--- title: "Self-Hosted WordPress License Manager | WP Licenser" id: "34398" type: "page" slug: "wordpress-licenser" published_at: "2026-07-01T20:47:56+00:00" modified_at: "2026-07-08T09:23:58+00:00" url: "https://purethemes.net/wordpress-licenser/" markdown_url: "https://purethemes.net/wordpress-licenser.md" excerpt: "License Manager and Updater for Your WordPress Products A self hosted WordPress licensing plugin for theme and plugin sellers. Issue license keys, manage activations, protect premium updates, run trials with Stripe, Paddle, Polar, Dodo , or Envato . https://stripe.com https://paddle.com..." --- # License Manager and Updater for Your WordPress Products A **self-hosted WordPress licensing plugin** for theme and plugin sellers. Issue license keys, manage activations, protect premium updates, run trials - with **Stripe, Paddle, Polar, Dodo**, or **Envato**. [https://stripe.com](https://stripe.com) [https://paddle.com](https://paddle.com) [https://polar.sh](https://polar.sh) [https://dodopayments.com](https://dodopayments.com) [Buy Now](#pricing) [Skills (.md) for Coding Agents](https://purethemes.net/wp-licenser-ai-skills.zip) ###### Monetize WordPress Products ## Generate License Keys From Your WordPress Site **Generate and validate license keys** on infrastructure you control. Keys live in your **WordPress database**, behind your secrets. No SaaS between you and your customers. [https://purethemes.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/wordpress_licensing-scaled.jpg](https://purethemes.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/wordpress_licensing-scaled.jpg) ## AI-Ready Docs for Claude Code, Cursor, and Codex etc. **Every feature ships with a short Markdown doc:** license keys, activations, webhooks, trials, update delivery, client integration. [Download .zip with Skills for Coding Agents](https://purethemes.net/wp-licenser-ai-skills.zip) Drop .md to your coding agent and ask if it fits your business model ###### Billing Options ## One Plugin. Two Billing Methods. Choose how you want to sell: **bill customers directly with Stripe**, **or use Merchant of Record providers** like Paddle, Polar, and Dodo to handle taxes, compliance, and billing paperwork for you. ## Stripe for Direct Billing [Stripe Payment Methods](https://docs.stripe.com/payments/payment-methods/overview) Use Stripe when you want to **sell subscriptions under your own business**. You keep direct control of your Stripe account, pricing, checkout, customer portal, invoices, and subscription settings. ## Merchant of Record Providers Paddle, Polar, and Dodo Payments are merchant of records. This means **they appear as the seller on your customer’s invoice** and card statement, not you. They handle VAT collection, sales tax, compliance, and all billing paperwork on your behalf. [Paddle Payment Methods](https://developer.paddle.com/concepts/payment-methods/) [Dodo Payment Methods](https://dodopayments.com/payment-methods) ## 80+ Payment Methods ###### Own Your Licensing ## Self-Hosted Alternative to Freemius This licensing **boilerplate is for developers** who want licensing and updates without moving checkout, customer data, or product control to a hosted platform like Freemius. **It runs on your WordPress site.** #### License keys Generated and validated in PHP, in your database. AES-256 storage. Manual management from wp-admin when you need it. #### Protected updates Your own update server, outside WordPress.org. Valid license → native update prompt. Invalid → no ZIP. Base and Pro packages, changelog endpoint. #### Payment webhooks Stripe (one-time + subscriptions), Paddle, Polar, Dodo, Envato purchase codes. Signature-checked, idempotent. #### Free trials A shortcode form emails a time-limited key. Turnstile and rate limits stop abuse, crons clean up expired trials. #### Lifecycle Renewals extend, cancellations end, refunds revoke. Support periods tracked per license. Activations move between sites. #### Client side included HMAC-signed proxy for activate / validate / deactivate, plus plugin and theme updater patterns to copy into your product. ###### Pricing ## Pay Once, Use Forever Once you get access to the **plugin codebase**, it's yours forever and you can **use, fork and extend as you need.** Plugin Codebase $179 One-Time Payment [Buy Now](https://checkout.dodopayments.com/buy/pdt_0NiGn044rqfF6GUCCyd7P?showDiscounts=false) - Complete License Manager Keys, activations, validation, and admin UI. - Payment Webhooks Stripe, Dodo, Polar, Paddle, and Envato webhook support. - Protected Updates Protected updates with signed, expiring download tokens. - Trials, Renewals & Support Periods Free trials, renewals, cancellations, and support periods. - Email TemplatesEmail templates and the AI Skills docs pack for Claude, Cursor, and Codex. - AI Skills for Claude, Cursor, Codex etc. ###### FAQs ## Need Help? If you have any questions, feel free to ask. [Is this licenser battle tested?](#collapse-488bffd6a509b0bbccfa) **Yes!** We built it and we use it - handles over 12k licenses of our products every day! [How do I use this WordPress plugin license manager?](#collapse-ed7bd616a509b0bbccfa) Install WP Licenser on your own WordPress site, then configure payment provider and ask your AI agent to implement client-side licensing to your plugins! [How do I sell WordPress plugins with license keys?](#collapse-51d3d486a509b0bbccfa) Connect your payment provider and let WP Licenser take it from there. Every purchase fires a verified webhook that generates a license and emails the key. You keep selling through Stripe, Paddle, Polar, Dodo, or Envato exactly as you do now. [What is the best self-hosted alternative to Freemius?](#collapse-fba47136a509b0bbccfa) WP Licenser is for developers who want the licensing and update pieces without moving checkout, customer data, and product control into a hosted platform. It runs on your own WordPress site, ships with PHP source, and costs $179 once. You give up Merchant of Record convenience, but you keep control. [How do I protect a premium plugin from piracy?](#collapse-3a30cad6a509b0bbccfa) Gate every update and download behind license validation, activation limits, HMAC-signed requests, and signed, expiring tokens. That raises the cost of casual redistribution. No licensing system makes GPL code uncopyable, and WP Licenser does not claim to. [Does WP Licenser work for WordPress themes too?](#collapse-0e7e4ca6a509b0bbccfa) Yes. The same license validation and protected update pattern can work for WordPress themes. The client integration differs from plugins, but the server-side licensing flow is the same. [Is this a hosted service?](#collapse-c47ef9f6a509b0bbccfa) **No.** WP Licenser is a boilerplate you install on your own WordPress and wire into your product. It will not set up your payment accounts, and it is not no-code. You own it and you run it. Questions? Send us a message! #### Send us an email We will reply within few hours! Edit Content