# Test orders with the Test payment gateway (Bogus Gateway)

> Place Shopify test orders without real charges: the Test payment gateway (formerly the Bogus Gateway), card numbers 1, 2 and 3, and cleaning up afterwards.

Page: https://lintelagency.com/resources/shopify-tricks/test-orders-bogus-gateway

## In short

Shopify’s Test payment gateway, long known as the Bogus Gateway, lets you place test orders without a charge. Deactivate your live card provider, choose Test payment gateway under Settings > Payments, then check out with “Test payment gateway” as the name, card number 1 (approved), 2 (declined) or 3 (gateway failure), any CVV and a future expiry date. Test orders can be deleted and stay out of reports and payouts.

## Facts

- **Where:** Settings > Payments
- **Card number:** 1 approved, 2 declined, 3 failure
- **Minimum:** More than 1 USD equivalent
- **Needs:** A paid plan
- **Last checked:** 2 November 2026

## How to use it

1. Go to Settings > Payments and deactivate the live card provider (for Shopify Payments: Manage > Switch to a third-party provider).
2. Open the provider list (See all other providers or Choose a provider), select Test payment gateway and activate it.
3. Check out on the storefront with an @example.com email and the test card details.
4. Delete the test orders (search test:true on Orders), then deactivate the gateway and turn your live provider back on.

## Code

### test-cards.txt

```text
# Shopify's Test payment gateway (formerly known as the Bogus Gateway)
Settings > Payments > deactivate the live card provider > Choose a provider / See all other providers > Test payment gateway > Activate > Save

Name on card   Test payment gateway
Card number    1 = approved   2 = declined   3 = gateway failure
CVV            any 3 digits, e.g. 111
Expiry         any future date
Amount         more than the equivalent of 1 USD

Email          use an @example.com address

# Afterwards: find and remove the test orders
Orders search:  test:true
Then deactivate Test payment gateway and turn your live provider back on.
```

## Limits and edge cases

- While the test gateway is active, customers can’t pay by card; do it before launch or at a quiet moment, and switch back right away.
- It doesn’t work with Shopify POS or subscription products; for subscriptions use Shopify Payments test mode.
- Manual payment methods such as cash on delivery or bank transfer can’t be tested this way; place and cancel a real order instead.
- Turn off automatic fulfillment apps while testing so test orders aren’t shipped.

## Questions

### What is the Bogus Gateway in Shopify?

The old name for Shopify’s Test payment gateway, a provider that simulates card payments so you can place test orders.

### What card number do I use for a Shopify test order?

With the Test payment gateway: 1 for approved, 2 for declined, 3 for a gateway failure. Name: Test payment gateway; any CVV; any future date.

### Do Shopify test orders show up in reports?

No. Test orders and simulated transactions don’t appear in reports or payouts.

### Can I delete test orders?

Yes, orders paid with the Test payment gateway or Shopify Payments in test mode can be deleted.

## Shopify documentation

- [Activating a payment gateway in test mode](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/checkout-settings/test-orders/payments-test-mode)
- [Processing a test order](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/checkout-settings/test-orders/processing-test-order)

## Related

- [Tag orders automatically with Shopify Flow](https://lintelagency.com/resources/shopify-tricks/auto-tag-orders-with-flow)
- [A password page that collects emails before launch](https://lintelagency.com/resources/shopify-tricks/password-page-for-launches)
- [Blocking a Shopify checkout that breaks your rules, with Cart and Checkout Validation](https://lintelagency.com/journal/shopify-checkout-validation)

License: MIT. Free to use in your own store and in client work.