as allowing PayPal Credit or enabling one-touch checkout.
5. Click Save Changes.

Understanding Test Mode vs. Live Mode #

Both Stripe and PayPal offer a “test” or “sandbox” mode that lets you simulate transactions without moving real money.

• Test Mode — Uses fake card numbers and sandbox accounts. No real charges occur.
• Live Mode — Uses your real, verified account credentials and processes actual customer payments. Only switch to live mode once you’ve tested thoroughly.

Always double-check which mode is active before launching.

Verifying Checkout Works #

1. With test mode enabled, visit your store and add a product to your cart.
2. Proceed to checkout and use a test card number (available in Stripe’s documentation) or a PayPal sandbox account.
3. Complete the order and confirm you receive an order confirmation on-screen and via email.
4. Check WooCommerce > Orders to confirm the test order appears correctly.
5. Once satisfied, switch both gateways to live mode and place one small real test purchase to confirm everything works.

Need Help? #

If you need further assistance, contact our support team at [email protected] or start a live chat from any page on apexmanagedhosting.com.