I called Paypal subscription API which returns success message but don't see any active subscription in the Paypal dashboard - paypal

Question

I am trying to create Paypal subscription through its Rest API using live client and secret.
The API returns success message. The GET subscription API returns the active subscription created, however I don't see any active subscription in my Paypal dashbaord.
Paypal support says the subscription ID does not exist.
Has anyone encountered such issue with Paypal API?
I have attached API JSON response and snapshot herewith.
{
"plans": [
{
"id": "P-4UJ45561KJ704964LMJ2QDZQ",
"product_id": "PROD-4EX86934CR7151923",
"name": "Certified business economist IHK | VO 2022",
"status": "ACTIVE",
"description": "The business economist IHK is divided into the following five subjects with the new examination regulations 2022",
"usage_type": "LICENSED",
"create_time": "2022-05-06T11:09:26Z",
"links": [
{
"href": "https://api.paypal.com/v1/billing/plans/P-4UJ45561KJ704964LMJ2QDZQ",
"rel": "self",
"method": "GET",
"encType": "application/json"
}
]
}
],
"total_items": 1,
"total_pages": 1,
"links": [
{
"href": "https://api.paypal.com/v1/billing/plans?product_id=PROD-4EX86934CR7151923&page_size=2&page=1",
"rel": "self",
"method": "GET",
"encType": "application/json"
}
]
}

Answer 1

First of all, everything in your question shows creating a plan. A plan is not a subscription, it is the cycle details to be able to create a subscription.
Secondly, creating a subscription still will not do anything unless a payer signs in to approve it. For a payer to approve a subscription, use a PayPal button. This is detailed in the Subscriptions Integration Guide.
Note that the createSubscription function can create a subscription for approval itself, by passing it an object with a plan_id (and optionally a plan object to override some part of that plan_id). This is the most simple method.
Alternatively, the subscription can be created via API, at a route on your server which that function will fetch when the button is clicked. Something like:
<script src="https://www.paypal.com/sdk/js?client-id=YOUR_CLIENT_ID_GOES_HERE&vault=true&intent=subscription"></script>
<div id="paypal-button-container"></div>
<script>
paypal.Buttons({
style: {
label:'subscribe' //Optional text in button
},
createSubscription: function(data, actions) {
return fetch('/path/on/your/server/paypal/subscription/create/', {
method: 'post'
}).then(function(res) {
return res.json();
}).then(function(serverData) {
console.log(serverData);
return serverData.id;
});
},
onApprove: function(data, actions) {
/* Optional: At this point, notify your server of the activated subscription...
fetch('/path/on/your/server/paypal/subscription/activated/' + data.subscriptionID , {
method: 'post'
}).then(function(res) {
return res.json();
}).then(function(serverData) {
//
});
*/
//You could additionally subscribe to a webhook for the BILLING.SUBSCRIPTION.ACTIVATED event (just in case), as well as other future subscription events
//Ref: https://developer.paypal.com/api-basics/notifications/webhooks/event-names/#subscriptions
// Show a message to the buyer, or redirect to a success page
alert('You successfully subscribed! ' + data.subscriptionID);
}
}).render('#paypal-button-container');
</script>