If you need to test your Shopify store without running real transactions, the Bogus Test Payment Gateway is the fastest and safest way to simulate payments. It lets you place orders, trigger flows, test apps (including Downpay), and check your entire checkout experience - all without using a real credit card.

Below is everything a merchant should know: what it is, when to use it, how to enable it, the test card numbers, and common tips.

On this page:

What Is the Bogus Test Payment Gateway?

How to Enable the Bogus Test Payment Gateway

How to Place Test Orders Using Bogus Gateway

• Successful Transaction
• Failed Transaction
• Error / Exception

Common Questions

Troubleshooting

What You Cannot Test with Downpay When Using the Bogus Test Gateway

• Remaining balance collection
• Payment provider webhooks
• Wallets and accelerated checkouts
• Fraud checks and risk analysis
• Real refunds, disputes, and payment failures
• Card re-authorization or post-purchase edits

What Is the Bogus Test Payment Gateway?

The Bogus Gateway is Shopify’s built-in fake payment provider. It allows you to:

• Simulate successful, failed, or error transactions
• Test checkout, cart, order creation, fulfillment, refunds, and notifications
• Test apps that rely on checkout, including partial-payment apps like Downpay
• Test different payment outcomes without connecting real payment providers
• Avoid making real charges or refunds on your card

It’s available on all Shopify plans and can only be enabled when your store is in test mode (or on a development store).

How to Enable the Bogus Test Payment Gateway

Step 1: Go to Payments

1. In your Shopify admin, go to Settings → Payments.

Step 2: Deactivate All Real Payment Providers

You must deactivate Shopify Payments, PayPal, and any third-party gateway before Bogus becomes available.

Step 3: Activate Bogus Gateway

1. Scroll down to Alternative payment methods.
2. Look for Bogus Test Gateway.
3. Click Activate.

Once enabled, your checkout will work normally, but every payment will be simulated.

How to Place Test Orders Using Bogus Gateway

When you go to checkout, use these special card numbers depending on the scenario you want to test:

1. Successful Transaction

Use this card number:

1

Any future date + any 3-digit CVV.

2. Failed Transaction

Use this card number:

2

3. Error / Exception

Use this card number:

3

This lets you test how your store behaves when payments fail or error.

Common Questions

Is Bogus Gateway available on all Shopify stores?

Yes — but only visible when no real provider is active.

Can customers place real orders with Bogus enabled?

No. All orders are test orders.

Will Bogus Gateway work with all apps?

Yes. Any app that relies on Shopify’s checkout will work with Bogus for testing.

Can I use the Shopify Payments “Test Mode” instead?

Yes — Shopify Payments has its own sandbox test mode.

The Bogus gateway is simpler and doesn't require connecting real bank accounts.

Troubleshooting

Bogus Gateway isn’t showing up

Try:

• Deactivate all other payment methods
• Refresh the page
• If still missing, your store may not be in test mode
• Make sure you're not using unsupported checkout settings (rare)

Test charge isn't going through

Check that you typed exactly one digit: 1, 2, or 3.

What You Cannot Test with Downpay When Using the Bogus Test Gateway

While the Bogus Test Gateway is great for testing checkout and deposits, several Downpay features cannot be fully tested because Bogus doesn’t create real payments.

1. Remaining balance collection

Bogus does not vault cards or send real payment intents, so future charges will not actually process.

You can only test the logic (due dates, Flow triggers) and simulate remaining balance collection but not real transactions.

2. Payment provider webhooks

No real events are sent from Shopify Payments, Stripe, or Paypal.

Anything depending on external payment webhooks won’t run.

3. Wallets and accelerated checkouts

Shop Pay, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and local payment methods do not appear when Bogus is active.

4. Fraud checks and risk analysis

Bogus bypasses AVS, CVV, fraud screening, and card validations.

You cannot test risk-based automations or flows.

5. Real refunds, disputes, and payment failures

Refunds aren’t processed, no chargebacks can occur, and no real “payment failed” scenario exists beyond the fake test response.

6. Card re-authorization or post-purchase edits

Order edits involving reauthorization cannot be tested - Bogus doesn’t support recharging cards.

The Bogus Test Payment Gateway is the quickest way to simulate checkout and payment behaviour on Shopify. It's ideal for:

• Testing new stores
• Testing some aspects of payment apps like Downpay
• Training staff
• Avoiding real charges while experimenting

Updated on: 01/12/2025