LicenseManagerComparison
LicenseSpring vs LicenseManager
LicenseSpring and LicenseManager both issue license keys. This page compares them with the data each vendor publishes.
We build LicenseManager. Prices and features come from each vendor's public pricing page and documentation, checked on 2026-10-25. Report an error.
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.
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.
Compare the cost
Monthly cost of LicenseSpring and LicenseManager for your sales, from their published prices.
Monthly revenue: €570.
- LicenseSpring is 3.8x more expensive than LicenseManager: you'd save €142 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.
Why choose LicenseManager over LicenseSpring
Lower or equal cost
In 9 of 12 scenarios we computed, LicenseManager is the cheaper one. In the 3 others, they cost the same. When 30 licenses sold per month at €19: LicenseSpring is 3.8x more expensive than LicenseManager, a difference of €142 per month.
More SDKs
For Electron, Tauri, Ruby, and PHP, LicenseManager has an official SDK and LicenseSpring doesn't.
Cheaper first paid plan
The first paid plan is €29 per month on LicenseManager, and $199 on LicenseSpring.
Where LicenseSpring fits better
Official SDKs
LicenseSpring has official SDKs for C++, Unity, and Android, which LicenseManager doesn't.
Floating licenses
LicenseSpring supports floating licenses, while LicenseManager has no floating licenses. Cloud and on-premise floating server.
More features
LicenseSpring adds usage metering and sso for your team, missing from LicenseManager.
Feature comparison
"Not documented" means we couldn't find it in the vendor's public documentation.
| Feature | LicenseManager | LicenseSpring |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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. | YesCustomers keep the last version released in their period | 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 | YesUser portal |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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. | NoUses your Stripe checkout or payment links | No |
| AnalyticsDashboards of licenses, usage or revenue. | YesActive machines, versions, platforms, revenue, MRR and churn | Yes |
| Test modeA separate environment or sandbox to build the integration. | Yes | YesDev environments |
| Audit logA history of what happened to each license. | YesEvents on every license | YesFrom Business Plus |
| File hosting and downloadsThe vendor hosts your installers or packages. | No | Not documented |
| Outgoing webhooksYour server is notified of license events. | No | Not documented |
| Floating licensesA pool of seats shared by several machines, checked out and released. | No | YesCloud and on-premise floating server |
| Usage meteringLicenses that count consumption, like API credits. | No | YesFrom Business Plus |
| SSO for your teamSign in to the dashboard with SAML or another identity provider. | No | Yes |
| Self-hostingRun the licensing server on your own infrastructure. | No | No |
| Open sourceThe service's source code is public. | No | No |
Supported languages
Licensing SDKs handle validation in your app. API clients wrap the REST API.
| Technology | LicenseManager | LicenseSpring |
|---|---|---|
| Electron | @licenseman/electronLicensing SDK | Through Node.js SDK |
| JavaScript | TypeScript SDKAPI client | Node.js SDKLicensing SDK |
| Python | Python SDKAPI client | Python SDKLicensing SDK |
| Go | Go SDKAPI client | Go SDKLicensing SDK |
| Java | Java SDKAPI client | Java SDKLicensing SDK |
| C# (.NET) | C# SDKAPI client | .NET SDKLicensing SDK |
| PHP | PHP SDKAPI client | REST API |
| Ruby | Ruby SDKAPI client | REST API |
| C++ | REST API | C++ SDKLicensing SDK |
| Swift | licensemanager-swiftLicensing SDK | Swift SDKLicensing SDK |
| Android | REST API | Android SDKLicensing SDK |
| Unity | REST API | Unity SDKLicensing SDK |
| Tauri | tauri-plugin-licensemanagerLicensing SDK | REST API |
| REST APIUsable from any language | YesWith an OpenAPI document | Yes |
Every plan
LicenseManager
| Plan | Per month | Active licenses (last 90 days) | API requests / month | Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | €0 | 100 | 10,000 | 3 |
| Startup | €29 | 1,000 | 100,000 | 10 |
| Standard | €99 | 5,000 | 1,000,000 | Unlimited |
| Custom | Custom | Unlimited | Unlimited | - |
- Every feature is on every plan, plans only differ by their limits.
- No fee on sales: payments go to your own Stripe account.
- Over a limit, a 7-day grace period starts and the app keeps working.
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
LicenseManager is a good fit for indie developers and small teams selling desktop apps with Stripe, who want licensing without building a backend. LicenseSpring suits companies licensing native or game-engine software, that need floating or air-gapped licensing. In 9 of 12 price scenarios, LicenseManager costs less than LicenseSpring, and the same in 3.
The main reasons to pick LicenseManager: lower or equal cost, more SDKs, and cheaper first paid plan.
Compare with other tools
Try LicenseManager for free
Up to 100 active licenses for free, every feature included, no credit card.