Licence options

A subscription has the lowest initial cost and offers the highest flexibility. With a subscription licence you pay a periodical fee to use the software and have access to all software updates, technical support and the online Physibel Knowledge Base for a 1-year or 3-year period.

Subscription licences can be shared within a network (network floating) or via internet (cloud-based floating), depending on the selected purchase option.

Active subscription licences entitle you to discounts for the purchase of additional licences or licence extensions and to software trainings.

A perpetual licence allows you to use the software indefinitely without a periodical fee. A perpetual licence is locked to a stand-alone hardware key (USB). The delivered installation files can be installed on multiple computers and the software is operational on the computer to which the hardware key is connected.

The purchase of a perpetual licence always includes the Annual Maintenance Plan (AMP) for the first year, free of charge. Thereafter maintenance is optional.

With an Annual Maintenance Plan (AMP) you keep your software on the latest major version and have full access to technical support and to the online Physibel Knowledge Base.

In addition perpetual licences with a running AMP entitle you to discounts for the purchase of additional licences, licence extensions and software training.

Our support includes both technical support on the application level and modelling advice. On the application level, we assist in case you experience problems running the software or accessing your licence. Modelling advice covers short guidance on software functionalities. For this we typically guide you to the right Knowledge Base topic where you find documented example projects.   

With a subscription licence the latest version is accessible at all times from the software licence manager within your Physibel application and includes all version updates (major, minor and enhancements). You have immediate access to the latest version when it is released.

With a perpetual licence with a running Annual Maintenance Plan you are entitled to all major version updates. When a major version update is released, you will be informed by mail and installation files for the new version will be sent on demand.

If for any reason you don’t renew your Annual Maintenance Plan, your software will continue to run, but you will not have access to technical support or software updates anymore. You can re-activate the Annual Maintenance Plan at any moment in the future, however the back-maintenance then has to be paid.

A perpetual licence is locked to the hardware key (USB). A stand-alone hardware key works off-line and cannot be switched off remotely. If a hardware key is lost, it cannot be replaced; consequently a new licence may need to be purchased. For this reason we recommend to consider an insurance for the key against loss or theft.

Yes, older perpetual licences with stand-alone hardware key can be switched to a subscription software licence at a reduced price. You can contact us to receive an offer for your licence keys.

A stand-alone licence is meant for single use, not for shared use (though it can be transferred from one user to another). A stand-alone licence can either be perpetual and locked to a hardware key (USB) or subscription and locked to a computer (software licence key).

• In the case of a hardware licence key (perpetual), the licence is easily transferrable by physically moving the key to another work station. The software can be installed on multiple computers and is operational locally on the computer to which the key is connected.
• In the case of a software licence key (subscription), the licence is locked to a computer can be transferred to another work station maximally 5 times per year.

Subscription (software) licences have the option to be shared within a network or via internet.

• With a network floating licence the software is operational in concurrent use within a local network (e.g. company server or Windows Network Share). Network floating licences are a bit more complex to implement, require the deployment of a floating licence database at the customer site, but a network floating licence includes a licence management tool where the active floating seats can be viewed and released.
• With a cloud-based floating licence the software is operational in concurrent use via internet (licence server hosted by Physibel in the cloud). Cloud-based floating licenses are simple to implement but an internet connection is always required.

Yes, Physibel makes its software available free of charge for academic users. Free academic licences can only be used for didactic and non-profit research purposes and not for any consultancy business. You can contact us to obtain a free academic licence: request an academic licence.

Master students working on their master thesis can use any of the Physibel software for free during the academic year. You can contact us to obtain a free student licence: request student licence.