> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.clientplug.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connect Stripe

> Sync client subscriptions, payment status, and revenue from your own Stripe account.

Connecting Stripe lets ClientPlug automatically track each client's payment
status, billing dates, and subscription revenue — no manual updates.

<Info>
  ClientPlug connects to **your own** Stripe account using your secret key. It
  **only reads** data. It never charges your clients, creates subscriptions, or
  changes anything in your Stripe account.
</Info>

## Find your Stripe secret key

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Stripe API keys page">
    Sign in to your [Stripe Dashboard](https://dashboard.stripe.com/apikeys) and
    go to **Developers → API keys**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Locate the Secret key">
    In the **Standard keys** section, find the **Secret key** row. It starts
    with `sk_live_` (or `sk_test_` if you're testing).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Reveal and copy">
    Click **Reveal**, then copy the full key.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  Your Stripe secret key is sensitive — anyone with it can access your Stripe
  account. Only paste it into trusted tools, and never share it in email or chat.
  ClientPlug stores it encrypted and only uses it to read your subscription and
  payment data.
</Warning>

## Add the key to ClientPlug

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Stripe step">
    Go to **Integrations → Stripe** (or the Stripe step in the setup wizard).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Paste your key">
    Paste the secret key into the field and click **Save Key**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm it's connected">
    Once saved, Stripe shows as connected and you can start linking
    subscriptions to clients.
  </Step>
</Steps>

To replace a key later (for example, after rotating it in Stripe), paste the new
key and click **Update Key**.

## Link subscriptions to clients

With Stripe connected, the **Stripe Subscription** field on each client record
becomes a searchable dropdown of your active subscriptions. Select the matching
subscription and ClientPlug will keep that client's:

* **Payment status** (Paid / Upcoming / Late)
* **Subscription amount** and **monthly revenue**
* **Billing and start dates**

…in sync on every refresh. See
[Payments & revenue](/essentials/payments-and-revenue).

## Keeping data fresh

Click **Refresh** on the dashboard to re-sync the latest payment data from
Stripe. There's no fixed schedule — sync whenever you want the freshest numbers.

## Disconnecting

Remove your key from **Integrations → Stripe** to stop syncing. Your clients and
their existing data stay in ClientPlug; they just won't update from Stripe until
you reconnect.