Easy Digital Downloads Software Licensing
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About Easy Digital Downloads Software Licensing
Selling a plugin or theme and then finding the same copy installed on twenty sites that paid only once is the classic problem of the independent developer. Add customers who never learn a new version exists, and others who let their license expire because nobody warned them. Software Licensing is the Easy Digital Downloads add-on that brings order to all of that.
From payment to key: how Software Licensing works with a plugin of yours
Imagine you sell a premium plugin with three price tiers. Here is the full journey, with what the add-on solves at each step:
- You set up the product: key generation is enabled product by product, and each one has its own settings. That way you can sell a licensed plugin and, say, a PDF with no key at the same time.
- The customer buys: they receive a license key tied to their purchase. You see each key on a details screen with the purchase and customer data.
- They activate on their site: your plugin checks the key against your store. For that there is a JSON API with requests for activation, deactivation, validation and the latest version.
- They receive updates: if the license is valid, the customer updates with one click from their WordPress dashboard, using the usual system interface.
An important limit: the add-on does not protect your code by itself. The check happens when your plugin or theme calls the API, and you have to build that call into your files. Examples and a few lines of code are included to do it, but it is development work, not a button.
One-click updates for plugins and themes
The automatic update system serves both plugins and themes. It understands the readme.txt file of plugins, so the update window can show the same information you would see in a plugin hosted on WordPress.org. It also supports releasing beta versions, useful for testing a new version before putting it in the hands of all your customers.
If you develop on GitHub or BitBucket, versions can be distributed from Git with a separate extension (Git Download Updater), which is not included in the add-on.
Questions people ask when they install it for the first time
Does it work only with WordPress plugins and themes?
No. It is designed mainly for WordPress developers, but the API works for any software, including video games or desktop applications. One-click updates, however, are specific to WordPress plugins and themes.
Can I sell different license levels?
Yes. You can create upgrade paths between levels, within a single product or to a different one. The upgrade amount can be prorated based on what was already paid and can even carry an additional discount.
Do I need Easy Digital Downloads?
Yes, it is an add-on and does not work on its own: it is installed on top of an Easy Digital Downloads store.
Can I document the integration for a non-WordPress product?
There is documentation for both WordPress and non-WordPress implementations, and the API is the route for the latter.
Renewals: what keeps your income from depending on new sales
An annual license expires, and many people do not renew out of simple forgetfulness. The renewal system sends automatic email reminders before expiry, and from the message the customer can go to your store and renew with one click. You can configure renewal discounts to encourage it, renew a key manually on a customer's behalf, or send a notice yourself.
There is also a report with a graph of renewals and the income you earn from them over time, which tells you how many people really renew. If you want automatic renewals with recurring billing, it integrates with the Recurring Payments plugin, which is a separate product and must be obtained on its own.
Before buying: what to check
- If you cannot program or have nobody to build the API call into your plugin or theme, the add-on will not protect you by itself.
- If you do not use Easy Digital Downloads to sell, it is no use to you.
- If you only sell single files with no updates or renewals, it is probably more than you need.
Topics
Version history
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3.9.8 Current 29 Oct 2026
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3.9.7 18 Jul 2026
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3.9.5 11 Apr 2026
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Frequently asked questions
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GPL (General Public License) is the license under which WordPress and most premium plugins/themes are distributed. It grants you the right to use, modify and redistribute the software in as many projects as you want, with no domain restrictions.
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Yes. With membership you get automatic updates via our GPLClub Updater plugin (installed on your WP, detects new versions and applies them). With individual purchase, you get one year of manual updates from your account.
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Depends on the plan. Monthly: 3 domains. Semi-annual: 7. Annual and Lifetime: 15. Individual purchase: 1 domain.
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GPLClub offers its own support for installation, configuration and compatibility. For direct support from the original author (feature requests, product-specific bugs), a license purchased from the author is required.
