LicenseManager2026 guide
Best free license management tools for Electron in 2026
10 tools that let you license an Electron app without a monthly fee, compared on their free tiers, Electron support and features.
LicenseManager is our product, and is listed first. Prices and features come from each vendor's public pricing page and documentation, checked on 2026-10-25. Report an error.
Tools with a free plan
5 tools offer a plan that costs nothing until you outgrow its limits.
LicenseManager
Our productLicensing service
License keys for desktop apps, created from Stripe payments and validated with one request.
- Free tier
- Up to 100 active licenses
- Paid plans from
- €29 / month
- Fee per sale
- None
- Billed on
- Licenses active in the last 90 days
Best for: Indie developers and small teams selling desktop apps with Stripe, who want licensing without building a backend.
Electron SDK: @licenseman/electron
- 100 active licenses
- 10,000 API requests per month
- 3 products
LimeLM
Licensing service
wyDay's licensing service, built around the TurboActivate and TurboFloat native libraries.
- Free tier
- Up to 10 activations in total
- Paid plans from
- $17 / month
- Fee per sale
- None
- Billed on
- Total activations
Best for: Native Windows, macOS and Linux apps, in languages like C++, C# or Delphi.
Electron SDK: TurboActivate (Node.js / Electron)
- 10 activations in total
- 1 product
LicenseSpring
Licensing service
A software licensing platform with SDKs for desktop, mobile and game engines.
- Free tier
- Up to 100 active licenses
- Paid plans from
- $199 / month
- Fee per sale
- None
- Billed on
- Active licenses
Best for: Companies licensing native or game-engine software, that need floating or air-gapped licensing.
In the main process, with Node.js SDK
- 100 active licenses
- 1,000 API requests per month
- 1 product
- 1 activation per license
Cryptolens
Licensing service
A licensing service from Sweden, now sold under the Devolens brand.
- Free tier
- Up to 10 active licenses
- Paid plans from
- €299 / month
- Fee per sale
- None
- Billed on
- Active licenses
Best for: Companies that need EU data residency, a reseller portal or on-premise license servers.
In the main process, with Node.js SDK
- 10 active licenses
- Unlimited for the first 30 days, then 10 keys and 15 end users
- 1 API request every 10 seconds
Keygen
Licensing service
A licensing and distribution API, available as a cloud service or self-hosted.
- Free tier
- Up to 100 active licenses
- Paid plans from
- $99 / month
- Fee per sale
- None
- Billed on
- Licenses active in the last 90 days
Best for: Teams that need advanced licensing models, like floating or metered licenses, or want to self-host.
Through the REST API
- 100 active licenses
- 1 product
- Hard limits: requests over the limit are refused
- 10 releases
Free to start, paid on each sale
No subscription, but a fee on every sale.
Anystack
Sales, licensing and distribution platform
A platform to sell, license and distribute software, with a checkout on your Stripe account.
- Free tier
- No monthly fee, 15% per sale
- Paid plans from
- $39 / month
- Fee per sale
- 4% to 15%
- Billed on
- Active licenses
Best for: Developers who want checkout, licensing and auto-updates for Electron or PHP packages in one tool.
Electron SDK: Electron integration
- No monthly fee, 15% per sale
- Sell exclusively through Anystack
- Licenses can't be created by hand
Moonbase
Merchant of record with license keys
A merchant of record with licensing, built for audio plugins and desktop software.
- Free tier
- No monthly fee, 5% + €1 per sale
- Paid plans from
- -
- Fee per sale
- 5% + €1
- Billed on
- Sales only
Best for: Audio plugin makers (JUCE) and desktop developers who want a store and licensing from the EU.
In the main process, with Node.js SDK
- No monthly fee, 5% + €1 per sale
Polar
Merchant of record with license keys
An open source merchant of record for developers, with license keys as a benefit.
- Free tier
- No monthly fee, 5% + $0.50 per sale
- Paid plans from
- $20 / month
- Fee per sale
- 3.4% + $0.30 to 5% + $0.50
- Billed on
- Sales only
Best for: Developers selling subscriptions or digital products who want tax handled and an open source platform.
In the main process, with @polar-sh/sdk
- No monthly fee, 5% + $0.50 per sale
Lemon Squeezy
Merchant of record with license keys
A merchant of record for digital products, with license keys included.
- Free tier
- No monthly fee, 5% + $0.50 per sale
- Paid plans from
- -
- Fee per sale
- 5% + $0.50
- Billed on
- Sales only
Best for: Sellers who want tax handled for them and only need basic license keys.
In the main process, with @lemonsqueezy/lemonsqueezy.js
- No monthly fee, 5% + $0.50 per sale
Gumroad
Merchant of record with license keys
A store for creators selling digital products, with optional license keys.
- Free tier
- No monthly fee, 10% + $0.50 per sale
- Paid plans from
- -
- Fee per sale
- 10% + $0.50
- Billed on
- Sales only
Best for: Creators selling small apps, plugins or assets, who want the simplest setup.
Through the REST API
- No monthly fee, 10% + $0.50 per sale
Free tiers side by side
| Tool | Free tier | Paid plans from | Fee per sale | Billed on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LicenseManager | Up to 100 active licenses | €29 / month | None | Licenses active in the last 90 days |
| LimeLM | Up to 10 activations in total | $17 / month | None | Total activations |
| LicenseSpring | Up to 100 active licenses | $199 / month | None | Active licenses |
| Cryptolens | Up to 10 active licenses | €299 / month | None | Active licenses |
| Keygen | Up to 100 active licenses | $99 / month | None | Licenses active in the last 90 days |
| Anystack | No monthly fee, 15% per sale | $39 / month | 4% to 15% | Active licenses |
| Moonbase | No monthly fee, 5% + €1 per sale | - | 5% + €1 | Sales only |
| Polar | No monthly fee, 5% + $0.50 per sale | $20 / month | 3.4% + $0.30 to 5% + $0.50 | Sales only |
| Lemon Squeezy | No monthly fee, 5% + $0.50 per sale | - | 5% + $0.50 | Sales only |
| Gumroad | No monthly fee, 10% + $0.50 per sale | - | 10% + $0.50 | Sales only |
What it costs as you grow
Compare what each tool costs once you have paying customers.
That's €580 of sales per month.
- With LimeLM, you'd pay €14.38 less per month: LicenseManager is 43% more expensive.
- Cryptolens is 6.7x more expensive than LicenseManager: you'd save €270 per month with LicenseManager.
Per month, excluding VAT. Assumes one-time purchases and customers using your app for 4 months, with Stripe's fees for the tools that aren't a merchant of record.
Electron and Node.js
| Technology | LicenseManager | Anystack | LimeLM | LicenseSpring | Moonbase | Cryptolens | Polar | Lemon Squeezy | Keygen | Gumroad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electron | @licenseman/electronLicensing SDK | Electron integrationLicensing SDK | TurboActivate (Node.js / Electron)Licensing SDK | Through Node.js SDK | Through Node.js SDK | Through Node.js SDK | Through @polar-sh/sdk | Through @lemonsqueezy/lemonsqueezy.js | REST API | REST API |
| JavaScript | TypeScript SDKAPI client | Node.js integrationLicensing SDK | TurboActivate (Node.js)Licensing SDK | Node.js SDKLicensing SDK | Node.js SDKLicensing SDK | Node.js SDKLicensing SDK | @polar-sh/sdkAPI client | @lemonsqueezy/lemonsqueezy.jsAPI client | REST API | REST API |
| REST APIUsable from any language | YesWith an OpenAPI document | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | YesWith an OpenAPI document | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Feature by feature
| Feature | LicenseManager | Anystack | LimeLM | LicenseSpring | Moonbase | Cryptolens | Polar | Lemon Squeezy | Keygen | Gumroad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offline validationThe app can check a license without reaching the vendor's servers, usually with a signed file or token. | YesEd25519-signed tokens, checked offline | Not documented | Yes | YesAir-gapped workflows on Enterprise | YesOffline activations, counted once per device | Yes | NoKeys are validated with an API call | NoThe License API validates online | Yes | NoKeys are verified with an API call |
| Machine activation limitsA license can be limited to a number of devices, enforced by the service. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | YesOptional activation limits | YesActivation limit per product variant | Yes | NoThe verify API returns a uses count, your app enforces the limit |
| TrialsTime-limited licenses to let users try the app. | Yes | Not documented | YesVerified trials | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | YesFree trials on subscriptions | Yes | YesFree trials on memberships |
| Perpetual licensesLicenses that never expire. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Updates for a limited timeCustomers keep the versions released while their license was valid, after it ends. | YesCustomers keep the last version released in their period | YesAccess limited to the latest release at expiry | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Yes | Not documented |
| Customer portalA page where customers find their keys and manage their devices on their own. | YesCustomers find their keys, free machines, cancel for a refund and manage their subscription | YesCustomers activate and revoke their own devices | Not documented | YesUser portal | YesCustomers manage activations and downloads | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not documented | YesCustomers find their purchases in their library |
| Money back guaranteeCustomers cancel a license on their own during a set period: it stops working and their payment is refunded. | YesSet in days on each offer, refunded through your Stripe account | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented |
| Subscription licensesLicenses that renew with each recurring payment and stop when the subscription ends, without code on your side. | YesRecurring Stripe prices, valid while paid, every update included | NoRecurring packages are announced as coming soon | NoYou update an expiration field from your payment processor | YesRecurring Stripe prices create subscription licenses | YesRecurring price variations, with a grace period on failed payments | YesRecurring billing module, extends licenses on each Stripe payment | YesLicense keys revoked when the subscription ends | YesKeys stay active while the subscription is, and expire with it | NoYou renew and suspend licenses from your own Stripe webhook handler, or Zapier | NoThe verify API returns the membership's status: your app enforces it |
| Stripe integrationLicenses are created from Stripe payments with no code on your side. | YesEach Stripe payment or subscription creates a license and emails the key | Yes | YesAlso PayPal, FastSpring, Skrill and authorize.net | Yes | NoPayments are processed by Moonbase | Not documented | NoPayments are processed by Polar | NoPayments are processed by Lemon Squeezy | NoThrough Zapier, or your own webhook handler | No |
| Merchant of recordThe vendor sells on your behalf and handles sales tax and VAT for you. | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Built-in checkoutA hosted checkout page sold with the tool. | NoUses your Stripe checkout or payment links | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| AnalyticsDashboards of licenses, usage or revenue. | YesActive machines, versions, platforms, revenue, MRR and churn | Not documented | Not documented | Yes | Not documented | Not documented | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Test modeA separate environment or sandbox to build the integration. | Yes | Not documented | Not documented | YesDev environments | Not documented | Not documented | YesSandbox environment | Yes | YesCustom environments | Not documented |
| Audit logA history of what happened to each license. | YesEvents on every license | Not documented | Not documented | YesFrom Business Plus | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Yes | Not documented |
| File hosting and downloadsThe vendor hosts your installers or packages. | No | YesElectron, Electron Builder, Composer, npm and PyPI updates | Not documented | Not documented | Yes | Not documented | Yes | Yes | YesDocker, npm, RubyGems, PyPI, Tauri, Electron and binaries | Yes |
| Outgoing webhooksYour server is notified of license events. | No | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Yes | Yes | Yes | YesPing notifications |
| Floating licensesA pool of seats shared by several machines, checked out and released. | No | Not documented | YesFrom the Plus plan, trials only below | YesCloud and on-premise floating server | Not documented | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
| Usage meteringLicenses that count consumption, like API credits. | No | Not documented | No | YesFrom Business Plus | No | Yes | YesUsage quotas on license keys | Yes | Yes | No |
| SSO for your teamSign in to the dashboard with SAML or another identity provider. | No | Not documented | Not documented | Yes | Not documented | YesSAML and SCIM on Enterprise | Not documented | Not documented | YesSAML on Ent tiers | Not documented |
| Self-hostingRun the licensing server on your own infrastructure. | No | No | Not documented | No | No | YesLicense Server add-on, for offline environments | Not documented | No | YesKeygen CE (free) and Keygen EE (paid) | No |
| Open sourceThe service's source code is public. | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
How this page is built
Compare in detail
Start with LicenseManager's free plan
Every feature on every plan, and 100 active licenses on the Free plan.