Aplauso supports three isolated data environments. Each serves a different purpose, and it's important to understand the distinction before going live - otherwise test transactions can pollute your real data, or real payouts can be triggered during testing.

The Three Environments

Live - Production

Use for: Real guests, real tips, real payouts.

  • All transactions are processed through your live Stripe account.
  • Tips move real money. Payouts hit real bank accounts.
  • Analytics and reporting reflect actual business performance.
  • This is the mode your venue operates in day-to-day.

Sandbox - Testing

Use for: Setting up, testing integrations, training staff, QA before launching.

  • All payments use Stripe test mode - no real money moves.
  • Use Stripe test cards (e.g. 4242 4242 4242 4242) to simulate payments.
  • Tips and ratings appear in the dashboard but are clearly marked as sandbox data.
  • Employees can practice the app without affecting real earnings.
  • Sandbox data is completely isolated from Live data.

Demo - Presentations and Training

Use for: Sales demos, investor presentations, onboarding walkthroughs.

  • Pre-populated with realistic-looking demo data (employees, tips, ratings, analytics).
  • Payments go through a demo Stripe environment - nothing real happens.
  • Ideal for showing stakeholders how the platform works without setting up a real account.
  • Demo data cannot be modified or deleted.

How to Switch Environments

The current environment is visible in the top navigation bar of the dashboard - it shows a colored badge:

  • 🟢 Live - green badge
  • 🟡 Sandbox - yellow badge
  • 🔵 Demo - blue badge

Switching from the Dashboard

  1. Click the environment badge in the top navigation bar, or go to Settings → Environment.
  2. Select the environment you want.
  3. Confirm the switch - a brief loading screen will refresh the dashboard with the selected environment's data.

Warning: Switching environments in the middle of a shift can confuse staff. We recommend switching to Sandbox deliberately before a testing session, then switching back to Live before staff begin their shift.

Environment and the API

All Aplauso API endpoints accept an optional environment parameter in the request body or query string:

GET /v2/analytics?environment=sandbox
POST /v2/tips
{
  "environment": "live",
  ...
}

The default environment is always live - if you omit the parameter, the request affects live data. Always specify "environment": "sandbox" during integration testing.

Stripe Test Cards for Sandbox

When testing in Sandbox mode, use these Stripe test card numbers:

Card NumberScenario
4242 4242 4242 4242Successful payment
4000 0000 0000 0002Card declined
4000 0025 0000 3155Requires 3D Secure authentication
4000 0000 0000 9995Insufficient funds

Use any future expiry date and any 3-digit CVC.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can sandbox tips accidentally trigger real payouts?
No. Sandbox is completely isolated. Stripe test-mode transactions never process real charges.

Do employees see sandbox tips in their balance?
Sandbox tips appear in the employee's dashboard only when the dashboard is also in sandbox mode. The balances are separate and will not trigger real withdrawals.

Can I reset sandbox data?
Yes. Go to Settings → Environment → Sandbox → Reset Sandbox Data to clear all test transactions and start fresh.

Next Steps