---
url: /relyagent-whmcs/licensing.md
description: >-
  How Relyagent licensing works — Leased vs Lifetime keys, the license-gated MCP
  server, and where to enter and manage your license key.
---

# Licensing

Relyagent ships with one of two license types. Both unlock the full product; they differ in how
updates and long-term use work. This page covers the two license types, the one license-gated
feature, and where to enter and manage your key.

::: info What is MCP?
The **Model Context Protocol (MCP)** is an open standard that lets AI assistants call external
tools. Relyagent turns your WHMCS into one of those tool providers.
:::

## 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 **MCP server** itself — the part that lets AI clients connect and call your WHMCS tools — is
**license-gated**. If the license is inactive, the **MCP and OAuth endpoints return HTTP 403** and
AI clients can neither connect nor call tools.

The license check runs **locally in the background**, so a brief outage of the licensing server
never affects a working install — your AI clients keep working through short-lived connectivity
blips. If the license is genuinely inactive, renewing or re-entering your key restores the server.

## Where to enter and manage your key

Go to **Addons → Relyagent → Settings → License**.

![Relyagent License panel](/relyagent-whmcs/img/relyagent-licensing-panel.png)
*Addons → Relyagent → Settings → License*

* The **License** panel shows your license type and, for a Lifetime key, whether Support &
  Updates is active and until when.
* Paste your license key (the field placeholder looks like `Leased-XXXXXXXXXX`) and save.
* Before a key is entered you'll see a **No License Configured** prompt.

## Related pages

* [Updating](/relyagent-whmcs/updating) — how Support & Updates affects new versions
* [Backup and restore](/relyagent-whmcs/backup-and-restore) — what's kept when you update
* [Error reference](/relyagent-whmcs/errors) — the human-visible license and update messages