Preview and test transactions

Preview mode is a fully functional version of your popup where you can click through all three steps and run test transactions with Stripe's test card. No real transactions are processed. Run one end-to-end test before publishing; it takes about 2 minutes.

Open preview mode

Click the Preview icon (play button) in the top bar of the editor. The preview shows your popup overlaid on a sample webpage, the way donors will see it open over your own site. Use the breakpoint switcher in the preview's top bar to check desktop, tablet, and mobile widths; at tablet and mobile widths, the appeal collapses into an About this Fundraiser bar above the form. Click Close Preview to return to the editor.

Run a test transaction

1. Choose an amount and click through the form as a donor would.
2. On the payment step, use Stripe's test card 4242 4242 4242 4242 with any future expiration date and any CVC. The card number appears in the preview mode notice in the corner of the screen, with a copy button.
3. Complete the donation and confirm the thank you screen appears.

What you can and can't test

Preview mode supports credit card test transactions only. Other payment methods can't be tested in preview:

• PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay: verify these with a small live donation after publishing.
• ACH bank transfers: the connection itself is verified during the test card flow, but ACH payment specifically requires a live transaction to fully test.

Test transactions don't appear in the Activity Dashboard. If you don't see your test donation there, that's expected.

What to verify

• The amounts, frequencies, and currency switcher behave as configured
• Personal info fields are required where they should be
• Comments, dedications, and designations work if you've enabled them
• The appeal reads well at every width, including the collapsed tablet and mobile versions
• The thank you screen shows the right title, description, and sharing options

Once the test passes, publish the popup and test the embedded version on your own site. See Embedding the popup on your website.