SmartBear licensing is the set of terms under which SmartBear sells its software testing, API lifecycle, test management and application monitoring products. The portfolio includes installed desktop tools such as TestComplete, TestExecute and ReadyAPI. It also includes cloud services such as Swagger, BugSnag and the Zephyr apps for Jira. One contract, the SmartBear Master Solutions Agreement (MSA), governs both installed “Licensed Software” and “SaaS”. The Solution Specific Terms add the licence types and product-specific rules.[1][2] The contracting entity is SmartBear Software, Inc. for customers in the United States or Canada and SmartBear Ireland Limited for everyone else.[3]
All current SmartBear offerings are term subscriptions. The MSA grants a revocable, non-exclusive, non-transferable right to use the Solutions “as specified in an Order”, solely for internal business operations by Users, and only during an Order Term.[1] Installed tools need a licence administered in SmartBear License Management (SLM), which binds licences to SmartBear ID accounts rather than to computers.[5]
Editions
SmartBear publishes prices for several product lines. The prices are rendered for the visitor’s region; when retrieved from Europe they were shown in euros.
| Product line | Plans or modules named by SmartBear | Licensing unit |
|---|---|---|
| TestComplete | Base (Desktop, Mobile or Web module), Pro, Advanced; add-ons TestExecute and Intelligent Quality[8] | Fixed or Floating licence per seat[8] |
| ReadyAPI | Test Essentials, Test Advanced; add-ons VirtServer and TestEngine[9] | Per licence, billed annually; floating by default, fixed on quote[9] |
| Swagger | Individual, Team, Enterprise, Enterprise Plus; Portal Pro, Contract Testing Pro, Enterprise SSO and Test Pro add-ons[10] | Per user per month[10] |
| Zephyr | Zephyr Essential, Standard and Advanced apps for Jira, sold on the Atlassian Marketplace[11] | Jira user tier[11] |
| BugSnag | Free, Select, Preferred, Enterprise[14] | Monthly error events and performance spans[14] |
Catalog SKUs record the plans with the prices shown on the day of retrieval, for example TestComplete Base at EUR 3,850 for a Fixed licence, TestComplete Pro at EUR 6,935 and ReadyAPI Test Essentials from EUR 6,069 per licence, billed annually.[8][9] Product detail is in SmartBear TestComplete and ReadyAPI licensing and SmartBear Swagger, Zephyr and BugSnag licensing.
Metrics
The Solution Specific Terms define the licence types. The Order states which one applies to each line.[2]
| SmartBear term | Catalog row | Definition (Solution Specific Terms) |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed (Named) License | Fixed (Named) License | Licensed Software that can be activated by only one User, with a unique username and password, on a single computer; a separate licence is required for each User.[2] |
| Floating (Concurrent) License | Floating (Concurrent) License | Can be activated for multiple Users, service accounts and machines, including virtual machines and containers; running instances or simultaneous Users may not exceed the floating seats.[2] |
| Server Application License | Server Application License | Installed on one server machine and accessed by multiple Users; the key works only on the designated computer.[2] |
| Fixed Access (SaaS) | Fixed Access | Single access by one User with a unique username and password, on one device at a time.[2] |
| Floating (Concurrent) Access (SaaS) | Floating (Concurrent) Access | Running instances or individuals with simultaneous access may not exceed the floating seats.[2] |
| Usage-Based Access (SaaS) | Usage-Based Access | Time-based, unit-based or event-based use during the Order Term.[2] |
| Agent Compute Units | Agent Compute Unit | Consumption unit for AI Agents; unused ACUs expire at the end of each month.[2] |
| System Accounts | System Account | Non-human, machine-to-machine access, for example API access by CI/CD tools.[2] |
SmartBear License Management uses the names Fixed User and Floating for the two seat types of installed products.[4] Older TestComplete key-based licences used Node-Locked and Floating User. These are recorded as Node-Locked License and Floating User License.[6]
Counting / floors
Who counts as a User. A User is any individual the customer authorizes, including employees, consultants, contractors and agents of the customer or its Affiliates.[3] Credentials may not be shared. Each User must be an employee or contractor under the customer’s control.[1] Catalog: User credentials may not be shared and Users must be under the customer's control.
Fixed versus Floating. A Fixed User seat belongs to one person. The number of users cannot exceed the number of seats, and a person cannot consume more than one seat. A Floating licence is assigned to a pool of users that may be larger than the number of seats. Concurrent use is what counts, and one person running the product on two computers at once consumes two seats.[4] Fixed licences can be reassigned only when the original User leaves the customer, on written notice to SmartBear.[2] SLM also limits this to one reassignment per seat. See SmartBear License Management.
Instances. Unless the Order says otherwise, a customer may install up to one production instance of each Licensed Software Solution in an Order.[2] Catalog: One production instance per Licensed Software unless the Order says otherwise.
Floors. SmartBear publishes no general minimum quantities. The Zephyr apps are the exception. The Atlassian Marketplace requires the Zephyr licence tier to match or exceed the Jira user tier, whatever the number of testers.[11]
Virtualization & partitioning
SmartBear has no processor or core metrics. Virtualization matters through the seat type. SLM documentation states that Fixed User licences cannot be used on virtual machines or with Docker containers, while Floating licences can.[4] The Solution Specific Terms say the same in contract form: Floating licences may be activated on “virtual machines and containerized environments”.[2] The SLM FAQ adds that fixed licences must not be used for automation, containers, VMs or CI/CD.[5] Catalog: Fixed User licences cannot be used on virtual machines or containers, Fixed licences may not be used for automation, CI/CD or shared service accounts.
Cloud / BYOL
SmartBear SaaS products (Swagger, BugSnag and Zephyr Cloud) are hosted by SmartBear or run inside Atlassian Cloud. Installed products can run in public clouds only on Floating licences, and the machine must reach the SmartBear licence servers unless the licence has been converted for offline use.[5] Swagger Enterprise Plus can also be deployed on-premises on request.[10] Purchases through a Channel Partner, including third-party marketplaces, are governed by the MSA; fees are paid to the partner.[1]
Programs
- Trials. Trials are governed by the Trial Terms of Use, not the MSA. They are for evaluation only and must stop at the end of the Trial Period.[12]
- Free versions and Beta access. Free versions are limited to the named User on one computer or device at a time.[2]
- Support plans. Standard Support (12x5 EST) is included in every paid subscription. Enterprise (24x7) and Enterprise Plus plans are available for some products.[13]
- Offline licensing and bundled licences are described in SmartBear License Management.
- Self-service and sales-managed subscriptions apply to Swagger and are described in the SaaS article.
Licence management history
SmartBear moved from third-party licence managers to its own system. In 2021 it announced SmartBear License Management, formerly called User-Based Licensing, to replace the HASP licensing model used by TestComplete.[15] TestComplete has issued only ID-based licences since September 2023.[6] ReadyAPI, VirtServer and TestEngine dropped file-based (ProtectionLS) licences. Since 2025-10-01 no new file-based licences are issued, activated or deactivated. Before that date, from 2024-09-01, renewing or expanding them carried a service charge of up to 30% of the invoice value.[7] Catalog: ReadyAPI file-based licences are no longer issued or supported from 2025-10-01.
Contract terms
Renewal. Orders renew automatically for one-year periods at SmartBear’s then-current prices for the same number of Users and entitlements, unless either party gives notice at least 60 days before the Order Term ends.[1] Catalog: Orders auto-renew for one year unless notice is given 60 days before expiry.
Expiry. When an Order Term ends, all rights cease and the customer must stop using the Solutions. This applies to installed software as well as SaaS.[1] The full contract is analysed in SmartBear Master Solutions Agreement.
Audits and compliance
The audit right sits in the Solution Specific Terms, under License Verification, and covers Licensed Software. On written request the customer must promptly confirm in writing whether its use complies with its Orders. SmartBear or its agents may audit no more than once every 12 months. Excess use may be invoiced, payable within 30 days.[2] Catalog: SmartBear may audit Licensed Software use once every 12 months and invoice excess use.
SLM provides the main compliance data. Its online licences check in with SmartBear’s servers during use, and floating licences record the system name on which a seat is used.[5] Licence administrators can view usage statistics and export the last 30 days of check-in and check-out events as a CSV file.[16]
Out of scope
- Signed enterprise agreements and Orders, which override the web terms and were not retrievable.
- Products not analysed in depth here: AlertSite, LoadNinja, BitBar, Collaborator, CucumberStudio, QAComplete, QMetry, Reflect, Stoplight and VisualTest.
- The open-source Swagger tools (Swagger Editor, Swagger UI, Swagger Codegen), which are not sold under the MSA.
- Litigation: no court case about SmartBear software licensing with a primary court record was identified.