Trialware is not permitted

  • Hey
    I am developing a plugin – soon will be ready for submission to wordpress.

    The plugin has come functionality – but if a subscription is bought trough me, extra data can be imported into the plugin and give more functionality.

    But as I am reading the guidelines “5 Trialware is not permitted”, I am not sure if my plugin will fail in this category?

    Can I submit a plugin where, there is more functionality and data access, if a subscription is purchased, or should that me in a seperate plugin not hosted at wordpress?

    Please let me know what you guys thinks and know:)

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
  • Moderator James Huff

    (@macmanx)

    Trialware means that your plugin offers all functionality for free, but some of that functionality is shut off eventually without purchase, like a 30-day free trial. That is not allowed in the directory.

    If the plugin is offering extra functionality via an external service (software as a service, aka SaaS), then you can host the plugin here and unlock external functionality for pay. Two examples of this are Jetpack, where different levels of paid plans provide more functionality from external services, and Updraft Plus, where you can pay to store your backups remotely with them.

    If the plan is to include extra functionality that’s unlocked via a purchased license key or something like that, that is generally not allowed, and it’s recommended that you sell a separate plugin with the paid functionality. Two examples of that are Yoast SEO, which provides tons of free functionality and a few reminders that you can get more by purchasing the separate Yoast SEO Premium plugin, and WooCommerce, which provides tons of free functionality but sells plugins to further extend that functionality.

    Moderator James Huff

    (@macmanx)

    Most importantly, if you’re ever unsure about whether or not you can or should do something, find a popular listed plugin doing something close to what you want, and see how they’re doing it.

    Thread Starter dabasys

    (@dabasys)

    Thanks for the input.

    I guess that makes my plugin in the JetPack category. As the free functionality in my plugin always will be there, and the plugin will be functional. But you can pay to get data into the plugin from a webserivce and then unlock some extra features based on that data.

    So as I understand it – that would be okay with wordpress:)

    Thanks again for your input, will finish off version 1.0 of my plugin, and get it reviewed – then I hope it will get accepted:)

    Moderator James Huff

    (@macmanx)

    That sound right on paper, yes.

    Your first review from the Plugins Team will be the official decision though, so hang in there and submit your best work! ??

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
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