Licensing Options

Please note: you can compare editions here.

Download license agreement

Free Edition

Kentico CMS Free Edition allows you to build commercial or personal sites at no cost. You get an unlimited license that never expires. No hidden fee. See the feature matrix to learn the restrictions of the free license. You are required to place the Powered by Kentico CMS logo in the footer of every page managed by Kentico CMS. The technical support for the Free Edition is only provided through our Forums without any guarantee. 

1 Web Site License

1 Web Site License allows you to run one live web site. The web site can have one main domain and any number of additional domain aliases that point to the same content as the main domain.

Different language versions of the same web site that are created using the built-in multi-language support are all considered as the same web site.

If you run web sites with different content on sub-domains of the main domain, such as extranet.mydomain.com, these web sites are considered as a new web site and require additional license.

The license is limited to 1 physical server.

1 Server License

1 Server License allows you to run any number of web sites on a single physical server. The server needn't be your property - it can be a shared, virtual or rented dedicated server.

1 Server License with Source Code

1 Server License with Source Code is the same as 1 Server License, but it's also delivered with full source code. You can modify and recompile the code and use it in the production environment.

1 Unlimited License with Source Code

1 Unlimited License with Source Code allows the licensee to create any number of web sites and run them on any number of servers. The web sites can be developed solely by the organization that purchased the license. The licensee cannot provide the product to other parties without implementing the web site as a part of custom development services.

Subscription

The licenses can be purchased with optional 1-year subscription. The subscription covers:

• free technical support during the subscription period
• free major upgrades (3.0, 4.0, etc.) released during the subscription period

Upgrades

Minor upgrades (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, etc.) are provided free of charge to all clients who purchased any 3.x version.

Major upgrades (4.0, 5.0, etc.) are provided free of charge only to the customers who own a 3.x license with a valid subscription. The other clients need to purchase major upgrades.

Technical Support

Free technical support is provided:

• to users who evaluate Kentico CMS during their evaluation period
• to users who purchased Kentico CMS without subscription during the first month after their purchase
• to users who purchased Kentico CMS with subscription during their subscription period.

Technical support is provided by e-mail and phone. All questions are usually answered until the next business day.

Source Code

There are two levels of source code:

• Source code of the web project and of the administration interface - this source code is provided with all licenses.
• Full source code of all libraries and controls - this source code is provided only as a part of the 1 Server License with Source Code and 1 Unlimited License with Source Code.

The full source code is not necessary for common use of the product - you can create flexible dynamic web sites without modifying the full source code. It's intended for users who need to make modifications to the CMS engine libraries.

Web Farms

If you run Kentico CMS on several servers in the web farm, you need to purchase a license for each server in the web farm. This applies also to the 1 Web Site License.

User Licenses

There are no per-user fees.

Development, Staging and QA License 

There's no per-developer fee. Once you own some Kentico CMS license, you are entitle to install it on any number of development, staging and QA computers that are not used for real production.

License Transfers

You can transfer the license to a third party - e.g. to your client. You can transfer only the whole license, not its part.

Sublicenses

You cannot provide any kind of sublicenses to any third party. What it means: If you buy e.g. a server license, you cannot provide part of the license (1 web site license) to the client. You can only allow the client to use the web site that runs on your license. If your client wants to have her own license, she can either buy her own license from us or you can transfer your license to her (see above), but you can transfer only the whole license, not its parts.

It also means that:

• you cannot buy a server license and host Kentico CMS using this license for other developers.
• we do not provide direct technical support to the end clients of web development companies unless they own a Kentico CMS license with a valid subscription - without their own license, they need to ask the web development company for support.