Platform Questions

• Is October CMS Open Source?

  October CMS is source available rather than open source. The full platform source code is publicly available on GitHub and is not compiled or encrypted, so you can read and audit every line. A license is required to run October CMS in production, and it gives you access to the Update Gateway, Marketplace ecosystem and community support.

• How much does a Project License cost?

  Please refer to the Pricing page.

• Can I try October CMS before committing?

  Every new account includes a complimentary license for the first year, so you can build and launch your website without any upfront cost. This gives you full access to the platform, updates and marketplace while you evaluate whether October CMS is right for you. You can also request an online demo via the Home and Features pages, or install a Development Docker Image to explore locally.

• What is the permitted use of a Project License?

  The license gives you the right to use one copy of October CMS for a single website. A separate license is needed for each separate website.

• What else does a Project License give me?

  You get access to the Marketplace ecosystem, community forum, and support via email, GitHub and Discord. Every license holder receives platform support at no extra charge.

• Is support included with my license?

  Yes. Platform support is completely free for every license holder. You can reach us through our contact page, the community forum, GitHub and Discord. We actively help with platform questions, bug reports and general guidance at no cost.

• Can you work on my website for me?

  Yes. Our custom development service is a separate, optional service where you hire our team to work on your website, such as an upgrade, fixes or new features. We estimate the hours before you pay. Help with the platform itself is always free.

• If I opt not to renew the Project License, can I still use my website?

  Yes. Your license is perpetual, so the website, including any customisations, can continue to run the versions you downloaded forever. Non-renewal removes access to the Update Gateway, which you need for updates and for any download, including earlier versions. Keep a copy of your installation files in case you need to reinstall, or renew the license to regain access.

Marketplace Questions

• How do I tell what Product License should be used?

  You can find a link to the applicable license on the detail page for any given product.

• What do you mean by Product and Website?

  The Product is what you purchase from the October CMS marketplace. The Website is what you build with that product.

  Example: The Product is a blog plugin; the Website is the completed webpage with a blog. The Product is a bootstrap theme; the Website is the webpage using the structure, look and feel derived from the theme.

• What are some examples of permitted use?

  • You buy a theme, add your content, logo and other images, then use it as your website.
  • You buy a plugin, configure and implement it, and use it for your website (but not as a new plugin for sale).
  • You create a project with several plugins, create a custom theme and use it for a single website.
• Am I allowed to modify the Product that I purchased?

  Yes. You can customize products to fit the needs of your website.

  Example: You could change the colours, text and layout of a theme product for a single client.

• What does non-exclusive mean?

  Non-exclusive means that you are not the only person with access to the product. Others will also be licensing and using the same product.

• I'm not sure if my use is covered. What should I do?

  Contact us using the links in the footer and we'll do our best to help you out.

Regular & Extended Licenses

• What are the main differences between the Regular License and the Extended License?

  In simple terms, the main difference is that under the Regular License, you are granted permission to use the product you've licensed on a single website. Whereas under the Extended License, you (as a person or organization) are granted permission to use the product on an unlimited number of websites.

  Neither license permits you to sell the product as a product under any circumstances. For example, as a theme or plugin on the October CMS marketplace or any other marketplace.

  However, you are permitted to sell the product as part of your service offering. For example, if you are a freelancer, you are allowed to create a website for a client using either license and charge them for your services.

• I am a commercial entity or run a business. Do I always need an Extended License?

  No, just using the Product in a commercial setting doesn't necessarily mean you need an Extended License. A Regular License will suffice for a single website. The Extended License is a bulk license for instances where you need to use the same product across multiple websites.

  Example: Even though a web store is commercial in nature, as long as it is still classified as a single website, a Regular License is sufficient.

• Can I re-distribute a product, even under an Extended License?

  No. You cannot license products and then make them available to others 'as-is', regardless of which license you purchase.

• I am planning to use a plugin or theme in a product that I will sell. Which license do I need?

  If the product is part of another product for sale, you need to purchase a Regular License on behalf of every end user. You cannot use an Extended License to resell products to end users.

• Can I use the Extended License for web development services?

  If the product is delivered as part of a web development service, you can use either a Regular or Extended License for each website you sell. Services that install the product only (installation services) are not permitted and you cannot list the original product name when advertising your service.

• Can I give away products I have purchased for free?

  Neither license permits you to distribute products freely.

• Can I sell or transfer my license to another person or organization?

  Licenses are not transferrable to other users or organizations.

Website Definition

• How do you define a Website?

  A Website is defined by its identity, including its name, branding and audience, not by the installation. A single production website and its supporting environments (development, staging, etc.) count as one Website.

• Can I use the same Product or Project License for all my websites?

  No. Separate websites must have a corresponding license.

• Can a Website have different domains?

  Yes. A Website can be hosted on different domains as long as it has the appearance of the same website. For example, the same organization name and branding.

• What about Multisite?

  If you use Multisite to serve multiple unrelated websites with different branding from a single installation, each website requires its own license. A Multisite installation serving variations of the same website (e.g. regional versions) counts as one Website.

• Is software as a service (SaaS) counted as a single website?

  You should use a Regular Product License for each end user who works with your service. Or you can use an Extended Product License.

• What about test and development environments?

  You are permitted to use the same Project License for the live, development and test environments of a website, e.g. example.com, dev.example.com, and staging.example.com. Multiple development environments representing the same website can use the same license.