How To Sell Licensed Software

AweCommerce can sell licensed WordPress plugins, WordPress themes, and bundles.

Software Product Types

Choose one:

  • WordPress plugin.
  • WordPress theme.
  • WordPress bundle.

Create A Licensed Plugin Product

1. Prepare a clean product package. 2. Open AweCommerce, then Products. 3. Add or edit product. 4. Select Software and Downloadable product types. 5. Choose WordPress plugin. 6. Enter product slug. 7. Enter the plugin main file path shown by the product author. 8. Enter update address shown by the product author. 9. Configure license policy. 10. Add a price. 11. Upload the first release package. 12. Publish the update manifest. 13. Run a test purchase. 14. Confirm a license is issued. 15. Confirm the customer can download the package. 16. Confirm activation works on a clean test site. 17. Confirm updates work from an older version.

Create A Licensed Theme Product

1. Prepare a clean theme package. 2. Open AweCommerce, then Products. 3. Add or edit product. 4. Select Software and Downloadable product types. 5. Choose WordPress theme. 6. Enter product slug. 7. Enter theme stylesheet or directory name. 8. Enter update address shown by the product author. 9. Configure license policy. 10. Add a price. 11. Upload release package. 12. Publish update manifest. 13. Run a test purchase. 14. Confirm activation and updates on a clean test site.

Create A Bundle Product

Use a bundle when one license key should cover multiple plugins or themes.

1. Create each child plugin or theme product first. 2. Upload releases for each child product. 3. Publish update manifest for each child product. 4. Create a new bundle product. 5. Choose WordPress bundle. 6. Add covered products. 7. Configure whether each child has downloads, updates, and support. 8. Add bundle price. 9. Configure activation limit. 10. Run a test purchase. 11. Confirm one license is issued. 12. Confirm each covered product can activate with that license. 13. Confirm one customer site counts as one seat when multiple covered products are installed there.

License Policy Choices

Review these policy choices carefully:

  • Activation limit.
  • Unlimited activations.
  • License duration.
  • Grace period.
  • Whether local sites count.
  • Whether staging sites count.
  • Multisite behavior.
  • Customer domain management.
  • Customer key reveal.
  • Customer key rotation.
  • Behavior when a license is expired, suspended, refunded, or revoked.
  • Download rights.
  • Update rights.
  • Support rights.
  • First-install package method.

For most stores:

  • Use a clear activation limit.
  • Do not count local development sites.
  • Do not count staging sites if your support policy allows that.
  • Allow customers to deactivate old domains if support volume would otherwise be high.
  • Keep full key reveal controlled.
  • Use safer first-install packages that avoid placing the full key in the package.
  • Test every license state before launch.

License Email

After purchase, buyers can receive a license key email. Confirm:

  • The email template is enabled.
  • The key is readable.
  • The customer knows where to use it.
  • The support email is present.

Was this documentation helpful?