LicenseManager2026 guide
Top license management tools for C# (.NET) in 2026
A factual list of license management tools for C# (.NET), with their SDKs, features and pricing.
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.
The tools
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.
C# (.NET): C# SDK (API client)
- No fee on sales, payments go straight to your Stripe account
- Only licenses validated in the last 90 days count toward the plan
- Electron, Tauri and macOS (Swift) SDKs with keychain storage, offline tokens and clock tampering detection
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.
C# (.NET): .NET SDK (licensing SDK)
- Licensing SDKs for 9 platforms, Unity, Swift and Android included
- Floating licenses with a cloud or on-premise server
- Air-gapped licensing on Enterprise
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.
C# (.NET): .NET SDK (licensing SDK)
- Merchant of record: VAT and sales tax are handled for you
- JUCE module for audio plugins
- Offline activations
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.
C# (.NET): .NET SDK (licensing SDK)
- Data stored in the EU
- Licensing SDKs for .NET, Python, Java, Node.js, C++ and Go
- Floating licenses and on-premise license servers
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.
C# (.NET): TurboActivate (C#) (licensing SDK)
- Native libraries for Windows, macOS, Linux and BSD
- Guides for C, C++, C#, Delphi, Go, Java, Node.js, Python and more
- Paid plans from $17 per month
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.
C# (.NET): through the REST API
- Floating, metered, user-locked and feature licenses
- Can be self-hosted, with an open source edition
- Hosts releases for Electron, Tauri, npm, PyPI, Docker and more
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.
C# (.NET): through the REST API, with an OpenAPI document to generate a client
- Merchant of record: sales tax and VAT are handled for you
- Open source platform
- Customers rotate their keys and free their devices in the portal
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.
C# (.NET): through the REST API
- Merchant of record: sales tax and VAT are handled for you
- Checkout, file delivery and license keys in one place
- No monthly fee
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.
C# (.NET): through the REST API
- No monthly fee and a quick setup
- Merchant of record: sales tax is handled for you
- Audience and marketplace features
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.
C# (.NET): through the REST API
- Checkout, licensing and auto-updates in one tool
- Auto-updates for Electron through Squirrel or Electron Builder
- GitHub repository access for license holders
SDKs compared
Licensing SDKs handle validation in your app. API clients wrap the REST API.
| Technology | LicenseManager | LicenseSpring | Moonbase | Cryptolens | LimeLM | Keygen | Polar | Lemon Squeezy | Gumroad | Anystack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C# (.NET) | C# SDKAPI client | .NET SDKLicensing SDK | .NET SDKLicensing SDK | .NET SDKLicensing SDK | TurboActivate (C#)Licensing SDK | REST API | REST API | REST API | 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 |
Pricing compared
| 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 |
| LicenseSpring | Up to 100 active licenses | $199 / month | None | Active licenses |
| Moonbase | No monthly fee, 5% + €1 per sale | - | 5% + €1 | Sales only |
| Cryptolens | Up to 10 active licenses | €299 / month | None | Active licenses |
| LimeLM | Up to 10 activations in total | $17 / month | None | Total activations |
| Keygen | Up to 100 active licenses | $99 / month | None | Licenses active in the last 90 days |
| 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 |
| Anystack | No monthly fee, 15% per sale | $39 / month | 4% to 15% | Active licenses |
Compare the cost
Monthly cost of each tool for your sales, with the cheapest plan that fits.
That's €2,450 of sales per month.
- LimeLM is 11% more expensive than LicenseManager, a difference of €11.42 per month.
- Cryptolens is 3.7x 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.
Features compared
| Feature | LicenseManager | LicenseSpring | Moonbase | Cryptolens | LimeLM | Keygen | Polar | Lemon Squeezy | Gumroad | Anystack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | YesAir-gapped workflows on Enterprise | YesOffline activations, counted once per device | Yes | Yes | Yes | NoKeys are validated with an API call | NoThe License API validates online | NoKeys are verified with an API call | Not documented |
| 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 | NoThe verify API returns a uses count, your app enforces the limit | Yes |
| TrialsTime-limited licenses to let users try the app. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | YesVerified trials | Yes | Yes | YesFree trials on subscriptions | YesFree trials on memberships | Not documented |
| 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 | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Yes | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | YesAccess limited to the latest release at expiry |
| 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 | YesUser portal | YesCustomers manage activations and downloads | Yes | Not documented | Not documented | Yes | Yes | YesCustomers find their purchases in their library | YesCustomers activate and revoke their own devices |
| 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 | 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 | NoYou update an expiration field from your payment processor | NoYou renew and suspend licenses from your own Stripe webhook handler, or Zapier | YesLicense keys revoked when the subscription ends | YesKeys stay active while the subscription is, and expire with it | NoThe verify API returns the membership's status: your app enforces it | NoRecurring packages are announced as coming soon |
| 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 | NoPayments are processed by Moonbase | Not documented | YesAlso PayPal, FastSpring, Skrill and authorize.net | NoThrough Zapier, or your own webhook handler | NoPayments are processed by Polar | NoPayments are processed by Lemon Squeezy | No | Yes |
| Merchant of recordThe vendor sells on your behalf and handles sales tax and VAT for you. | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Built-in checkoutA hosted checkout page sold with the tool. | NoUses your Stripe checkout or payment links | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AnalyticsDashboards of licenses, usage or revenue. | YesActive machines, versions, platforms, revenue, MRR and churn | Yes | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not documented |
| Test modeA separate environment or sandbox to build the integration. | Yes | YesDev environments | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | YesCustom environments | YesSandbox environment | Yes | Not documented | Not documented |
| Audit logA history of what happened to each license. | YesEvents on every license | YesFrom Business Plus | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Yes | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented |
| File hosting and downloadsThe vendor hosts your installers or packages. | No | Not documented | Yes | Not documented | Not documented | YesDocker, npm, RubyGems, PyPI, Tauri, Electron and binaries | Yes | Yes | Yes | YesElectron, Electron Builder, Composer, npm and PyPI updates |
| Outgoing webhooksYour server is notified of license events. | No | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Yes | Yes | Yes | YesPing notifications | Not documented |
| Floating licensesA pool of seats shared by several machines, checked out and released. | No | YesCloud and on-premise floating server | Not documented | Yes | YesFrom the Plus plan, trials only below | Yes | No | No | No | Not documented |
| Usage meteringLicenses that count consumption, like API credits. | No | YesFrom Business Plus | No | Yes | No | Yes | YesUsage quotas on license keys | Yes | No | Not documented |
| SSO for your teamSign in to the dashboard with SAML or another identity provider. | No | Yes | Not documented | YesSAML and SCIM on Enterprise | Not documented | YesSAML on Ent tiers | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented |
| Self-hostingRun the licensing server on your own infrastructure. | No | No | No | YesLicense Server add-on, for offline environments | Not documented | YesKeygen CE (free) and Keygen EE (paid) | Not documented | No | No | No |
| Open sourceThe service's source code is public. | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
About this list
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