Server API

Call Creem directly from Server Actions, route handlers, and other trusted server code.

The @creem_io/better-auth/server entry point provides direct Creem helpers for code that does not need to go through a Better Auth endpoint.

These helpers use your secret API key and must run on the server. They do not automatically infer the signed-in user. Authenticate the request and authorize every customer or subscription ID before calling them.

Configure the environment

const creemConfig = {
  apiKey: process.env.CREEM_API_KEY!,
  testMode: process.env.NODE_ENV !== "production",
};

Create a checkout

Unlike the client endpoint, the direct helper requires customer information because it has no Better Auth session to inspect.

"use server";

import { createCheckout } from "@creem_io/better-auth/server";
import { redirect } from "next/navigation";

export async function startCheckout(productId: string) {
  const user = await requireUser();

  const { url } = await createCheckout(creemConfig, {
    productId,
    customer: { email: user.email },
    successUrl: "/billing/success",
    metadata: { referenceId: user.id },
    skipTrial: user.hadTrial,
  });

  redirect(url);
}

Open the customer portal

import { createPortal } from "@creem_io/better-auth/server";

const user = await requireUser();
const { url } = await createPortal(creemConfig, user.creemCustomerId);

Verify that the stored customer ID belongs to the authenticated account.

Manage subscriptions

import { cancelSubscription, retrieveSubscription } from "@creem_io/better-auth/server";

await requireSubscriptionOwner(subscriptionId);

const subscription = await retrieveSubscription(creemConfig, subscriptionId);
const result = await cancelSubscription(creemConfig, subscriptionId);

Search transactions

import { searchTransactions } from "@creem_io/better-auth/server";

const user = await requireUser();
const result = await searchTransactions(creemConfig, {
  customerId: user.creemCustomerId,
  pageNumber: 1,
  pageSize: 20,
});

Create a raw SDK client

Use createCreemClient() when the helper functions do not cover the API operation you need:

import { createCreemClient } from "@creem_io/better-auth/server";

const creem = createCreemClient(creemConfig);
const subscription = await creem.subscriptions.get("sub_...");

For general SDK coverage, see the TypeScript SDK documentation.

Utility functions

The server entry point also exports:

Function	Purpose
isActiveSubscription(status)	Returns true for active, trialing, or paid.
formatCreemDate(timestamp)	Converts a Unix timestamp in seconds to a JavaScript Date.
getDaysUntilRenewal(timestamp)	Calculates whole days until a Unix timestamp.
validateWebhookSignature(payload, signature, secret)	Validates a creem-signature header against the raw request body.

checkSubscriptionAccess() and getActiveSubscriptions() are also exported, but their database mode expects a raw query-builder interface that is not compatible with every Better Auth adapter. Prefer the authenticated hasAccessGranted() endpoint or query your own database through its supported adapter API. These server helpers only recognize active, trialing, and paid; they do not evaluate scheduled cancellation deadlines or payment grace periods. Use hasAccessGranted() for those access decisions.

Call Better Auth endpoints on the server

Calls through auth.api use the same endpoints as the browser client. Pass the current request’s headers for session authentication. Unlike browser client results, failed direct calls throw a Better Auth APIError:

import { APIError } from "better-auth/api";
import { auth } from "@/lib/auth";

try {
  const portal = await auth.api.createPortal({
    headers: request.headers,
    body: { redirect: false },
  });
  console.log(portal.url);
} catch (error) {
  if (error instanceof APIError) {
    console.error(error.status, error.body?.message);
  } else {
    throw error;
  }
}

Pass asResponse: true when you need an HTTP Response instead. Check response.ok and response.status; error JSON contains message, replacing the previous error field. This applies to checkout, portal, cancel, retrieve, transaction search, and access endpoints. The direct helpers from @creem_io/better-auth/server keep their separate behavior.