Prove every payment and ticket state before launch
NexDirectory Pro, supplied separately, adds single-price paid checkout, capacity-aware reservations, transaction records, ticket promo codes, verified guest checkout and browser QR or manual check-in. If you only need free attendance, use the RSVPs, waitlists, guest lists, manual attendance, attendee CSV export and external booking links included in Free.
Keep real money out of testing
Use Test or Sandbox credentials until the buyer, payment return, confirmation, provider-side refund reconciliation, Free attendee export, QR check-in, cancellation and failure journeys have all passed.
Configure checkout behaviour and secure credentials
With Pro active, open NexDirectory → Settings → Monetisation → Tickets, enable checkout, choose the three-letter ISO currency and keep Gateway Mode on Test or Sandbox during quality checks. Stripe and PayPal each use separate test and live credentials.
Secret fields are designed to retain the stored value when left blank. Do not copy secret keys into page content, browser scripts, screenshots or support messages. Limit WordPress administrator access and rotate any credential that has been exposed.
Choose RSVP, external booking or Pro tickets
For a free event, use the RSVP and waitlist journey included in Free, or link to an external booking service. Use Pro tickets when NexDirectory needs to collect a single ticket price, verify guest buyers, issue transaction records or verify entry by QR.
For a Pro ticketed event, set the price, capacity and button wording deliberately. Confirm that the public date, venue, provider-side refund policy and attendee contact details are complete before opening sales.
Support members and verified guests
Logged-in buyers proceed with their account identity. Logged-out buyers can sign in, create an account, or continue as a guest. Guest checkout sends a verification email and reopens the payment step with a short-lived context and token.
Successful checkout gives the buyer a clear payment result and ticket status. Configure the confirmation, ticket details and QR entry instructions in Pro. Promotional codes can use a percentage or fixed discount; test valid, expired, exhausted and mistyped codes before publishing them.
Prepare a Pro checkout for real customers
Confirm that the event needs Pro ticketing
Use Free RSVP or an external link for simple free registration. Continue when you need on-site payment, verified guest checkout, transaction records, promo codes or QR check-in.
Enable one gateway in test mode
Choose the currency, add Stripe test or PayPal sandbox credentials and leave live mode off. Enable only the gateway the team is ready to support.
Create a realistic test event
Set dates, capacity, a single price, provider-side refund wording and buyer contact details. Use a small test amount and a clearly labelled private test listing.
Run member and guest purchases
Complete checkout while signed in, then test guest verification in a separate browser. Try valid and invalid promotions, a failed payment and a cancelled return.
Rehearse post-purchase operations
Check the confirmation, ticket and payment status, reconcile a provider-side test refund, use the Free attendee CSV export and scan the QR ticket before switching to live credentials.
Payment launch checklist
- Currency is correct for every event price
- Gateway remains in test mode during QA
- Only intended gateway toggles are enabled
- Free RSVP and Pro paid-ticket events follow the right path
- Guest verification resumes checkout correctly
- Promo code math has been checked
- Confirmation and QR verification work
- Live credentials are entered only after sign-off
Questions you may have
Do I need Pro for a free event?
No. Free includes RSVPs, capacity, waitlists, guest lists, manual attendance and external booking links. Choose Pro when the event needs the ticketing and commerce workflow.
Which gateways does Pro support?
The ticket flow supports Stripe and PayPal with separate test and live credentials. Complete a sandbox purchase and test the provider’s external refund and reconciliation process before enabling live mode.
Can a guest buy a ticket without creating an account?
The single event checkout supports a guest path that verifies the supplied email, then resumes checkout with a temporary context and token.
What happens if no paid gateway is enabled?
A paid checkout cannot complete without an enabled, correctly configured Stripe or PayPal connection. Keep the event private until a full test purchase, return and provider-side refund reconciliation succeed.