Get a Coastal Pay API Key for 2,000+ Software Integrations
Many standard-risk merchant accounts are approved in as little as two minutes through Coastal Pay's instant boarding process. Developers get sandbox access right away for testing, followed by production keys after standard underwriting. From day one, a single Coastal Pay API key covers credit card, ACH, and alternative payment methods - including Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo, Coinbase, Klarna, and Afterpay - so there is no need to juggle multiple gateway credentials.
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How to Request Your Sandbox and Live Keys
Follow these steps to move from signup to live production keys:
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.
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.
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.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.
| Attribute | Sandbox Key | Production Key |
|---|---|---|
| Endpoint | sandbox.coastalpay.com | gateway.coastalpay.com |
| Real charges | No | Yes |
| Availability | Immediately after signup | After underwriting approval |
| Typical timeline | Instant | Same day to 1-2 business days |
| Use case | Development and QA | Live transactions |
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:
- Store API keys in environment variables or a cloud secrets manager – never in source code.
- Rotate keys via the dashboard if a credential is ever exposed.
- Use IP allowlisting where your platform supports it for an added layer of access control.
Approval timeline: Standard-risk merchants are typically approved instantly through instant boarding. Higher-risk categories may require a same-day or 1-2 business day review.
Enterprise and high-volume accounts: Teams with large transaction volumes or complex multi-location requirements can contact the Coastal Pay Enterprise team to discuss custom rate limits and dedicated integration support.
Trust indicators:
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.
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