LICENSEWARE

Rockwell Automation Studio 5000 and FactoryTalk Design Studio licensing

This article is about licensing of Rockwell Automation design software: Studio 5000 Logix Designer editions, add-on editors, legacy editions, subscription versus perpetual, and the cloud-based FactoryTalk Design Studio and FactoryTalk Hub entitlements. For activation mechanics, see Rockwell Automation FactoryTalk Activation.

On This Page

Studio 5000 is Rockwell Automation’s design environment for Logix 5000 controllers and PanelView 5000 terminals. It consists of Studio 5000 Logix Emulate, Logix Designer, View Designer, Architect, Application Code Manager and Simulation Interface.[1] The edition bought for Studio 5000 includes the matching edition of the Studio 5000 Logix Designer application. The controllers to be programmed determine which Logix Designer edition, and so which Studio 5000 edition, is needed.[1] Studio 5000 is part of the FactoryTalk DesignSuite subscription bundle, together with Connected Components Workbench, FactoryTalk Logix Echo and the Studio 5000 License Portal.[3] FactoryTalk Design Studio is Rockwell Automation’s cloud-based design software for automation control systems. It is multi-user and multi-controller and is reached through FactoryTalk Hub.[2] Rockwell Automation presents it as a path to the cloud alongside continued development of Logix Designer.[7] Both products are governed by the Software and Cloud Services Agreement, described in Rockwell Automation licensing.

Editions

Controller support. All Logix Designer editions support the CompactLogix and Compact GuardLogix controller families. The Professional, Full, Standard Networx, Standard and Service editions support every controller in the CompactLogix, Compact GuardLogix, ControlLogix and GuardLogix platforms.[1] Mini and Lite are therefore limited to the compact controller families.

Editors and add-ons. Editions differ in the programming editors included. The table summarises Step 2 of the ordering guide. “Add-on” means the item is available separately. “View-only” means the Service edition can only upload, download and view.[1]

Editor or add-on Professional Full Standard Networx Standard Lite Mini Service 
Ladder Diagram Included Included Included Included Included Included View-only 
FBD, ST, SFC Included Included Add-on Add-on Included Add-on View-only 
GuardLogix Safety Editor Included Included Add-on Add-on Included Add-on View-only 
PhaseManager, SequenceManager Included Included Add-on Add-on Add-on Add-on View-only 
RSNetWorx Included Add-on Included Add-on Add-on Add-on Add-on 
PIDE AutoTune Up to V32 Up to V32 Add-on Add-on Add-on Add-on View-only 
Logix Designer SDK Included No No No No No Included 
Studio 5000 Architect Included Included Included Included No No No 
Studio 5000 Logix Emulate Up to V36 Add-on Add-on Add-on No No Add-on 
FactoryTalk Logix Echo, Simulation Interface Add-on Add-on Add-on Add-on Add-on Add-on Add-on 
Logix Designer Data Exchange Included No No No No No No 

All editions include Studio 5000 View Designer and FactoryTalk Linx.[1] Two bundles of editors are available. The Multi-Language Pack (MLP) contains FBD, ST and SFC. The Full Pack contains all MLP editors plus Safety, PhaseManager and SequenceManager.[1] Advanced Process Controls and the APC Runtime License are separate purchases for every edition. Studio 5000 Application Code Manager Lite is a free download, while the Standard edition of Application Code Manager is sold separately. Content protection (the License Portal, Source Protection USB bundle and Execution Protection SD card bundle) is also sold separately.[1]

Legacy editions. Professional, Standard and Lite are also sold as Legacy editions, which enable Logix Designer versions both before and after 20.05. Add-on editors can be combined with Standard Legacy. A read-only Service Edition Legacy can be requested through a local distributor or Rockwell Automation sales office.[1] The guide lists these under “Flexera Activation”. No Mini Legacy edition is offered.[1] See the Studio 5000 Legacy editions program row.

FactoryTalk Design Studio offerings. The ordering guide describes three offerings:[2]

Offering Cost Vendor description 
Basic No cost Browser access, multi-user collaboration, integrated version control, multi-controller development, shared libraries, IEC 61131-3 programming, AI product guidance 
Core Paid subscription Everything in Basic plus deployment to and monitoring of live systems, FactoryTalk Logix Echo as a Service, AI code generation, explanation, documentation and plan-and-build agents; includes Studio 5000 Professional Edition 
Trial No cost 90 days of access to all available capabilities 

The product page also offers the 90-day trial.[8] The Core entitlement appears as SKU FactoryTalk Design Studio Core.

Metrics

  • Logix Designer: Concurrent Use. Logix Designer licences are concurrent. By default they entitle activations for the version current at purchase and back to version 20.05.[1] Under the SCSA, simultaneous users may not exceed the number of valid software activations in the Order Form.[4] The count is enforced by concurrent activations on a FactoryTalk Activation server.
  • FactoryTalk Design Studio: Core entitlement. Entitlements are bought as a subscription and assigned to support the customer’s engineering workflows.[2] In the guide’s example a team of five engineers buys five Core entitlements. They are allocated to the organization and accessed first come, first served.[2] The guide does not say whether a Core entitlement is named or shared. The first-come wording suggests the entitlements are pooled within the organization.
  • FactoryTalk Remote Access: Manager concurrent user. To deploy to and monitor field devices, Design Studio uses FactoryTalk Remote Access. The Remote Access Manager entitlement is a subscription counted by concurrent users, meaning users connected to remote devices at the same time, not total users.[5] Design Studio needs only one concurrent connection, however many users are online.[2] Endpoint devices also need a Remote Access Runtime entitlement at Basic or Pro level, sold as perpetual or subscription and included with some hardware.[5]

Counting / floors

Highest edition first (July 2025). Editions are designed to use the highest functionality first. If Lite, Standard and Professional licences are all on the FactoryTalk Activation server, Studio 5000 selects Professional.[1] In a mixed pool, engineers who only need Standard can use up Professional seats. The FactoryTalk Activation options file can reserve activations for particular computers (see Rockwell Automation FactoryTalk Activation). Catalog proof: Studio 5000 selects the highest edition available on the activation server.

Version entitlement. New version releases after purchase are available to licence owners covered by Rockwell Automation Software Support.[1] The Support Policy adds that, without renewed support, the Software is not updated after the support term expires.[6] A perpetual Logix Designer licence with lapsed support can therefore still run the versions it was entitled to, but it gets no later versions. Catalog proof: Logix Designer licences are concurrent and cover versions back to 20.05; Lapsed support: no updates; reactivation backdated to expiry.

Design Studio Core includes Studio 5000 Professional (September 2026). A FactoryTalk Design Studio Core entitlement includes Studio 5000 Professional Edition in the subscription.[2] Studio 5000 Professional capacity can therefore come from two sources: direct Studio 5000 purchases and Design Studio Core subscriptions. Both count toward the effective licence position. Catalog proof: FactoryTalk Design Studio Core subscription includes Studio 5000 Professional.

Floors. Neither guide sets a minimum quantity. Design Studio Basic and the Trial cost nothing.[2]

AI and API usage. The SCSA defines API Usage as the Software communicating with other systems, including AI features that call third-party AI models and services. Where Software carries API Usage fees, the customer pays usage costs beyond what it has paid for. Token-based and credit-based API purchases are non-refundable, and Rockwell Automation may adjust API Usage fees on 30 days’ notice.[4] The Design Studio ordering guide lists AI capabilities in Core but does not describe token or credit quotas.[2]

Virtualization & partitioning

The guides give no virtualization rules for Studio 5000. The SCSA applies: a Device includes any physical or virtual environment.[4] Concurrent activations served to virtual engineering workstations count only while they are checked out. Borrowed activations activate only applications on the machine they were borrowed to (see Rockwell Automation FactoryTalk Activation). The SCSA also forbids using the automation interface or other programmatic interfaces with third-party software, including change management systems, unless Rockwell Automation has authorized it in writing.[4] This matters when third-party version control or DevOps tooling automates Logix Designer. Catalog proof: Automation interfaces with unauthorised third-party software prohibited.

Cloud / BYOL

FactoryTalk Hub is a cloud platform that serves as the central access point for Rockwell Automation’s software-as-a-service offerings. Signing in requires a myRockwellAutomation account, and some Hub products require a purchased licence.[5] A FactoryTalk Hub organization groups users, licences and access rights. Creating or joining one is free, and an organization is required to use FactoryTalk Hub.[5] Entitlements are allocated to an organization and then assigned to users or runtime devices.[5] Where Cloud Services require Access Credentials, the SCSA forbids any Permitted User from sharing them with another person, entity or device.[4] No BYOL mechanism converts a perpetual Studio 5000 licence into Design Studio entitlements. The ordering guide instead bundles Studio 5000 Professional into Core.[2]

Programs

Out of scope

  • RSLogix 500, RSLogix 5 and Connected Components Workbench edition details, which the retrieved guides do not cover.
  • Content protection licences (Source and Execution protection) for customer code.
  • Studio 5000 Simulation Interface and Logix Designer Data Exchange pricing.
  • Prices. Rockwell Automation publishes none in the retrieved documents.
  • Enterprise agreements and distributor terms.

References

  1. Studio 5000 Design Software Ordering GuidePublication 9324-QR001L-EN-P, July 2025; supersedes 9324-QR001K-EN-P (September 2024). Steps 1–5: editions, add-ons, supporting packages, subscription or perpetual.Effective 2025-07-01. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
  2. FactoryTalk Design Studio Ordering GuidePublication FTALK-SG003C-EN-P, September 2026; supersedes FTALK-SG003B-EN-P (October 2025).Effective 2026-09-01. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
  3. Software SubscriptionsFactoryTalk DesignSuite subscription contents. Undated.Retrieved 2026-09-30.
  4. Software and Cloud Services AgreementRev. April 2026. §1.4.10 automation interfaces; §1.2.5 and §1.13 API Usage; §2.2 Access Credentials; §3.2.2 Concurrent Use.Effective 2026-04-01. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
  5. FactoryTalk Optix SolutionsPublication OPTIX-AT001D-EN-P, January 2026. Table 1 terminology: FactoryTalk Hub, organization, entitlement, FactoryTalk Design Studio, Remote Access entitlements.Effective 2026-01-01. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
  6. Software Support Services PolicyRevised July 2023.Effective 2023-07-01. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
  7. Studio 5000 Logix Designer | FactoryTalk | USProduct page; links the ordering guide and FactoryTalk Design Studio. Undated.Retrieved 2026-09-30.
  8. FactoryTalk Design Studio PLC Programming Software | FactoryTalk | USProduct page; 90-day trial. Undated.Retrieved 2026-09-30.

See also

Catalog Rows Cited

5Programs1SKUs4Metrics5Rules

Esc