---
title: "Accept payments with Stripe"
description: "Ask Buildy to add Stripe payments, click Add API Key in chat, and paste your Stripe secret key. Customers pay on Stripe and the money goes to your account."
canonical: "https://www.buildy.ai/docs/payments/accept-payments-with-stripe"
last_updated: "2026-10-26"
---

# Accept payments with Stripe

Buildy has a built-in Stripe integration for card payments. Ask Buildy in chat to add payments, then give it your Stripe secret key through the **Add API Key** button. Customers pay on a Stripe checkout page, and the money goes straight to your Stripe account. Paid Buildy plans only.

## Before you start

1. Create an account at [stripe.com](https://stripe.com) and complete Stripe's business details so you can receive payouts.
2. In the Stripe Dashboard, open **Developers > API keys**. You need the **Secret key**. It starts with `sk_test_` in test mode and `sk_live_` in live mode.

## Steps

1. In your project chat, say what you sell: "Add Stripe payments. Sell a one-time consultation for $150 and a monthly membership for $29."
2. Buildy shows an **Add API Key** button in the chat. Click it.
3. Paste your Stripe secret key in the dialog and submit. Never paste the key in the chat text itself.
4. Buildy confirms Stripe is on and asks what should happen after payment, for example a thank-you page or an email.
5. Test it in **Preview** with a `sk_test_` key and Stripe's test card `4242 4242 4242 4242`.
6. When it works, ask Buildy in chat: "Switch Stripe to my live key." Click **Add API Key** and paste your `sk_live_` key. It works right away.
7. Click **Publish & Share** so your payment pages are on your live site.

## How checkout works

- One-time payments: the customer clicks Buy, pays on Stripe's page, and comes back to your success page. No account needed.
- Subscriptions: the customer signs up on your site first. A button on your site opens Stripe's customer portal, where they change their card or cancel.
- Stripe takes its own fee from each payment. Payouts and disputes are handled in your Stripe Dashboard.

## Common problems

### The checkout shows test mode on my live site

Your site still uses a `sk_test_` key. Replace it with your `sk_live_` key as in step 6. You do not need to publish again for a key change.

### I want to charge in a different currency

Tell Buildy: "Charge in euros." Stripe supports most currencies.

## Related

- [Build an online store with a cart](/docs/payments/build-an-online-store)
- [My checkout button does not work](/docs/payments/checkout-button-does-not-work)