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Tag: EA Licensing

  • EA Licensing: Rental vs Lifetime — What Each Model Actually Means for Buyers

    Buying Guide · 6 min read

    MQL5 offers two EA licensing models: rental (monthly or annual subscription) and one-time purchase (lifetime license). The right choice depends on how long you plan to use the EA and what you expect from the developer in terms of ongoing support and updates.

    Rental (Subscription) Model

    A rental license gives you access to the EA for the duration of your subscription. If you stop paying, the EA stops working. Monthly rentals typically cost $30-100 per month. Annual plans are usually 30-50% less per month than the monthly rate.

    Advantages of Rental

    • Lower upfront cost — test for one month before committing
    • Developer has ongoing financial incentive to update and support
    • Easy to stop if performance deteriorates

    Disadvantages of Rental

    • Long-term cost is significantly higher — $60/month rental = $720/year vs $80 lifetime
    • Revenue continues even if EA performance declines
    • Dependency on continued developer availability

    One-Time Purchase (Lifetime License)

    A lifetime license is a one-time payment that gives you permanent access to the current version of the EA. Updates may or may not be included depending on the developer’s policy — check this before purchasing.

    Advantages of Lifetime

    • Lower total cost if running the EA for 3+ months
    • No recurring cost — once bought, no further obligation
    • Developer incentivized to build durable products (one-time revenue model)

    Disadvantages of Lifetime

    • Higher upfront cost — commitment before extended testing
    • Developer has no ongoing financial incentive once sale is made
    • If EA stops working, no refund mechanism

    Break-Even Calculation

    The break-even point between rental and lifetime is simple: Lifetime price / Monthly rental cost = months to break even. A $80 lifetime versus $30/month rental breaks even at 2.7 months. Beyond that, the lifetime license is cheaper by the month.

    For any EA you plan to run for more than 3 months, a lifetime license is almost always more economical. Rental makes sense for initial testing or if you genuinely expect to stop using the EA within 2-3 months.

    The BotFXPro Model

    All BotFXPro EAs use lifetime licensing at three tiers — Starter ($30), Standard ($50), and Pro ($80). Updates are included with purchase. This model reflects a belief that EAs should be durable enough to justify a one-time payment, and that buyer relationships should not depend on subscription renewal pressure.

    Try It on a Demo Account First

    All BotFXPro EAs include a free MQL5 demo. Run it in Strategy Tester before committing to live.

    Chronos Algo — Lifetime License from $30 on MQL5 →