Your account
Test mode
Try every step, including checkout and certificate issuance, without paying or ordering a real certificate.
Test mode (sandbox) is a separate practice environment. It works like Stripe's test mode: you switch between Live and Test with one toggle, and the two never mix.
What's different in test mode#
| Live | Test | |
|---|---|---|
| Payments | Real (Stripe) | Stripe test mode: nothing is charged; use Stripe's test cards |
| Certificates | Issued by DigiCert | Simulated issuer; certificates aren't trusted by any inbox |
| Data | Your real domains and orders | Kept completely separate |
| API keys | vi_live_… |
vi_test_… |
| Banner | — | An orange "Test mode" bar across the top |
The free checks (domain, email health, logo, trademark, eligibility) are real in both modes, because they only read public information.
How to switch#
- Website: sign in, then use the Live/Test switch in your dashboard. An orange banner shows whenever you're in test mode.
- API: use a
vi_test_…key (keys are tied to one environment), or sendVI-Environment: testwith an OAuth token. - MCP / AI assistants: connect with a test key, or pass
environment: "test"to account tools.
Good uses for test mode#
- Showing your team the whole process before buying.
- Letting your AI assistant rehearse the flow.
- Building and testing an integration against our API.
Test data may be reset from time to time.