Launchpad phase one: Final production testing
Eliminate checkout bugs before your subscribers find them. Learn how to safely run live test transactions, verify 3DS and PSD2 compliance routing, minimize mobile browser friction, and manage instant test refunds with Recurly’s production testing guide.
Launch · Launchpad Phase OneFinal production testing
Walk through checkout as a real subscriber to catch payment or compliance issues before they affect live revenue.
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Final production testingWhy test in production?
Testing from your subscriber's perspective surfaces issues your admin view won't show you — expired test cards, missing 3DS flows, and checkout errors that silently block signups. Do this before your first real renewal cycle.
Trail guide: production testing
~3 minRun your production test
Use a live card — not a sandbox test card. Run the lowest-price plan available, then cancel and refund immediately after confirming success.
Complete a live transaction
Use a real payment method to sign up for your cheapest active plan. Complete the full checkout flow as a new subscriber would. Recurly Docs: How to test your gateway.
Verify the payment in Recurly
Log in to your Recurly admin and confirm the transaction shows as successful. Check the invoice and subscription status. Recurly Docs: Invoice management.
Check your confirmation email
Verify the post-signup email arrives promptly, displays your plan name, branding, and pricing correctly, and links to your subscriber portal. Recurly Docs: Email templates.
Refund the test transaction
From Recurly, issue and confirm the refund. This keeps your books clean and your test subscriber off your active list. Recurly Docs: Refund.
Verify PSD2 / 3DS (EU merchants only)
If you process payments from EU subscribers, trigger a transaction that should require 3D Secure authentication. Confirm the challenge flow appears, completes, and the payment succeeds.Recurly Docs: 3D Secure 2.0 integration guide.
Learn more about PSD2 and 3DS compliance in Recurly Documentation.
Many checkout issues are device-specific. Use a mobile device and a different browser than your admin setup — this is where subscribers are most likely to encounter friction.
Production testing checklist
Questions about Final Production Testing?
Our Customer Success team runs weekly Global Office Hours sessions where you can bring your real configuration questions — branding, plan structure, dunning setup, migration strategy, pricing model decisions. No agenda required.
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