---
url: /zoho-payments-whmcs/licensing.md
description: >-
  Understand Zoho Payments' two license types — Leased and Lifetime — how the
  license gates payment processing, what your customers see if it lapses, and
  where to enter and manage your key.
---

# Licensing

Zoho Payments for WHMCS offers two license models. Both provide full gateway functionality with distinct update and ownership terms.

## The two license types

| Type | What you get | Updates |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Leased** | Works while the license is active. | Updates included for as long as it stays active. |
| **Lifetime** | Perpetual use of the installed version — you own it forever. | Newer versions need an active **Support & Updates** plan. |

## The license-gated feature

The license controls **payment processing**:

* **Local background validation:** Checks run locally to prevent storefront disruption during transient licensing server outages.
* **Fail-safe enforcement:** If a license is inactive, the gateway suspends new checkout attempts until renewed.

## What your customers see if the license lapses

If the license is inactive, the gateway fails safe rather than showing a broken checkout:

* **New payments are blocked.** On the invoice page the customer sees:

  ::: warning Shown to the customer
  Online payment is temporarily unavailable. Please contact us to complete your order.
  :::

  The **Gateway Log** records *"Payment blocked - license not active"* (at most once an hour, so
  it never floods the log).

* **In-flight transaction protection:** Payments completed at Zoho are **verified and recorded** even while the license is inactive. Invoices are credited normally, and the Gateway Log records *"License Not Active - proceeding to verify/record payment"*.

Renewing or entering an active key restores new checkout sessions immediately.

::: tip
A lapsed license never causes a customer to be charged at Zoho without their WHMCS invoice being marked paid.
:::

## Where to enter and manage your key

Manage your license key directly in the gateway settings:

1. Navigate to **Setup → Payment Gateways → Zoho Payments**.
2. Enter your key in the **License Key** field (retrieved from [relyweb.co](https://relyweb.co)).
3. Click **Save Changes**.
4. Process a test invoice in **Test Mode** to verify payment activation.

![License Key field in the Zoho Payments gateway configuration](/zoho-payments-whmcs/img/zoho-payments-licensing-license-key.png)
*Setup → Payment Gateways → Zoho Payments*

## Related pages

* [Installation](/zoho-payments-whmcs/installation) — where entering your key fits in setup
* [Configuration](/zoho-payments-whmcs/configuration) — every gateway field explained
* [Updating](/zoho-payments-whmcs/updating) — how license type affects updates
* [Error reference](/zoho-payments-whmcs/errors) — the exact licensing messages