About TestComplete Licenses

Applies to TestComplete 15.47, last modified on January 20, 2023

The way, in which you activate, use, and manage licenses depend on the license type.

TestComplete license types

TestComplete uses the following license types:

  • SmartBear ID-based — The new license type introduced in TestComplete 14.92. It implies that to activate and use the product, you specify your SmartBear account. If you don’t have this account, you will have to create one. To view and manage the account settings, use the new SmartBear License Management Portal.

  • Key-based — The licenses that existed earlier. They imply that to activate the product, you specify a license key or consume the license from the license manager running in the local network.

Which license do I have?

You can find this information in the email you received from SmartBear Sales Representatives.

As a simpler solution, you can check your product version and date: TestComplete started offering this license type to a limited number of trial users in August 2021 (TestComplete 14.92). Since April 2022 (TestComplete 15.40), this license type has become the primary one for both trial and commercial users. So, if you got your license in April 2022 or later, then most probably, you have a SmartBear ID-based license.

ID-based licenses for existing users

The following table helps understand the difference between ID-based and key-based licenses:

Feature ID-based Key-based
Activation procedure

The user specifies the email and password of their SmartBear account.

The user gets a license key from SmartBear and then uses this key to activate the license on their machine.

Binding to computer

The license is bound to a user, not to a computer.

Users can easily switch between the machines.

The license is bound to one workstation or server.

Activation on another machine means deactivation on the current one.

License subtypes

Key-based licenses can be Node-locked and Floating User. The ID-based ones use the names Fixed User and Floating. The licenses are treated in a bit different ways.

Using on multiple machines

Supported for both Fixed User and Floating licenses.

A very easy switch between machines: to use the product on another computer, one just needs to close it on the current machine.

An easy switch is possible for Floating User licenses only.

Node-locked licenses must be deactivated first.

Using on virtual and cloud machines

Supported for Floating licenses only.

Possible for Floating User licenses.

Requires installing the standalone License Server on a physical machine in the local network and a connection to this License Server.

Control of use

If you have access to the SmartBear license servers:
both Fixed User and Floating licenses are controlled by the SmartBear License Servers.

If you are in a private network:
Fixed User: by the licensing subsystem of your TestComplete instances.
Floating: by the On-Premise License Server running in your network.

Node-Locked: by the licensing subsystem of your TestComplete instance.

Floating User: by the standalone License Server running in the local network.

Work in private networks

Supported for both Fixed User and Floating licenses. License activation requires a connection to the SmartBear Licensing Portal.

Supported. License activation may require a connection to the SmartBear License Servers.

Managing users
(for Floating licenses)

In the SmartBear Licensing Portal or in the On-Premise License Server installed in your network.

In the standalone License Server.

Change licensing scheme

For licensing of different modules of TestComplete, you have to use either key-based or ID-based licenses. Using different license types at the same time is not supported.

If you started using the key-based licenses, you may want to switch to the ID-based ones and vice versa. To change the licensing scheme, you use items of the Help menu:

Switch to ID-based licensing
when using a key-based license:

Switching to the ID-based licensing

Switch to key-based licensing
when using an ID-based license:

Switching to the key-based licensing

After you switch the licensing scheme, you will need to activate your license.

Further reading

See Also

TestComplete 15 Documentation

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