---
title: "Go-live checklist"
url: "https://docs.signnow.com/docs/go-live-checklist"
type: "page"
section: "Documentation"
slug: "go-live-checklist"
---

# Go-live checklist

# Developer Go-live Checklist

SignNow uses a single URL `https://api.signnow.com` for both development and production. There are no separate "production keys." Going live is a billing and configuration change.

## Account and billing

- [x]  **Confirm active subscription:** To use the SignNow API in Live mode, you must have an active paid subscription or a valid free trial.

You can choose between an [API-specific plan](https://snseats.signnow.com/purchase/api/pricing) or a [Site License](https://snseats.signnow.com/purchase/business_plans/pricing) subscription:

* **API Plans:** Best for a single developer or system integration that requires one API dashboard.
* **Site License:** Best for organizations that need both the SignNow web application and API access for multiple users.
- [x]  **Add API users to subscription plan**: For a Site License subscription, ensure that all API users are added to the subscription plan.

Learn how to [add users to the subscription plan](https://www.signnow.com/help/add-users-subscription).

**Tip:** You can access your subscription details from the API dashboard.

Go to **Plan Usage** > **Manage subscription**.

![plan_usage.png](/reference-assets/images/Go-live%20checklist/plan_usage.png)

## Go-Live switch

- [x]  **Toggle app to Live:** In the SignNow API dashboard, go to **Apps and Keys**, locate your application, and switch the mode from **Development** to **Go** **Live**.

![go_live_app.png](/reference-assets/images/Go-live%20checklist/go_live_app.png)

## Configuration final check

Ensure your code is pointing to the right infrastructure.

- [x]  **Production webhooks:** Update your SignNow dashboard to point event subscriptions to your **production** callback URLs (must be HTTPS), removing any test or ngrok addresses.
- [x]  **Secure credentials:** Move your existing Client ID, Client Secret, and user credentials out of code and into a secure production secrets manager.
- [x]  **Test refresh token flow:** Verify your code automatically and successfully refreshes access tokens before they expire to prevent downtime.

## Performance and stability

Avoid service disruptions caused by high volume.

- [x]  **Check rate limits:** Review the API rate limits associated with your specific subscription plan. Ensure your anticipated production volume will not exceed these limits.

In Live mode, applications have a default limit of **1,000 requests per hour**. Each API request receives the following parameters in the response header:

```jsx
X-RateLimit-Limit => Total allowed requests per hour.
X-RateLimit-Remaining => Count of remaining requests for this hour.
X-RateLimit-Reset => Timestamp when the limit will reset.
```

If the limit is exceeded, you will receive a **429** error with the message:

```jsx
“You exceeded the rate limit of {limit} API requests per hour”.
```

**Note**: If your application consistently exceeds 1,000 calls per hour, contact [SignNow support](https://support.signnow.com/) to request a limit increase.

- [x]  **Handle 429 errors:** Verify your code includes logic to gracefully handle `429 Too Many Requests` errors (e.g., implement an exponential backoff retry mechanism) instead of crashing.

## Final test

Send a document for signature in Live mode. If the signed PDF **has no** ***Development*** watermark, you are live.


---
*Full page: https://docs.signnow.com/docs/go-live-checklist*