LicenseManagerComparison
Moonbase vs LicenseManager
A side-by-side look at Moonbase and LicenseManager: what each one does, which SDKs they ship, and what they cost at your volume.
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.
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.
Compare the cost
Monthly cost of Moonbase and LicenseManager for your sales, from their published prices.
That's €9,900 of sales per month.
- Moonbase is 2.2x more expensive than LicenseManager: you'd save €355 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.
What LicenseManager does differently
Lower price
In every one of the 12 scenarios we computed, LicenseManager costs less than Moonbase. For example, with 10 licenses sold a month at €19 each: Moonbase is 2.9x more expensive than LicenseManager, a difference of €13.44 per month.
Stripe integration
LicenseManager creates licenses from Stripe payments without code. Moonbase has no native Stripe integration. Each Stripe payment or subscription creates a license and emails the key.
A flat price
Moonbase takes at least 5% + €1 per sale, LicenseManager takes none: your cost doesn't grow with your price.
SDK coverage
For Electron, Tauri, Swift, Go, Python, Ruby, Java, and PHP, LicenseManager has an official SDK and Moonbase doesn't.
Free tier
LicenseManager has a free plan with no fee on sales, up to 100 active licenses. Moonbase has no free tier without fees.
What Moonbase does well
Merchant of record
Unlike LicenseManager, Moonbase is the merchant of record and handles sales tax and VAT.
More SDKs
For JUCE, C++, and Rust, Moonbase has an official SDK and LicenseManager doesn't.
Built-in checkout
Unlike LicenseManager, Moonbase includes a hosted checkout.
File hosting and downloads
Unlike LicenseManager, Moonbase hosts your installers and downloads.
Features compared
"Not documented" means we couldn't find it in the vendor's public documentation.
| Feature | LicenseManager | Moonbase |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | YesOffline activations, counted once per device |
| 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 | YesCustomers manage activations and downloads |
| 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 price variations, with a grace period on failed payments |
| 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 | NoPayments are processed by Moonbase |
| Merchant of recordThe vendor sells on your behalf and handles sales tax and VAT for you. | No | Yes |
| Built-in checkoutA hosted checkout page sold with the tool. | NoUses your Stripe checkout or payment links | Yes |
| AnalyticsDashboards of licenses, usage or revenue. | YesActive machines, versions, platforms, revenue, MRR and churn | Not documented |
| Test modeA separate environment or sandbox to build the integration. | Yes | Not documented |
| Audit logA history of what happened to each license. | YesEvents on every license | Not documented |
| File hosting and downloadsThe vendor hosts your installers or packages. | No | Yes |
| 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 | Not documented |
| Usage meteringLicenses that count consumption, like API credits. | No | No |
| SSO for your teamSign in to the dashboard with SAML or another identity provider. | No | Not documented |
| Self-hostingRun the licensing server on your own infrastructure. | No | No |
| Open sourceThe service's source code is public. | No | No |
SDKs compared
A licensing SDK runs in your app and validates for you. An API client is a typed wrapper of the REST API.
| Technology | LicenseManager | Moonbase |
|---|---|---|
| Electron | @licenseman/electronLicensing SDK | Through Node.js SDK |
| JavaScript | TypeScript SDKAPI client | Node.js SDKLicensing SDK |
| Python | Python SDKAPI client | REST API |
| Go | Go SDKAPI client | REST API |
| Java | Java SDKAPI client | REST API |
| 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 |
| Rust | REST API | Rust SDKLicensing SDK |
| Swift | licensemanager-swiftLicensing SDK | REST API |
| JUCE | REST API | JUCE moduleLicensing SDK |
| Tauri | tauri-plugin-licensemanagerLicensing SDK | Through Rust SDK |
| REST APIUsable from any language | YesWith an OpenAPI document | Yes |
Pricing plans
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.
Moonbase
| Plan | Per month | Fee per sale |
|---|---|---|
| Pay as you go | €0 | 5% + €1 |
- +1% for cards issued outside the EEA, +1.5% for PayPal, +1% for USD sales.
- First 10,000 license validations per month free, then €5 per 10,000.
- €5 per payout, €20 per chargeback.
Which one to choose
Choose LicenseManager for indie developers and small teams selling desktop apps with Stripe, who want licensing without building a backend. Moonbase suits audio plugin makers (JUCE) and desktop developers who want a store and licensing from the EU. In 12 of 12 price scenarios, LicenseManager costs less than Moonbase.
The main reasons to pick LicenseManager: lower price, Stripe integration, and a flat price.
See also
See if LicenseManager fits your app
The Free plan includes every feature, for up to 100 active licenses. No credit card needed.