Getting started

Connecting a store takes about five minutes: create an account, add the store, install the plugin, paste the key.

Product name shown here is the default placeholder. The hosted dashboard and emails use whatever brand is configured (PRODUCT_NAME).

GatewayWatch watches your WooCommerce payment gateways and alerts you the moment checkout breaks — with a plain-English diagnosis, not just "payment failed".

1. Create your account

• Go to the dashboard sign-up page and create an account (email + password).
• You start on a 14-day free trial. No card required.
• (Recommended) Enable two-factor authentication from Account → Security.

2. Add your first store

• In the dashboard, open Stores → Add store.
• Enter the store name and its URL.
• We generate a unique API key (shown once). Copy it now — for security

you can only view it again by rotating it.

The plan you're on caps how many stores you can connect (trial: 3, Solo: 5, Business: 15, Agency: 50). Upgrade any time from Billing.

3. Install the plugin

Option A — download (self-hosted):

• Download the plugin zip from the link shown after creating a store.
• In wp-admin, go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin, choose the zip,

install, and activate.

Option B — WordPress.org (once published):

• In wp-admin, Plugins → Add New, search for the plugin, install, activate.

Requirements: WordPress 6.4+, WooCommerce 8.0+, PHP 8.0+.

4. Connect the plugin

• In wp-admin, go to WooCommerce → GatewayWatch.
• Paste the API key from step 2.
• Click Save Changes.
• Click Test connection — you should see a success message.

Monitoring starts immediately. The plugin captures payment events asynchronously (zero checkout impact) and sends them in batches.

5. Set up alerts

• In the dashboard, configure where alerts go: email and/or a Slack

incoming webhook.

• Choose the minimum severity you want to be notified about.

When a gateway breaks, you'll get an alert with: what happened, the likely root cause, and recommended actions.

6. What we monitor (and what we never send)

• We receive only transaction metadata: gateway, status, error code,

currency, amount, plus your store/software versions.

• We never receive customer names, emails, addresses, or card data.

7. Manage your subscription

• Billing in the dashboard opens Stripe Checkout to choose a paid plan and

the Customer Portal to update or cancel.

8. Troubleshooting

Need help? Get in touch — a person reads these and answers.

Something unclear, or stuck on a step? Tell us — the guide gets fixed.