LicenseManagerComparison
Keygen vs LicenseSpring
How do Keygen and LicenseSpring differ? A factual comparison of their features, SDKs and pricing.
We build LicenseManager, mentioned at the end of this page. Prices and features come from each vendor's public pricing page and documentation, checked on 2026-10-25. Report an error.
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.
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.
What you'd pay
Monthly cost of Keygen and LicenseSpring for your sales, with LicenseManager for reference.
That's €2,450 of sales per month.
- With Keygen, you'd pay €86 less per month: LicenseSpring is 55% more expensive.
- Keygen is 56% more expensive than LicenseManager, a difference of €56.14 per month.
- You'd save €142 per month with LicenseManager. LicenseSpring is 2.4x more expensive.
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.
Keygen's advantages
Lower or equal cost
Keygen costs less than LicenseSpring in 9 of 12 scenarios we computed. They cost the same in the 3 others. For example, with 300 licenses sold a month at €19 each: LicenseSpring is 83% more expensive than Keygen, a difference of €388 per month.
Self-hosting
Keygen can be self-hosted, while LicenseSpring is cloud only. Keygen CE (free) and Keygen EE (paid).
Open source
Unlike LicenseSpring, Keygen is open source.
Cheaper first paid plan
The first paid plan is $99 per month on Keygen, and $199 on LicenseSpring.
Where LicenseSpring fits better
Stripe integration
LicenseSpring creates licenses from Stripe payments without code, while Keygen has no native Stripe integration.
Official SDKs
Official LicenseSpring SDKs exist for C# (.NET), C++, Java, Python, JavaScript, Unity, Swift, and Android, with no Keygen equivalent.
Subscription licenses
Unlike Keygen, LicenseSpring keeps licenses valid while a subscription is paid, and stops them when it ends. Recurring Stripe prices create subscription licenses.
Feature by feature
| Feature | Keygen | LicenseSpring |
|---|---|---|
| Offline validationThe app can check a license without reaching the vendor's servers, usually with a signed file or token. | Yes | YesAir-gapped workflows on Enterprise |
| Machine activation limitsA license can be limited to a number of devices, enforced by the service. | Yes | Yes |
| TrialsTime-limited licenses to let users try the app. | Yes | Yes |
| Perpetual licensesLicenses that never expire. | Yes | Yes |
| Updates for a limited timeCustomers keep the versions released while their license was valid, after it ends. | Yes | Not documented |
| Customer portalA page where customers find their keys and manage their devices on their own. | Not documented | YesUser portal |
| Subscription licensesLicenses that renew with each recurring payment and stop when the subscription ends, without code on your side. | NoYou renew and suspend licenses from your own Stripe webhook handler, or Zapier | YesRecurring Stripe prices create subscription licenses |
| Stripe integrationLicenses are created from Stripe payments with no code on your side. | NoThrough Zapier, or your own webhook handler | Yes |
| Merchant of recordThe vendor sells on your behalf and handles sales tax and VAT for you. | No | No |
| Built-in checkoutA hosted checkout page sold with the tool. | No | No |
| AnalyticsDashboards of licenses, usage or revenue. | Yes | Yes |
| Test modeA separate environment or sandbox to build the integration. | YesCustom environments | YesDev environments |
| Audit logA history of what happened to each license. | Yes | YesFrom Business Plus |
| File hosting and downloadsThe vendor hosts your installers or packages. | YesDocker, npm, RubyGems, PyPI, Tauri, Electron and binaries | Not documented |
| Outgoing webhooksYour server is notified of license events. | Yes | Not documented |
| Floating licensesA pool of seats shared by several machines, checked out and released. | Yes | YesCloud and on-premise floating server |
| Usage meteringLicenses that count consumption, like API credits. | Yes | YesFrom Business Plus |
| SSO for your teamSign in to the dashboard with SAML or another identity provider. | YesSAML on Ent tiers | Yes |
| Self-hostingRun the licensing server on your own infrastructure. | YesKeygen CE (free) and Keygen EE (paid) | No |
| Open sourceThe service's source code is public. | Yes | No |
SDKs compared
| Technology | Keygen | LicenseSpring |
|---|---|---|
| JavaScript | REST API | Node.js SDKLicensing SDK |
| Python | REST API | Python SDKLicensing SDK |
| Go | keygen-goLicensing SDK | Go SDKLicensing SDK |
| Java | REST API | Java SDKLicensing SDK |
| C# (.NET) | REST API | .NET SDKLicensing SDK |
| C++ | REST API | C++ SDKLicensing SDK |
| Swift | REST API | Swift SDKLicensing SDK |
| Android | REST API | Android SDKLicensing SDK |
| Unity | REST API | Unity SDKLicensing SDK |
| REST APIUsable from any language | Yes | Yes |
Every plan
Keygen
| Plan | Per month | Active licenses (last 90 days) | Products |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dev | $0 | 100 | 1 |
| Std 1 | $99 | 1,000 | 5 |
| Std 2 | $299 | 10,000 | Unlimited |
| Std 3 | $599 | 25,000 | Unlimited |
| Std 4 | $999 | 100,000 | Unlimited |
| Std 5 | $1,999 | 250,000 | Unlimited |
| Ent 1 | $2,999 | 250,000 | Unlimited |
| Ent 2 | $6,999 | 500,000 | Unlimited |
| Ent 3 | $9,999 | 1,000,000 | Unlimited |
- Active licensed users are licenses with API activity in the last 90 days.
- Paid tiers have soft limits.
- Keygen CE can be self-hosted for free, Keygen EE under a paid license.
- Whitelabel API domain: $995 per year per domain.
LicenseSpring
| Plan | Per month | Active licenses | API requests / month | Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 100 | 1,000 | 1 |
| Business Starter | $199 | 1,000 | 10,000 | 3 |
| Business Plus | $750 | 10,000 | 1,000,000 | 10 |
| Enterprise | Custom | Unlimited | Unlimited | - |
- Usage-based metering and the immutable audit log start on Business Plus.
- A startup program gives up to 75% off Business Plus for two years.
Which one to choose
Keygen suits teams that need advanced licensing models, like floating or metered licenses, or want to self-host. LicenseSpring suits companies licensing native or game-engine software, that need floating or air-gapped licensing. In 9 of 12 price scenarios, Keygen costs less than LicenseSpring, and the same in 3.
The main reasons to pick Keygen: lower or equal cost, self-hosting, and open source.
An alternative to Keygen and LicenseSpring
With 50 sales a month at €49, LicenseManager costs €99.69 per month, card processing included: less than both.
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.
Lower or equal cost
In 9 of 12 scenarios we computed, LicenseManager is the cheaper one. They cost the same in the 3 others. When 30 licenses sold a month at €19 each: Keygen is 2.1x more expensive than LicenseManager, a difference of €56.14 per month.
Lower entry price
LicenseManager's paid plans start at €29 per month, Keygen's at $99.
Compare with LicenseManager
Start with LicenseManager's free plan
Up to 100 active licenses for free, every feature included, no credit card.