Have you ever wondered which license keys solution would fit best to your business needs?
Whether you are looking for a software license key manager, a serial number’s manager, ticket manager, gift cards or similar, in this article I will compare our stellar WooCommerce License Keys plugin with similar others so you can have an idea of what solutions are available to you.
Take note that the comparisons have been made based on the features available the date this article was published. Some features may have change since then.
UPDATE: This article has been updated the 20th of December of 2019.
What to look for?
Here are some key elements I think you should be aware of when choosing the right solution:
Price: There are free solutions (some with premium add-ons) and paid solutions (with a variety of prices). Review the payment details of each, because most of them implement a SaaS (Software as a service) business model.
E-Commerce: If your goal is to sell these, make sure that the solution offers a way to manage orders and supports multiple payment gateways. Our recommendation is to find a solution that uses WooCommerce, since it is the most popular e-commerce solution in the world.
API: If you are looking to implement the solution to sell some type of software, you will need to make sure that the solution has a built-in API you can use to connect it with your product in order to validate purchases. Usually, you will need at least 3 essential functions, one to activate the product, another to perform periodic validations and the last one to deactivate it.
Scope: Some API implementations will limit you to only sell WordPress based products. Make sure the API supports Desktop applications or software coded with something different than PHP.
Documentation: Make sure the solution has enough documentation, which will be needed if you plan to implement it with your products.
Customization: Depending on your business model, you may want to modify the solution so it suits your needs; make sure to check the documentation and user reviews to see if the solution has feedback in regards of having customization hooks.
Support: Check how many installs, downloads and latest updates the solution has, check if the developer has a contact form for you to reach for support if needed.
Tracking and analytics: Whether or not you can generate business reports based on tracked information, important for decision making.
Customer pages: Aside from notifying your customers the purchased goods in order related pages or emails. You should consider if the solution comes with customer pages, so they can self-manage their codes.
With this information in mind, lest review the best solutions available:
License Keys for WooCommerce
WooCommerce License Keys
In my opinion, the best solution out there, because it has a robust (super coded) free version, which you can use to start implementing it in your business, and has the cheapest premium add-on that offers the most for your money.
Quote from our competitors:
State-of-the-art plugin…
Details
| Feature | WooCommerce License Keys |
|---|---|
|
Free version |
Yes |
|
Premium version |
$39.99 |
|
E-Commerce |
WooCommerce |
|
API |
Activation, Validation, Deactivation |
|
Scope |
Any (with HTTP support) |
|
Documentation |
10/10 |
|
Customization |
10/10 |
|
Support |
10/10 |
|
Price variations |
Yes (Premium) |
|
License code generator |
Yes |
|
Custom license codes |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Subscriptions |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Admin module |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Tracking |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Customer module |
Yes |
WooCommerce Software Add-on
Developer:
WooCommerce
Paid version:
Official site
WooCommerce, very own, software license add-on. Probably the most known among the Woo community because it has been developed by WooCommerce.
Details
| Feature | Software Add-on | WooCommerce License Keys |
|---|---|---|
|
Free version |
- |
Yes |
|
Premium version |
$129.00 (minimum) |
$39.99 |
|
E-Commerce |
WooCommerce |
WooCommerce |
|
API |
Activation, Validation, Deactivation |
Activation, Validation, Deactivation |
|
Scope |
Any (with HTTP support) |
Any (with HTTP support) |
|
Documentation |
4/10 |
10/10 |
|
Customization |
9/10 |
10/10 |
|
Support |
10/10 |
10/10 |
|
Price variations |
Yes (Premium) |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Custom license codes |
Yes (Premium) |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Subscriptions |
Yes (Premium) |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Admin module |
Yes (Premium) |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Tracking |
- |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Customer module |
Yes (Premium) |
Yes |
Software License Manager
Developer:
Tips and Tricks HQ
Free version:
WordPress.org
A popular non-ECommerce solution. It is completely free and open source.
Details
| Feature | Software License Manager | WooCommerce License Keys |
|---|---|---|
|
Free version |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Premium version |
- |
$39.99 |
|
E-Commerce |
eStore |
WooCommerce |
|
API |
Activation, Validation, Deactivation |
Activation, Validation, Deactivation |
|
Scope |
Any (with HTTP support) |
Any (with HTTP support) |
|
Documentation |
4/10 |
10/10 |
|
Customization |
1/10 |
10/10 |
|
Support |
2/10 |
10/10 |
|
Price variations |
- |
Yes (Premium) |
|
License code generator |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Custom license codes |
Yes |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Subscriptions |
Yes (Premium) |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Admin module |
Yes |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Tracking |
Yes |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Customer module |
- |
Yes |
WooCommerce Software License
Developer:
NspCode
Paid version:
Official site
A paid plugin with a very clean and professional presentation, the least trust it can give if we take in consideration that it does not have a free version to review.
Details
| Feature | WooCommerce Software License | WooCommerce License Keys |
|---|---|---|
|
Free version |
- |
Yes |
|
Premium version |
$49.99 (minimum) |
$39.99 |
|
E-Commerce |
WooCommerce |
WooCommerce |
|
API |
Activation, Validation, Deactivation |
Activation, Validation, Deactivation |
|
Scope |
Any (with HTTP support) |
Any (with HTTP support) |
|
Documentation |
10/10 |
10/10 |
|
Customization |
8/10 |
10/10 |
|
Support |
10/10 |
10/10 |
|
Price variations |
Yes (Premium) |
Yes (Premium) |
|
License code generator |
Yes (Premium) |
Yes |
|
Custom license codes |
Yes (Premium) |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Subscriptions |
Yes (Premium) |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Admin module |
Yes (Premium) |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Tracking |
Yes (Premium) |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Customer module |
Yes (Premium) |
Yes |
WooCommerce Serial Numbers
The newest competitor of the bunch. Clean presentation and fine coded plugin.
Details
| Feature | WooCommerce Serial Numbers | WooCommerce License Keys |
|---|---|---|
|
Free version |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Premium version |
$39.00 (minimum) |
$39.99 |
|
E-Commerce |
WooCommerce |
WooCommerce |
|
API |
Activation, Validation, Deactivation |
Activation, Validation, Deactivation |
|
Scope |
Any (with HTTP support) |
Any (with HTTP support) |
|
Documentation |
4/10 |
10/10 |
|
Customization |
1/10 |
10/10 |
|
Support |
10/10 |
10/10 |
|
Price variations |
Yes (Premium) |
Yes (Premium) |
|
License code generator |
Yes (Premium) |
Yes |
|
Custom license codes |
Yes (Premium) |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Subscriptions |
- |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Admin module |
Yes (Premium) |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Tracking |
- |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Customer module |
- |
Yes |
License Manager for WooCommerce
Developer:
Drazen Bebic
Free version:
WordPress.org
A completely free and open source solution for WooCommerce.
Details
| Feature | License Manager for WooCommerce | WooCommerce License Keys |
|---|---|---|
|
Free version |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Premium version |
- |
$39.99 |
|
E-Commerce |
WooCommerce |
WooCommerce |
|
API |
Activation, Validation, Deactivation |
Activation, Validation, Deactivation |
|
Scope |
Any (with HTTP support) |
Any (with HTTP support) |
|
Documentation |
6/10 |
10/10 |
|
Customization |
3/10 |
10/10 |
|
Support |
7/10 |
10/10 |
|
Price variations |
Yes |
Yes |
|
License code generator |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Custom license codes |
Yes |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Subscriptions |
- |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Admin module |
Yes |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Tracking |
- |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Customer module |
- |
Yes |
WooCommerce License Manager
Developer:
firassaidi
Paid version:
CodeCanyon
Paid only plugin, available at CodeCanyon.
Details
| Feature | WooCommerce License Manager | WooCommerce License Keys |
|---|---|---|
|
Free version |
- |
Yes |
|
Premium version |
$59.00 |
$39.99 |
|
E-Commerce |
WooCommerce |
WooCommerce |
|
API |
Activation, Validation, Deactivation |
Activation, Validation, Deactivation |
|
Scope |
Any (with HTTP support) |
Any (with HTTP support) |
|
Documentation |
6/10 |
10/10 |
|
Customization |
5/10 |
10/10 |
|
Support |
9/10 |
10/10 |
|
Price variations |
Yes (Premium) |
Yes |
|
License code generator |
Yes (Premium) |
Yes |
|
Custom license codes |
Yes (Premium) |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Subscriptions |
- |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Admin module |
Yes (Premium) |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Tracking |
- |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Customer module |
- |
Yes |
Software Licensing
Developer:
EasydigitalDownloads
Paid version:
Official site
A solution for the EasyDigitalDownloads plugin.
Details
| Feature | Software Licensing | WooCommerce License Keys |
|---|---|---|
|
Free version |
- |
Yes |
|
Premium version |
$199.00 (minimum) |
$39.99 |
|
E-Commerce |
EasyDigitalDownloads |
WooCommerce |
|
API |
Activation, Validation, Deactivation |
Activation, Validation, Deactivation |
|
Scope |
Any (with HTTP support) |
Any (with HTTP support) |
|
Documentation |
4/10 |
10/10 |
|
Customization |
3/10 |
10/10 |
|
Support |
5/10 |
10/10 |
|
Price variations |
Yes (Premium) |
Yes |
|
License code generator |
Yes (Premium) |
Yes |
|
Custom license codes |
Yes (Premium) |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Subscriptions |
Yes (Premium) |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Admin module |
Yes (Premium) |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Tracking |
Yes (Premium) |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Customer module |
Yes (Premium) |
Yes |
Woocommerce Product License Manager
Another free/premium plugin available at WordPress.org. This seems to be the less featured and supported of all.
Details
| Feature | Woocommerce Product License Manager | WooCommerce License Keys |
|---|---|---|
|
Free version |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Premium version |
$47.00 |
$39.99 |
|
E-Commerce |
WooCommerce |
WooCommerce |
|
API |
Activation, Validation, Deactivation |
Activation, Validation, Deactivation |
|
Scope |
Web based |
Any (with HTTP support) |
|
Documentation |
1/10 |
10/10 |
|
Customization |
1/10 |
10/10 |
|
Support |
1/10 |
10/10 |
|
Price variations |
- |
Yes (Premium) |
|
License code generator |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Custom license codes |
Yes |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Subscriptions |
Yes (Premium) |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Admin module |
Yes |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Tracking |
- |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Customer module |
- |
Yes |
License Manager for WooCommerce (CodeCanyon)
Developer:
Codemypain
Paid version:
CodeCanyon
Another paid only plugin, available at CodeCanyon.
Details
| Feature | License Manager for WooCommerce | WooCommerce License Keys |
|---|---|---|
|
Free version |
- |
Yes |
|
Premium version |
$30.00 |
$39.99 |
|
E-Commerce |
WooCommerce |
WooCommerce |
|
API |
- |
Activation, Validation, Deactivation |
|
Scope |
- |
Any (with HTTP support) |
|
Documentation |
1/10 |
10/10 |
|
Customization |
1/10 |
10/10 |
|
Support |
3/10 |
10/10 |
|
Price variations |
Yes (Premium) |
Yes |
|
License code generator |
- |
Yes |
|
Custom license codes |
Yes (Premium) |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Subscriptions |
- |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Admin module |
Yes (Premium) |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Tracking |
- |
Yes (Premium) |
|
Customer module |
- |
Yes |
Final thoughts...
I hope this article has been of great utility to you. I think it is very handy and helpful in order to easily compare between plugins and make the best decision to fit your business model.
I will be editing this article from time to time, to keep it clean and up-to-date. If you have any feedback and suggestions, please leave a comment below, I will gladly read it.
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