Understanding the trial period and test mode (sandbox)

What is it for?

When you create your account, Billora puts you in a space where you can try everything without risk. Two notions are easily mixed up, yet they have nothing to do with each other:

the trial period concerns your subscription (when do you start paying?);
test mode (or "sandbox") concerns your workspace (is your data practice data or real data?).

Example. Youssef opens an account for his consulting firm in Rabat. For two weeks he creates fictitious clients and test invoices to understand the tool. When he is ready, he activates his account: the fake data disappears and he starts invoicing his real clients.

The formula to remember

Trial period = billing (you pay nothing). Test mode = environment (your data is fictitious). The message is repeated on Billora's getting-started page ("Deux notions à distinguer", Two notions to tell apart).

The trial period: your subscription

Depending on the plan chosen at sign-up, a trial period may be included: during it, you pay nothing. Its length is set by Billora for each plan; it runs whether you are in test mode or real mode. Details and next steps: see Trial period and start of billing.

Test mode: your practice space

Every new account starts in test mode. In practice:

All features are open and no limit applies. You can therefore try what will later depend on your subscription.
A "Mode test" banner stays displayed at the top of the screen. It shows the number of days remaining and offers the Guide and Activer mon compte (Activate my account) buttons. Its colour changes as the end approaches (normal colour, then orange, then red).
Your PDFs carry a red "TEST" watermark: they cannot pass as official documents.
Your emails are actually sent (careful: they are not simulations), but their subject starts with "[MODE TEST]" and a red box states "Cet e-mail est un test. Il ne constitue pas un document officiel." (This email is a test. It is not an official document.)
DGI e-invoicing is simulated: an invoice "validated" in test mode does not go to the real DGI.

Warning: do not send fake documents to real clients

Since emails really are sent, use addresses that belong to you in test mode (your own, a colleague's). Otherwise one of your real clients would receive an invoice marked "[MODE TEST]".

Summary

	Trial period	Test mode
Concerns	Your subscription and its payment	Your data and your environment
Duration	Set by Billora for each plan	Set by Billora; the banner shows the days remaining
Features and limits	Those of your plan	Everything open, no limit
Data	No effect on your data	Deleted on activation (except what you choose to keep)

Switching to real mode: "Activer mon compte"

Only the account owner can activate.

In the "Mode test" banner at the top of the screen, click Activer mon compte (Activate my account) (on mobile: Activer).
An Activer mon compte window opens. It states: "Votre compte va passer en mode réel. Les données de test seront supprimées." (Your account will switch to real mode. Test data will be deleted.)
Read the red Toujours supprimé (Always deleted) box: clients and suppliers; invoices, quotes, credit notes, purchase orders, delivery notes; payments and expenses; VAT (TVA) returns; uploaded documents; activity log; numbering sequences.
Choose with the Conserver ma configuration (Keep my configuration) checkbox (checked by default):
- Checked: your products, settings, bank accounts and team members are kept.
- Unchecked: an orange Sera également supprimé (Will also be deleted) box additionally lists products and categories, bank accounts, email templates and reminders, team members (except the owner) and company settings (address, logo, SMTP, prefixes…).
Click Activer et continuer (Activate and continue). The page reloads: the "Mode test" banner is gone, and so are the "TEST" watermarks.

This is irreversible

It is impossible to go back to test mode or to recover the deleted data. If some test data is useful to you, export it beforehand (Paramètres → Import / Export, Settings → Import / Export).

Good to know

Numbering restarts from zero. Your first real invoices will therefore carry the first numbers of the series. If you are taking over an existing business, set the numbering before issuing (Paramètres → Numérotation, Settings → Numbering).
Your retained configuration is adapted to your subscription. Whatever your subscription does not include is reset to its default value (invoice templates, custom SMTP, numbering prefixes, email templates, reminders…). Bank accounts and members beyond your limits are deleted or deactivated.
Activation is refused if a document has already been declared to the real DGI: these documents are never deleted, they are corrected by credit note.
A welcome email is sent to you upon activation.

What if the test mode duration is exceeded?

A blocking "Période de test expirée" (Test period expired) screen is displayed: "Activez votre compte pour continuer à utiliser Billora." (Activate your account to keep using Billora.) You then choose between Activer mon compte, contacting support (if the WhatsApp or email buttons are offered) or logging out. Nothing is deleted until you activate.

Frequently asked questions

Can I extend my test mode?

The duration is set by Billora. Write to contact@billora.ma explaining your need: the team will review the request.

Is my test data always deleted?

Yes, business data (clients, invoices, payments…) is always deleted. Only the configuration (products, settings, team) can be kept.

Do my plan's limits apply in test mode?

No. Test mode = everything open, no limit. They apply after activation.

What happens to my subscription when I activate my account?

Activation does not change your subscription: it only changes the nature of your data (fictitious → real). To understand when you start paying, see Trial period and start of billing.

Can my colleagues activate the account?

No, activation is reserved for the owner.

Next steps

Trial period and start of billing → The first things to do → Set up your company →