Get a Coastal Pay API Key for 2,000+ Software Integrations

How to Request Your Sandbox and Live Keys

Follow these steps to move from signup to live production keys:

1. Sign Up or Log In

   Go to coastalpay.com and click Get Started to create a merchant account, or Login if you already have one. Have your business details ready.

2. Generate Your Sandbox API Key

   Inside the dashboard, navigate to Developers > API Links > Gateway Docs and click Generate Sandbox API Key. Use this key against the sandbox endpoint to build and test without processing real transactions.

3. Create Your Production Key

   After your account clears underwriting, return to Developers > API Keys and create a live key. Give it a descriptive name tied to the environment, such as Prod - main site, so your team can identify it instantly.

4. Store Keys Securely

   Your secret key is shown only once. Copy it immediately into a secrets manager, environment variable, or vault. Never paste it into client-side code or commit it to a public repository.

Here is a minimal example showing how to place your Coastal Pay API key in a request header:

# Example: Charge request using your Coastal Pay API key
curl -X POST https://gateway.coastalpay.com/v1/charges \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY_HERE" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "amount": 5000,
    "currency": "usd",
    "payment_method": "card",
    "description": "Order #1042"
  }'

Consult the Gateway Docs for full endpoint references, webhook signing, and response schemas.

Get API Access

Connect to 2,000+ Platforms Without Extra Code

Most merchants never need to call the Coastal Pay API directly. They simply paste a Coastal Pay API key or merchant ID into the settings panel of their existing POS system, shopping cart, or CRM plugin – and the integration is live. Common patterns include a merchant ID + API key field in POS terminals, or a Connect Coastal Pay OAuth-style button in e-commerce platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce.

The same Coastal Pay account works across in-store POS, online checkout, email invoicing, and payment links simultaneously. Developers who need custom workflows can still call Coastal Pay’s REST endpoints directly while the rest of the business uses the prebuilt integrations.

Security, Limits, and Approval Timeline at a Glance

Coastal Pay processes payments over HTTPS-only endpoints with PCI-compliant infrastructure. Key security practices every developer should follow:

Start Building with Coastal Pay Today

Whether you are migrating from another gateway or launching a new integration, Coastal Pay’s support team can assist with key setup, POS mappings, and enterprise sandbox environments. Create your account to get API access immediately, or review the Gateway Docs before you commit.

Questions? Call 888-266-1715 or email info@coastalpay.com – the team can help with key setup, integration mapping, or gateway migration from other providers.