WordPress Plugin Licensing Explained

Licensing trips up a lot of buyers. Here's a plain-English overview of how WordPress plugin licensing usually works.

WordPress and the GPL

WordPress itself is licensed under the GPL, and PHP code that extends it is generally considered a derivative work — so most premium plugins' PHP is GPL too. In practice this means you can use, modify and even redistribute the plugin's code. What you're paying for on a marketplace is the package, updates and support, not a restriction on the code.

Marketplace licenses

On top of the GPL, marketplaces add a purchase license that typically grants you use on a defined number of sites (often a single application or end product per purchase). Assets bundled with the plugin — images, fonts, icons — may carry their own licenses, so check those separately.

What you can do

• Install and use the plugin on the site(s) your license covers.
• Customise the code for your own project.
• Keep using the version you bought even if support lapses.

What to watch for

Re-selling the plugin as-is, or redistributing bundled non-GPL assets, is usually not allowed. If you need multi-site or extended rights, buy the matching license tier.

Bottom line

Read the license that ships with the product, keep your purchase receipt, and you're covered. Browse plugins in WordPress.