FakecreditcardHow Shopify test cards work
Shopify gives you two ways to place a test order without being charged. If your store uses Shopify Payments, turn on test mode under Settings › Payments › Shopify Payments › Manage and pay with the card numbers below. If you use a third-party provider, or haven’t finished setting up Shopify Payments, activate the Test payment gateway instead. Both need a paid plan, and test orders don’t show up in payouts or reports.
In Shopify Payments test mode, enter a name with at least two words, any future expiry date and any three-digit security code (four digits for American Express). Shopify Payments is built on Stripe, and these numbers are the same as Stripe’s test cards, so they will look familiar if you also integrate Stripe directly.
While any payment provider is in test mode, real customers can’t place card orders. Test mode doesn’t cover Shopify POS card readers, Shop Pay Installments or the PayPal wallet, and some local methods such as iDEAL | Wero aren’t available in it. Turn test mode off as soon as you have finished, and never leave it on in a store that is taking orders.
Failed payments (Shopify Payments test mode)
Each card fails with the error shown. 4000 0000 0000 0259 is accepted and then disputed, so you can see how a chargeback appears in the admin.
| Brand | Number | Result | Copy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa | 4000 0000 0000 0002 | Card declined | |
| Visa | 4000 0000 0000 9995 | Declined – insufficient funds | |
| Visa | 4000 0000 0000 9987 | Declined – lost card | |
| Visa | 4000 0000 0000 9979 | Declined – stolen card | |
| Visa | 4000 0000 0000 0069 | Declined – expired card | |
| Visa | 4000 0000 0000 0127 | Declined – incorrect CVC | |
| Visa | 4000 0000 0000 0119 | Processing error | |
| Visa | 4000 0000 0000 0259 | Disputed transaction (chargeback) |
Shopify’s Test payment gateway (formerly the Bogus Gateway)
If you don’t use Shopify Payments, activate the Test payment gateway instead. Enter Test payment gateway as the name on the card, any 3-digit CVV (for example 111) and any future expiry date, then type a single digit as the card number:
| Card number | Result |
|---|---|
| 1 | Approved transaction |
| 2 | Declined transaction |
| 3 | Gateway failure |
The order total must be more than the equivalent of 1 USD. The Test payment gateway doesn’t work with Shopify POS or subscription products.
Other error inputs in Shopify Payments test mode
Shopify Payments test mode also reacts to invalid card details, which is useful for checking your checkout’s error messages:
| Input | Result |
|---|---|
Expiry month 13 | Invalid expiry month |
A past year, e.g. 2000 | Invalid expiry year |
| Any 2-digit security code | Invalid security code |
4242 4242 4242 4241 (fails Luhn) | Incorrect card number |
Testing Shopify payments step by step
- In the Shopify admin, go to Settings › Payments, click Manage under Shopify Payments, select Enable test mode and save.
- Open your storefront, add a product to the cart and pay with
4242 4242 4242 4242. - Check the test order in the admin: inventory, shipping rates, taxes and the order confirmation email.
- Repeat with the failed-payment cards and check that the checkout shows a clear error message.
- Disable test mode when you are done — live card payments are blocked while it is on.
Common errors and fixes
- No “Enable test mode” option
- Test mode appears only after Shopify Payments setup is complete. Until then, use the Test payment gateway.
- Test payment gateway order fails
- The total must be more than the equivalent of 1 USD, and the gateway doesn’t support Shopify POS or subscription products.
- Customers say their cards are declined
- A payment provider is still in test mode. Turn it off: live orders can’t be placed while it is on.
Sources
Every number on this page was copied from Shopify’s official documentation and passes the Luhn check. Checked October 2026; gateways change their test data from time to time, so if a number stops working, check the source:
- Shopify Help Center – Shopify Payments test mode and Test payment gateway
- Shopify Help Center – Placing a test order
Frequently asked questions
What is the Shopify test card number?
4242 4242 4242 4242 (Visa) with a two-word name, any future expiry date and any three-digit CVV, in Shopify Payments test mode.
What is the Shopify Bogus Gateway?
The old name of Shopify’s Test payment gateway. Enter Test payment gateway as the name on the card, then 1 as the card number for an approved order, 2 for a decline or 3 for a gateway failure.
Are Shopify test orders charged?
No. Orders placed in test mode or through the Test payment gateway aren’t charged and don’t appear in your payouts or reports.
Can I use these test cards on another gateway?
Usually not. Each gateway only recognises its own documented test numbers in its own sandbox. Some numbers, such as 4111 1111 1111 1111, appear in several lists, but the results they trigger differ. For format-only testing on your own forms, use our card generator.