PTC licensing is the set of contracts, licensing bases and support terms under which PTC Inc. and its affiliates make available their computer-aided design (CAD), product lifecycle management (PLM), application lifecycle management (ALM), industrial IoT, service lifecycle management (SLM) and augmented reality (AR) software. For on-premises purchases the agreement consists of a Quote from PTC or a reseller, the PTC End User License Agreement (published as the PTC Customer Agreement), the Licensing Basis document for each offering bought, the Support Terms and Conditions and the Schedule of Third-Party Terms.[1] SaaS purchases use a different stack: a Quote, the Master Software as a Service Agreement, a Service Description for each offering and a Service Level Agreement.[12]
PTC’s commercial model is organised around a licensing basis: a named unit, such as Registered User, Concurrent User or Designated Computer, that each Licensing Basis document assigns to each product. Where the Quote names a different basis than the document, the Quote governs, and each purchase follows the version of the Licensing Basis document in force when it was made.[3][6] PTC publishes no price lists or part numbers for its enterprise products.
Editions
PTC publishes a separate Licensing Basis document for each product family. The families and their main bases are:[1]
| Family | Main licensing bases | Document |
|---|---|---|
| Creo (CAD), Creo Elements/Direct, Creo View | Concurrent User, Designated Computer for locked products, Registered User for some Creo View editions | Creo Licensing Basis[3] |
| Windchill, FlexPLM, Windchill Navigate | Registered User, Active Daily User, Kiosk User, Designated Server, Per Instance | Windchill Licensing Basis[4] |
| Mathcad | Concurrent User or Designated Computer | Mathcad Licensing Basis[5] |
| Codebeamer, Pure Variants, Systems and Software Engineering | Registered User or Concurrent User; Site License for templates | ALM Licensing Basis[8] |
| ThingWorx | Platform Editions per production Instance, Assets, SCP Registered Users; SCO Solutions per Site | ThingWorx Licensing Basis[6] |
| Kepware (Kepware Server, Kepware Edge, Kepware+) | Designated Computer | Kepware Licensing Basis[7] |
| Servigistics, Arbortext, other SLM | Inventory value (PMI), part numbers times locations (PXL), revenue blocks, Concurrent User, Designated Server | SLM Licensing Basis[9] |
| Vuforia Studio, Vuforia Engine | Registered Users, Public Views and Devices in Studio bundles; Vuforia Engine per Site | Vuforia Licensing Basis[10] |
Several families are also sold as packages and bundles. The licensing basis of each component of a package stays the same as if it were bought separately, but the components may only be used with the base seat of the package; each product in a bundle keeps its own basis.[7][8] Named editions in the catalog include the ThingWorx SCP Platform Premium Edition and Enterprise Edition, the four ThingWorx SCO Solutions models, the Machine Builder tiers, Kepware Server, Kepware Edge, Kepware+ and the Codebeamer product types (Codebeamer, advanced, premium and collaboration).
Two families acquired by PTC keep their own contract terms. Onshape, bought in 2019, is a cloud-native SaaS CAD platform, and ServiceMax, bought in January 2023, is a field service management SaaS.[16][17] The PTC SaaS Agreement does not cover Onshape or Arena, which are governed by the Onshape Terms of Use and the Arena MSA; ServiceMax has its own support document.[12]
Metrics
The metric rows below keep PTC’s own names. Definitions live on the rows; this section lists where each applies.
| PTC name | Unit | Main use |
|---|---|---|
| Registered User | User | Windchill, FlexPLM, Codebeamer, ThingWorx SCP and SCO users, Vuforia Studio[4] |
| Concurrent User | User | Creo, Mathcad, Codebeamer, Pure Variants, Arbortext[3] |
| Designated Computer | Device | Locked or node-locked products; all Kepware products[7] |
| Designated Server | Server | Integration and server components, with a per-CPU variant[9] |
| Active Daily User | User | Windchill Navigate and Platform Structures[4] |
| Asset (ThingWorx IoT) | Device | ThingWorx SCP editions, IoT Streams, Machine Builder Bundles[6] |
| Site (ThingWorx SCO) | Site | ThingWorx SCO Solutions and SCO IoT Streams[6] |
| PMI and PXL | Value / count | Servigistics Service Parts Management[9] |
| AI Credit | Allowance | PTC-hosted Windchill AI and Codebeamer AI[8] |
The Registered User and Concurrent User wording is shared across the Licensing Basis documents: a Registered User license covers one individual regardless of how often that person uses it, and each Concurrent User license may be used by one individual at any given time.[8] For the general models, see named user licensing and concurrent and device licensing.
Counting / floors
Across user-based bases, PTC requires a license for every individual who accesses the product, its functionality, data or output, directly or indirectly through a portal or “batching” mechanism, and it does not permit generic or shared log-ins.[8] Rule: Batching and indirect access require a license per individual; no generic log-ins. Other counting rules differ by family:
- Creo and Windchill. A user who opens two instances of a Concurrent User product usually consumes two licenses; Registered Users may be substituted within the licensed count, but a returning user needs a new license fee.[3][4] Details are in PTC Creo and Windchill licensing.
- Codebeamer. Each Concurrent User license may serve at most six named individuals, the three main product types may not be mixed, and collaboration licenses are capped at six per main license.[8] Rules: Codebeamer Concurrent User: at most six named individuals per license, Codebeamer: the three main product types may not be mixed, Codebeamer - collaboration: maximum 6:1 ratio to main Codebeamer licenses.
- ThingWorx. Each SCP Platform Edition includes one production Instance, and every asset behind a Gateway counts as an Asset. SCO Solutions are sold per Site plus SCO Registered Users.[6] Rules: ThingWorx SCP Platform Edition: one production Instance each, unlimited non-production, ThingWorx Assets: every asset behind a Gateway counts as an Asset, ThingWorx SCO Solutions and SCO IoT Streams: licensed per Site.
- Servigistics. Service Parts Management is licensed by inventory value in US$1 million blocks (PMI) or by part numbers times locations (PXL), measured when the software is first implemented. That Baseline Value is a floor, and growth above it must be licensed.[9] Rule: Servigistics Service Parts Management: PMI or PXL Baseline Value is a floor; growth must be licensed.
- Vuforia Studio. Bundles include set numbers of Registered Users, annual Public Views and Devices. Views by the same user on the same device within 15 minutes count as one Public View.[10]
- AI features. Windchill AI and Codebeamer AI are sold per Registered User through an entitlement group capped at the licenses bought. The PTC-hosted versions include 12,000 AI Credits per licensed user per contract year, and unused credits expire at the end of the year.[4][8] Rule: Codebeamer AI: entitlement group capped at licenses bought; 12,000 AI Credits per user per contract year.
Location rules
Except for Global and Restricted Global licenses, PTC products may only be installed on the Designated Server in the Designated Country. Moving to another country requires prior written notice and Uplift Fees where list prices are higher.[2] Concurrent User products may only be used by people physically in the country of installation. A traveling user may check out a license for a limited period, two weeks for most products, and non-employees may use them only while at a Customer site. A Restricted Global license extends use to twelve named Permitted Countries.[2] Rule: Concurrent User: users in the country of installation; traveling users may check out a license (most products two weeks). Newer families relax these rules: Kepware and ThingWorx may be used at any Customer site worldwide, and Codebeamer and Pure Variants users are not tied to the Designated Country.[6][7][8] Rules: Kepware: Designated Computer licenses usable at any Customer Site worldwide, Codebeamer and Pure Variants: no Designated Country or on-site restriction on users.
Programs
Subscription (Subscription). A Subscription is an on-premise license for a term set in the product name, Quote or invoice, and it includes Support Services at no additional fee during that term. PTC states that it “does not have perpetual license models for most products”.[6] Where the product description says “Subscription Conversion” or “Conversion”, the customer converts perpetual licenses to subscription and must return the perpetual licenses for obsolescence.[7] Rule: Kepware Subscription Conversion: perpetual licenses are returned for obsolescence.
Orders and payment. An order cannot be cancelled once PTC has accepted it. Fees are due within 30 days of the start date of each term year. If an amount is overdue, PTC may suspend licenses or Support until it is paid, provided it has told the customer at least five days before the due date that suspension will follow non-payment.[2]
Upgrades. An upgrade requires the eligible earlier product to be licensed and on active Support when the upgrade is bought. After installation, the original software may no longer be used.[7]
Evaluation and demo licenses. Evaluation or trial licenses may be used only to evaluate the product. Licenses designated “demo and test” or “non-production” exclude production use.[2]
Support and maintenance
PTC sells three on-premises Support Packages: SILVER, GOLD and GOLDplus. SILVER has no support desk. GOLD adds 24x5 web and phone support with a response time under one hour for Severity 0 (Enterprise Down). GOLDplus adds 24x7 support, a response time under 30 minutes for Severity 0, and proactive monitoring. Subscription licenses include Support Services.[11] The Support terms state several purchasing rules:
- All licenses of the same general product category at a site, or supported by a common IT organization, must be on the same Support Package.
- If Support is elected for a Registered User product, every license of that product must be on Support.
- Renewing any product on a Support Sales Order Number means renewing all products on it.[11] Rule: Support: one Support Package level for a product category at a site; all Registered User licenses on Support.
The Customer Agreement adds that Support for perpetual licenses, once dropped, cannot be reactivated, and partial Support orders or renewals are not permitted.[2] Rule: Perpetual licenses: lapsed Support cannot be reactivated; no partial Support on a product.
Releases move through a Standard Support period from first customer ship. Some Windchill products get four years of Standard Support. A Sustained Support period follows, with self-help support and access to existing releases but no new fixes. Extended Support can be bought for qualified releases.[11] Customers on subscription, or on perpetual licenses with active support, receive home use licenses for Creo Engineer and Essentials and for Mathcad Professional. These licenses are tied to the same users and expire with the current term.[11] Rule: Home use licenses: same user, personal computer away from the workplace, expire with the term.
Audits and compliance
Section 4 of the Customer Agreement allows PTC and its authorized agents to perform license usage assessments. The customer must give access to facilities and systems and the cooperation of employees and consultants, during normal business hours and after reasonable prior notice. On written request, the customer must deliver an installation or usage report, certified by an authorized representative, within ten business days. For Registered User products, the report lists every individual issued a password or other identifier. Excess use is payable at the applicable license and Support fees, and non-payment is grounds for termination.[2] The preamble to the Customer Agreement also says that licensed products may transmit information about their use and the computer to PTC for license management, and that PTC uses data monitoring to identify illegal copies.[2]
Section 2.3 bars use by anyone who is not a Permitted User, directly or indirectly, and prohibits service bureau use, third-party training and transfer without PTC’s prior written consent.[2] Codebeamer adds an AI-specific restriction: its API may not be used to extract data for training AI models or building retrieval-augmented generation sources without Codebeamer API Access Enablement.[8] Rule: Codebeamer API Access Enablement required to extract data for AI training or RAG. For the audit process in general, see software license audit.
Virtualization & partitioning
The Licensing Basis documents state that using virtualization to circumvent PTC’s license controls, or the intent of a licensing scheme, violates the License Agreement.[3][10] For Creo and ThingWorx, Designated Computer (node-locked) licenses may not be installed on or accessed through virtualization technologies.[6] Rule: Virtualization may not circumvent license controls; no node-locked licenses on virtualization. Kepware is the exception. It may run on a Virtual Machine or Container if the customer buys a separate license for each instance, plus a license for the host operating system where it is installed there.[7] Rule: Kepware: one license per virtual machine or container instance, plus the host. A partitioned server counts each partition as a separate computer server for Designated Server products.[9] Rule: Designated Server: each partition counts as a server; per-CPU variant needs a license per CPU. PTC publishes no core factor or vCPU metric.
Cloud / BYOL
PTC’s on-premises terms contain no bring-your-own-license clause for public clouds. The ThingWorx SCP Platform may be installed on the customer’s premises or at a hosting provider the customer designates.[6] PTC’s own cloud offerings are sold under the Master SaaS Agreement. Hosting-only services, with part numbers starting “HST”, require the customer to own or simultaneously buy the licenses being hosted, and the on-premises agreement then also applies.[12] Kepware+ is a hybrid: the on-premises Kepware product stays under the on-premises documents, and its hosted management component falls under the Master SaaS Agreement.[15] Creo+ uses Named, Shared and Floating licenses tracked in the PTC Portal, with no customer license server.[14]
Recent licensing changes
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| 2017-04-19 | PTC announced that from 1 January 2018 new licenses for core solutions would be sold only by subscription in the Americas and Western Europe[13] |
| 2019-11-01 | Onshape acquisition completed; Onshape keeps separate terms[16] |
| 2023-01-04 | ServiceMax acquisition completed[17] |
| 2024-10 | Platinum Support tier removed from the Support terms[11] |
| 2025-07 | Codebeamer support moved under the general Support terms[11] |
| 2025-12 | Kepware Licensing Basis revision: licenses permitted on Virtual Machines and Containers, one per instance[7] |
| 2026-04 | ThingWorx Licensing Basis revision: per-Asset (SCP) and per-Site (SCO) IoT Streams; Additional Production Limited Instance no longer sold[6] |
| 2026-05 | ALM Licensing Basis revision: Codebeamer AI, AI Credits and API Access Enablement[8] |
The dates for 2025-12 onward are the revision months of the documents that contain the terms. They are not necessarily the months in which each term first appeared.
Guides
| Article | What it covers |
|---|---|
| PTC Creo and Windchill licensing | Registered User, Concurrent User, Designated Computer and Server, Active Daily User, Kiosk User; Creo+; Windchill AI; FlexNet borrowing; Designated Country |
| PTC license server and FlexNet licensing | FlexNet license types (node-locked, single-server and triad floating, extensions, borrowed); lmadmin and lmgrd; license files and SCNs; timeouts; borrowing limits; Manage Licensing hosts and reports |
The Onshape and ServiceMax deals are listed on the acquisitions page.
Out of scope
- Prices and part numbers. PTC publishes neither for its enterprise products.
- Onshape, Arena and ServiceMax contract terms, which sit outside the PTC SaaS Agreement.
- SaaS Service Descriptions beyond the Kepware+ description and the hosting rule above.
- Negotiated enterprise agreements and conversion incentives, which PTC does not publish.
- Education licenses, and MKS Toolkit and legacy developer tools with their own EULAs.