Do I need a Regular License or an Extended License?

Themes, code, graphics, video templates and 3D items can be purchased on either a Regular License or an Extended License.

The main difference between these licenses is that under the Regular License, your end product (incorporating the item you've purchased) is distributed free of charge, whereas under the Extended License, your end product may be sold or otherwise limited to paying customers. We include some special applications of this rule below.

What counts as “free of charge”?

When we say “free of charge” we’re talking about whether the general public can access the end product for free. More specifically, “free of charge” means that no part of the End Product which incorporates or relies on the licensed item requires payment to access.

For Blogging themes, there is a special application of this rule (see below).

Examples:

• Even though you (as a freelancer) were paid by your client to create a website to advertise their business, the fact that the website can be viewed for free means that the Regular License is sufficient.
• Even though a website may be used for e-commerce or to generate advertising revenue is commercial, as long as users can access the site itself without having to pay, a Regular License is sufficient.  
• Even though an advertisement is commercial, as long as viewers can see it free of charge, a Regular License is sufficient.
• Even though access to part (or all) of a site may require payment or paid subscription, for blogging themes, a Regular License is sufficient.

What won’t the Extended License let you do?

If you want to create multiple end products you typically cannot do so with an Extended License or Regular License, since both are limited to a single end product. In this case, you’ll need to purchase a separate license for each end product. There are exceptions which sometimes allow multiple uses of a single item but when it comes to the Regular vs Extended license, the license you need will depend on whether the end product is distributed free of charge or sold or otherwise available free of charge - the number of end products won’t make a difference.

If you’re using the item in an editorial way, this won’t usually make a difference to the license you need.  Choose the Regular License if your end product is distributed free of charge, and choose the Extended License if your end product is sold or otherwise limited to paying customers.