What is Snipcart?¶
Snipcart is a shopping cart platform that handles payments, inventory, and orders. It integrates with Stripe for payment processing, so you don't need separate Stripe credentials.
Setup Steps¶
1. Create Snipcart Account¶
Go to app.snipcart.com/register and sign up
Free for first 10 orders, then starts at $20/month
2. Get Your API Keys¶
Go to Account → API Keys
You'll see two keys:
Public Test Key - For development (starts with MWFm...)
Public Live Key - For production (starts with NWQx...)
3. Connect Stripe¶
Go to Account → Payment Gateway
Click Connect with Stripe
Authorize Snipcart to access your Stripe account
Note: Snipcart handles all Stripe credentials - you don't need to provide them separately!
4. Configure Domain¶
Go to Account → Domains & URLs
Add your site's domain (e.g., mysite.webfacemedia.dev)
This prevents unauthorized use of your API key
5. Provide to Developer¶
Send your developer the Public API Key:
# For development/testing
NEXT_PUBLIC_SNIPCART_KEY=MWFm...
# For production
NEXT_PUBLIC_SNIPCART_KEY=NWQx...Test Mode vs Live Mode¶
Test Mode¶
Use the Test API key during development
Use Stripe test cards (e.g., 4242 4242 4242 4242)
No real money is charged
Test orders appear in Snipcart dashboard with "TEST" badge
Live Mode¶
Use the Live API key in production
Real payments with real credit cards
Only activate after thorough testing
Common Issues¶
Domain Not Authorized¶
If you see "This domain is not authorized":
• Add your domain in Snipcart dashboard → Domains & URLs
• Include both www and non-www versions if applicable
• For local development, add localhost:3000
Currency Mismatch¶
Ensure your Stripe account currency matches your site currency
Check in Snipcart: Regional Settings → Currency