How to sell license keys with Stripe

Stripe does not offer any built-in solution for licenses, and it can be a hassle to manage licensing manually. Keyforge provides a simple way to automate licenses for one-time purchases and subscriptions directly through Stripe.

This guide will show how to get up and running in minutes, so you can easily sell your software. There is no need to set up webhooks manually or touch any line of code.

How it works

For one-time purchases

For one-time purchases, Keyforge generates a license according to your preferences at the time of purchase and sends a thank-you email to the customer with the license key. You define whether the license is perpetual, timed, or expires after a set time after purchase. You can also specify the maximum number of devices the license can be activated on.

For subscriptions

For recurring payments, Keyforge generates a timed license at the time of subscription and sends a thank-you email to the customer with relevant information. The license expires if the subscription isn't renewed, and is updated when an invoice is paid.

Additionally, with subscriptions, customers can switch plans through the Stripe billing portal, and Keyforge will automatically update their license. Plan quantity is also handled seamlessly, which multiplies the maximum number of active devices allowed by a license.

How to set it up

Connect your Stripe account: In the dashboard, connect your Stripe account to Keyforge. Your Stripe restricted API key will be securely stored and only allow access to the necessary resources.
Link your Stripe products: After connecting your account, you can link your Stripe products to corresponding Keyforge products. Click the connect product button and select your preferences.
Start selling: It's as simple as that! When a customer completes a purchase or subscribes to your product via Stripe, Keyforge will automatically generate a license and email the customer their license key along with other relevant details.

Integrating with the customer portal

The Stripe integration works seamlessly with the Keyforge customer portal. With just their email address, customers can:

Manage their licenses
View and download invoices through Stripe
Manage their subscription through the Stripe billing portal

Conclusion

Even though Stripe does not have a native solution for license keys, Keyforge provides a simple way to automate licensing for one-time purchases and subscriptions. By making use of the Stripe integration, you can focus on your product while Keyforge handles license delivery, eliminating the manual overhead of creating licenses and having a better customer experience.