CorelDRAW Graphics Suite and CorelDRAW Technical Suite are sold three ways: as a subscription, as a one-time purchase for perpetual use, and as a perpetual licence with maintenance. Corel’s own pages describe each, and the differences matter for entitlement tracking because they change what a licence permits after a renewal date passes.[1][2]
Subscriptions
Corel describes a CorelDRAW subscription as a payment method that effectively rents a Graphics Suite or Technical Suite licence for a fixed period, with renewals if desired. Upgrades are included while the subscription is active, and when it expires the user can no longer use the software.[2] If auto-renewal is cancelled or the subscription expires, the software reverts to viewer mode, similar to an expired trial.[2]
Account and renewal mechanics from Corel’s subscription FAQ include:
- A Corel Account is needed to subscribe and to authenticate the product, and renewals can be opted in or out in the account.[2]
- Auto-renewal can be cancelled at any time, but the current term cannot be cancelled.[2]
- If a payment card has expired, Corel emails the purchaser, and the subscription expires automatically if payment information is not updated by the end date of the term.[2]
- A trial or 30-day subscription can be upgraded to a 365-day subscription only from within the Corel Account.[2]
- Since the March 2022 Subscriber Update, a CorelDRAW Graphics Suite subscription entitles the holder to both Mac and Windows desktop applications through a platform-agnostic subscription with a DR24 serial number prefix.[2]
The EULA adds that Subscription Licenses renew automatically for the term on the License Certificate unless the customer gives notice at least 30 days before expiry, and that amounts payable are non-refundable without prejudice to mandatory law.[3]
Authentication
Anyone who has subscribed to or purchased a boxed or electronic-download version of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite or Technical Suite, or a trial, must authenticate by signing in with Corel Account credentials.[2] An internet connection is needed to authenticate. After authentication the main features work offline, but a subscriber must be online at least once every 30 days to re-authenticate the subscription.[2] Corporate users with Enterprise licences or subscription volume licences can use online content and features once authenticated, and software deployment is supported only with CorelSure Maintenance, which is included with Enterprise and subscription volume licences.[2]
The device rule for these products is still the EULA two-device metric: one original copy on up to two Devices, used on one at a time.[4]
One-time purchase
Corel’s subscription FAQ states that a one-time purchase of a specific version, such as CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2023, is owned forever but carries no entitlement to updates, new features or subscriber-exclusive content.[2] The product page for CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2026 says a perpetual licence excludes many features, apps and workflows available to subscribers and maintenance customers and does not provide ongoing support for future operating systems, devices or technologies.[1] The EULA likewise ties a Perpetual License to the version obtained.[3]
Perpetual licence with maintenance
Corel offers a licence with maintenance as a low-cost annual plan added to a perpetual purchase. It keeps the customer eligible for the latest version, exclusive features, apps, content and monthly AI credits, and if maintenance is discontinued, the customer keeps the last version received.[1] Under the BULA, perpetual business licences must be bought with a fixed term of maintenance through CorelSure, and subscriptions include it.[5]
CorelSure terms
The CorelSure Maintenance Terms, updated March 8, 2022, are supplemental to the Business User License Agreement or a Master Enterprise Software License Agreement and govern support and maintenance. Maintenance Services are included with all purchases of Subscription Licenses and must be bought separately for Perpetual Licenses at the list price at the time of purchase. For a perpetual licence, the Maintenance Period is one year from purchase unless the License Certificate says otherwise.[6] During the period the customer receives:
- Upgrades as made generally available, installed to replace earlier releases up to the number of licences purchased;
- Downgrade Rights to any Supported Version, defined as the most current Version and up to two prior Versions; if maintenance ends, a perpetual licensee that downgraded must revert to the then-current Version and destroy downgraded versions;
- Multilingual use of equivalent language versions by a single User on one machine at a time, and multi-platform use on Windows and macOS;
- Centralized control by creating a server image of one copy and installing it with a single licence key by push or pull, with usage reports for compliance;
- email-only technical support during Normal Working Hours with a target response within twenty-four hours, and error correction by severity.[6]
The terms also say that failure to use the most current Version may prevent interoperation with other applications or services.[6] The Supported Version metric records the version window.
Upgrade Protection Program
The Upgrade Protection Program let perpetual licensees use the most current version of CorelDRAW Graphics or Technical Suite. Corel states it was no longer available as of September 28, 2021. Users enrolled on March 7, 2022 received an upgrade to the March 2022 release and a free one-year subscription valid to March 7, 2023, which then renewed automatically for 365 days at the price last paid for the programme.[2]
AI credits
AI credits are the units behind CorelDRAW Graphics Suite’s generative AI features, such as creating vector graphics and images from prompts or editing images; each credit runs a prompt-based task and balances can be seen in the Corel Account.[1] Subscribers and maintenance customers get a monthly allowance. One-time purchasers get a fixed allotment that does not expire but does not renew.[1] The product page lists 2,000 credits per month for subscriptions and 2,000 one-time credits for the one-time purchase, and additional credits can be bought through monthly or annual add-ons or one-time packs.[1] The business page lists 2,000 credits per month for subscribers and active maintenance customers.[7] The EULA separately prohibits using the software or derived data to train AI or machine learning models without Corel’s prior written consent.[3]
Product sunsetting
Corel may discontinue software on written notice. Prepaid subscribers are moved to substantially similar software through commercially reasonable efforts, no subscription for sunsetted software is renewed, and a perpetual licensee may continue to use the then-current version indefinitely without any support obligation.[3]
Out of scope
This article does not cover reseller offers, regional prices or the older CTL and CGEL programmes, which are in the business article.