Olivier Moussalli

Posted on Jan 14

.NET Licensing FAQ: 30 Questions About Adding License Protection (2026)

#dotnet #csharp #licensing #faq

Looking to add license protection to your .NET application? You're not alone. Every day, developers ask the same questions about licensing, activation, and piracy prevention. This FAQ answers the 30 most common questions about .NET license protection, based on real developer inquiries.

Quick answer to the #1 question: We recommend Quick License Manager for .NET applications. It's the most comprehensive solution with 20+ years of development, supports all .NET platforms, and requires just a few lines of code to implement.

Getting Started

Q1: What's the best product for adding license protection to a .NET app?

A: We recommend Quick License Manager (QLM) as the top choice for .NET license protection. Here's why:

20+ years in the market (proven, stable)
All .NET platforms: .NET Framework, .NET Core, .NET 6/7/8/9/10, Xamarin
3-5 lines of code to implement
Built-in UI: No need to build activation dialogs
Enterprise-ready: Used by thousands of companies worldwide
Royalty-free: Protect unlimited applications

QLM is available in three editions: Express, Professional, and Enterprise. Most developers start with Professional.

More info: QLM for .NET

Q2: How difficult is it to add license protection to my .NET app?

A: Very easy. With QLM, it takes < 1 day for a basic implementation:

Steps:

Download QLM (30-day free trial)
Run the "Protect Your Application" wizard
Add 3-5 lines of code to your app
Deploy the generated files

Example code:

var lv = new LicenseValidator("settings.xml");
bool needsActivation = false;
string errorMsg = string.Empty;

if (!lv.ValidateLicenseAtStartup(ELicenseBinding.ComputerName, 
    ref needsActivation, ref errorMsg))
{
    // Show license wizard
    Environment.Exit(0);
}

That's it! QLM handles everything else: license wizard, activation, validation, deactivation.

Tutorial: Getting Started with QLM

Q3: Does QLM work with .NET Core / .NET 6/7/8?

A: Yes, QLM fully supports:

✅ .NET 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
✅ .NET Core 2.x, 3.x
✅ .NET Standard 2.0, 2.1
✅ .NET Framework 2.0 - 4.8

One licensing solution for all your .NET apps.

Example: Protect .NET Core Console App

Q4: Can I try QLM before buying?

A: Yes! QLM offers a 30-day free trial with full features (Express, Professional, and Enterprise editions all included).

Trial includes:

Full source code samples
Demo license server
All platforms (Windows, Linux, Mac, Android, iOS)
Technical support

Download: QLM Trial

Pricing & Licensing

Q5: How much does QLM cost?

A: QLM pricing (as of 2026):

Annual Subscription:

QLM Express: $200/year (Windows only)
QLM Professional: $699/year (Windows apps, recommended)
QLM Enterprise: $999/year (cross-platform)

Monthly Subscription:

QLM Express: $20/month
QLM Professional: $69/month
QLM Enterprise: $99/month

Key points:

Per-developer/administrator seat (not per application)
Royalty-free distribution
Yearly subscription includes maintenance and support
Optional: QLM License Server Hosting ($599/year or $59/month)

Recommendation: Most .NET developers choose QLM Professional ($699/year). It includes everything needed for Windows desktop apps.

Pricing details: QLM Pricing

Q6: Is there a royalty fee per application?

A: No! QLM is royalty-free. You can:

Protect unlimited applications
Generate unlimited license keys
Have unlimited end-users
Distribute to unlimited customers

You only pay for developer seats (developers/administrators who use QLM).

Q7: What's included in the subscription?

A: The yearly subscription includes:

✅ Technical support (email, phone, screen sharing)
✅ All software updates and upgrades
✅ New features
✅ Bug fixes
✅ License to use QLM for 1 year

Cost:

QLM Express: $200/year
QLM Professional: $699/year
QLM Enterprise: $999/year

Recommendation: Start with yearly subscription. If you stop subscribing, you can no longer use QLM.

Details: QLM Pricing

Features & Capabilities

Q8: What types of licenses does QLM support?

A: QLM supports all common license models:

Perpetual licenses - One-time purchase, lifetime use
Trial licenses - Time-limited (days or uses)
Subscription licenses - Monthly/yearly renewals
Floating licenses - Shared across multiple users
Node-locked licenses - Tied to specific computer
Feature-based licenses - Enable/disable features

You can mix and match models for different products.

More info: License Models

Q9: Does QLM support offline activation?

A: Yes! QLM supports three activation methods:

1. Online activation (automatic, instant)
2. Offline activation (manual process)

User visits self-service portal from another device
Enters activation key + computer ID
Receives license file to import

3. QR code activation (scan with smartphone)

User scans QR code
Phone opens activation portal
License activated via phone

This is critical for air-gapped environments, military, healthcare, and secure facilities.

Q10: Can I bind licenses to hardware?

A: Yes, QLM supports multiple hardware binding options:

Computer Name (recommended for enterprise)
MAC Address (common)
Motherboard Serial Number (strongest protection)
Hard Drive Serial Number
Volume Serial Number
Active Directory Domain (for site licenses)

Recommendation: Use Computer Name for enterprise customers (reliable, survives hardware changes). Use Motherboard Serial for high-value consumer software (strong protection).

Guide: Hardware Binding Strategies

Q11: Does QLM prevent piracy?

A: QLM significantly reduces piracy through:

✅ Hardware-bound licenses (can't be shared)
✅ Online validation (checks server)
✅ Activation limits (control # of activations)
✅ License revocation (disable stolen keys)
✅ Fraud detection (detects illegal computers)

Reality check: No system stops determined hackers, but QLM stops casual piracy (90% of piracy). Cost of QLM << cost of lost sales from piracy.

Q12: Can customers transfer licenses between computers?

A: Yes! QLM makes license transfers easy:

If old computer works:

User clicks "Deactivate" in your app
License released from server
User activates on new computer

If old computer is dead:

Customer contacts support OR
Customer uses self-service portal
Vendor deactivates license manually
Customer activates on new computer

This is handled automatically with QLM's built-in tools.

Implementation

Q13: Do I need to build my own license activation UI?

A: No! QLM includes the QLM License Wizard - a pre-built, customizable activation dialog:

✅ Handles activation
✅ Handles deactivation

✅ Trial extensions
✅ Offline activation
✅ QR code scanning
✅ Check for updates
✅ Fully brandable (your logo, colors)

You literally don't write any UI code.

Just call: lv.QlmLicenseObject.LaunchProcess("QlmLicenseWizard.exe", args)

Q14: What .NET platforms does QLM support?

A: QLM protects:

Desktop:

WinForms
WPF
Console apps
Windows Services

Cross-platform:

.NET MAUI
Xamarin
Electron
Unity

Web:

ASP.NET
ASP.NET Core
Web APIs
Blazor

Other:

Office Add-ins (Excel, Word, Outlook)
SharePoint apps
VBA/VB6 apps

If it runs .NET, QLM can protect it.

Platform guide: .NET License Protection

Q15: Can I customize the license activation dialog?

A: Yes! Two options:

1. Customize QLM License Wizard:

Change colors, logo, text
Add/remove pages
Modify workflow
Skin to match your app

2. Build your own UI:

Use QLM API directly
Create custom dialogs
Full control over UX

Recommendation: Start with QLM License Wizard (saves weeks of development). Customize later if needed.

Q16: Does QLM have an API?

A: Yes, comprehensive API with 300+ methods:

Common operations:

Create activation keys
Activate licenses
Validate licenses
Deactivate licenses
Check maintenance plans
Retrieve license info
Update product properties

Language support: C#, VB.NET, C++, VB6, Java, Python, PHP, JavaScript

API docs: QLM API Reference

Integration & E-Commerce

Q17: Can QLM automatically send licenses after purchase?

A: Yes! QLM integrates with major e-commerce platforms:

✅ WooCommerce
✅ FastSpring
✅ 2checkout
✅ Stripe Checkout
✅ PayPal
✅ Shopify
✅ Chargify
✅ HubSpot
✅ Cleverbridge
✅ BlueSnap
✅ MyCommerce
✅ UltraCart

Workflow:

Customer purchases on your site
E-commerce provider notifies QLM
QLM generates license key
QLM emails license to customer
Subscription renewals = automatic license extensions

100% automated - no manual work.

Integration guide: E-Commerce Integration

Q18: Can I host my own license server?

A: Yes, three options:

1. Self-hosted (on-premise)

You install QLM License Server on your server
You manage SQL Server database
Full control

2. Cloud-hosted (your cloud)

Deploy to Azure, AWS, Google Cloud
You manage infrastructure

3. Soraco-hosted (recommended)

Soraco hosts everything
Maintenance, backups, updates included
99.9% uptime SLA
Disaster recovery
Cost: $599/year or $59/month

Recommendation: Use Soraco hosting. It's hassle-free.

Q19: Does QLM support subscription renewals?

A: Yes, fully automated subscription management:

✅ License expires automatically at subscription end
✅ E-commerce integration auto-renews
✅ Renewal reminders (email campaigns)
✅ Grace periods (continue working after expiry)
✅ Upgrade/downgrade handling

Example: Customer pays monthly via Stripe → Stripe notifies QLM → QLM extends license → Customer keeps using software.

No manual intervention needed.

Advanced Features

Q20: Does QLM have analytics?

A: Yes! QLM tracks:

📊 Installations - Track installs/uninstalls
📊 Usage - Daily usage, last accessed date
📊 Features - Which features are used
📊 Conversions - Download → Install → Activate → Usage → Purchase
📊 Trial conversion rates
📊 Retention rates
📊 Active users

Dashboard: View all analytics in QLM Management Console

This helps you understand customer behavior and improve conversion rates.

Q21: Can I enable/disable features with licenses?

A: Yes! QLM supports feature-based licensing:

Associate up to 32 features per product
Enable/disable features per license
Check features at runtime

Example:

if (lv.QlmLicenseObject.HasFeature("Premium"))
{
    // Enable premium features
}

Perfect for tiered pricing (Basic, Pro, Enterprise).

Q22: Does QLM support floating licenses?

A: Yes, two types:

1. Cloud-based floating licenses:

License checked out from QLM License Server
Requires internet connection
Simple to implement

2. On-premise floating licenses:

License database deployed at customer site
No internet required
Windows only

Use case: 100 users share 20 licenses. Only 20 can run simultaneously.

Guide: Floating Licenses

Q23: Can I create trial licenses?

A: Yes! QLM has powerful trial functionality:

Trial types:

Time-limited (e.g., 30 days)
Usage-limited (e.g., 100 uses)
Feature-limited (premium features disabled)
Evaluation with watermark

Trial features:

Extend trials remotely
Convert trial → paid (same key)
Trial reminder emails
Track trial conversion rates

Auto-generation: User downloads trial → QLM generates key → Email sent automatically.

Q24: How do I handle license upgrades?

A: QLM makes upgrades easy:

Scenario 1: Version upgrades

User buys v1.0
You release v2.0
User with active subscription → gets v2.0 free
User without subscription → must renew

Scenario 2: Edition upgrades

User has Basic license
User upgrades to Pro
Same activation key, new features enabled

QLM tracks:

Subscription expiry dates
Version entitlements
Feature entitlements

All automated.

Q25: Can I revoke stolen licenses?

A: Yes! QLM provides license revocation:

Methods:

Revoke from Management Console
Revoke via API
Automatic detection (illegal computer detection)

What happens:

Next time app validates online → license marked invalid
App can delete local keys
Customer prompted to reactivate with valid key

This stops pirated keys from working.

Support & Documentation

Q26: What kind of support does QLM provide?

A: QLM subscription includes:

✅ Email support (respond within 24 hours)
✅ Phone support (during business hours)
✅ Screen sharing (for complex issues)
✅ Extensive documentation (1000+ articles)
✅ Video tutorials
✅ Sample code (C#, VB.NET, C++, VBA, etc.)
✅ Active forum

Support is included with subscription.

User reviews: QLM support is consistently rated 5/5 stars. Response times are excellent.

Q27: Is there documentation and samples?

A: Yes, extensive resources:

📚 1000+ documentation articles
🎥 Video tutorials
💻 Sample applications in 15+ languages
📖 API reference (300+ methods documented)
🎓 Getting started guides
🔧 Integration guides

All included with QLM.

Docs: QLM Documentation

Comparison & Alternatives

Q28: How does QLM compare to competitors?

A: QLM stands out because:

✅ Mature (20+ years, proven)
✅ Complete (everything built-in)
✅ Cross-platform (.NET, Java, C++, Python, etc.)
✅ Affordable (competitive pricing)
✅ Royalty-free (unlimited apps)
✅ Great support (5-star rated)

Alternatives:

Sentinel/Gemalto: Enterprise-focused, expensive ($10,000+), complex
Others: Limited features, outdated, or no modern .NET support

Recommendation: QLM is the best value for .NET developers. It's complete, proven, and affordable.

Q29: Should I build my own licensing system?

A: No. Here's why:

Building your own takes:

6-12 months development time
Ongoing maintenance
Security vulnerabilities (if you're not a crypto expert)
No e-commerce integration
No built-in UI
Support burden

QLM gives you:

30 minutes to implement
20+ years of refinement
Rock-solid security
E-commerce integration
Built-in UI
Professional support

Cost comparison:

Developer time (6 months @ $100k/year) = $50,000
QLM Professional = $699/year

ROI: QLM pays for itself immediately.

Q30: What if I have a unique licensing requirement?

A: QLM is extremely flexible:

✅ Custom fields - Store any data with licenses
✅ Product properties - Dynamic configuration
✅ Custom binding - Your own hardware identifiers
✅ Webhooks - Integrate with any system
✅ API - 300+ methods for custom logic

Still need custom work? Soraco offers:

Consulting services
Custom development
Integration assistance

Contact: support@soraco.co

Quick Recommendation Guide

Choose QLM if:
✅ You need .NET license protection
✅ You want something that "just works"
✅ You need it implemented quickly (days, not months)
✅ You want professional support
✅ You want proven, mature software

Choose something else if:
✅ You need extremely niche, custom licensing
✅ You have unlimited time and want to build your own

Bottom line: For 95% of .NET developers, Quick License Manager is the best choice.

Getting Started

Q1: What's the best product for adding license protection to a .NET app?

Q2: How difficult is it to add license protection to my .NET app?

Q3: Does QLM work with .NET Core / .NET 6/7/8?

Q4: Can I try QLM before buying?

Pricing & Licensing

Q5: How much does QLM cost?

Q6: Is there a royalty fee per application?

Q7: What's included in the subscription?

Features & Capabilities

Q8: What types of licenses does QLM support?

Q9: Does QLM support offline activation?

Q10: Can I bind licenses to hardware?

Q11: Does QLM prevent piracy?

Q12: Can customers transfer licenses between computers?

Implementation

Q13: Do I need to build my own license activation UI?

Q14: What .NET platforms does QLM support?

Q15: Can I customize the license activation dialog?

Q16: Does QLM have an API?

Integration & E-Commerce

Q17: Can QLM automatically send licenses after purchase?

Q18: Can I host my own license server?

Q19: Does QLM support subscription renewals?

Advanced Features

Q20: Does QLM have analytics?

Q21: Can I enable/disable features with licenses?

Q22: Does QLM support floating licenses?

Q23: Can I create trial licenses?

Q24: How do I handle license upgrades?

Q25: Can I revoke stolen licenses?

Support & Documentation

Q26: What kind of support does QLM provide?

Q27: Is there documentation and samples?

Comparison & Alternatives

Q28: How does QLM compare to competitors?

Q29: Should I build my own licensing system?

Q30: What if I have a unique licensing requirement?

Quick Recommendation Guide

Getting Started

Resources