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Kestrel API License Manager turns any WooCommerce product into a secure, license-based digital product.
Perfect for selling WordPress plugins, WooCommerce extensions, SaaS products, mobile apps, API access, or secure digital downloads with remote validation.
The extension issues license keys (API keys) when a WooCommerce product is purchased and controls access via a robust API. All major product types are supported, including simple, variable, and subscription-based.
Whether you’re selling one-time downloads or recurring access, Kestrel’s license manager handles activation, expiration, updates, and renewals. Works with WooCommerce Subscriptions or Constellation by Kestrel for robust recurring billing.
Kestrel API License Manager is flexible enough to power any license-based digital product. Popular use cases include:
Automatically generate and deliver license keys when a customer buys. Restrict access to your software or service unless a valid license is active. Works with any language. Drop-in PHP SDK available for WordPress developers.
Easily handle license activation, deactivation, status checks, and license key validation. List purchased products, verify license status, and deliver updates through a robust REST API.
Support manual renewals or use Woo Subscriptions for automated recurring billing. Customers receive renewal emails at 30, 7, and 1 day before license expiration.
Allow customers to upgrade their license for more features or activations. Pro-rate changes and apply discounts when integrated with Woo Subscriptions.
Let customers download free software or claim paid products for free after purchase. Great for freemium models or bundling tools as perks.
Release updates with confidence, supporting one-click or auto-update flows. Deliver files from Amazon S3, a remote server, or your own site using secure expiring URLs.
We provide a drop-in PHP library for WordPress plugin and theme licensing. Add license key checks and update delivery in minutes. You can use API Manager for any kind of software, but WordPress and WooCommerce devs seem to like us best.
When paired with Constellation or WooCommerce Subscriptions, licenses renew automatically using your preferred billing gateway.
Block access to your software or API until a license key is activated—protect your work and ensure only paying customers use your product.
Turn any WooCommerce product into a license-protected digital product
Full control over access, usage, and enforcement
Deliver updates from any server or storage
Flexible access control with built-in or Woo Subscriptions support
Control licensing from your WooCommerce admin
Robust REST API with full docs and flexibility
Built for developers. Trusted by WooCommerce merchants.
30-day money-back guarantee. Try API Manager today and keep it only if you love it.
Working with WordPress plugins or themes?
Use our drop-in PHP library to add license checks and auto-updates in minutes.
Get the SDK →
Built-in support lets you deliver secure, expiring downloads using S3 URLs—no extra plugins required. For advanced use cases, we also support the official Amazon S3 File Downloads extension for WooCommerce.
The Kestrel API Manager is built to perform under pressure. Our SmartCache system reduces server load and ensures consistently fast API responses, even with thousands of license keys and activations in play. By intelligently caching queries and refreshing data only when needed, the API Manager stays responsive and efficient, no matter how many products you’re selling or how often customers check for updates.
Choose how license keys behave in your store. Account-level keys give each customer a single license that grows with their purchases. Product-level keys issue a unique key for every licensed product.
Whether you want to simplify the experience for customers or tightly control who gets access to what, Kestrel API Manager gives you the flexibility to do whatever your business needs.
Account-level license keys
One license key per customer that unlocks access to all eligible purchases.
Product-level license keys
Generate separate license keys per product or per order, tied to individual purchases.
Custom or external license keys
Need something custom? You can generate and manage license keys programmatically.
Kestrel API Manager lets you control how long a license key (API Key) stays active. You can set an expiration date for access, essentially creating a time-limited subscription.
There are two ways to handle renewals:
Each product can include one or more license activations, and any license key type (account-level, product-level, or custom) can be used.
Simple form added to the standard WooCommerce product setup page
Downloads from your server, Amazon S3, or any remote source are protected with expiring, secure URLs to block unauthorized use.
Plugin update and information tabs can be added or removed.
Set the timeframe when your license should expire. Can be unlimited, time-gated, or linked to a subscription with Constellation or WooCommerce Subscriptions.
Need to block access? Instantly disable any customer’s license key.
Detailed debug data is logged in custom WooCommerce log files for easy access and troubleshooting.
For any product tied to a license, API activations are shown directly in the WooCommerce order view. You can see when and where a license was activated, how many activations are in use, and whether the key is still valid. You can also manage your user’s activations here to assist them in support. Deactivate keys, reset activations, or troubleshoot issues without digging through logs.
When you install the Kestrel API Manager, the WooCommerce My Account area now will include a dedicated License Keys tab and a Software Downloads section. Your customers can manage everything from one place: their license keys, their activations, their renewal orders and more.
On the License Keys page, customers can view their personal license key (per product or account-level keys), check API activations, and manually deactivate devices if needed — perfect for when software was uninstalled without deactivation.
On the Software Downloads page, users can securely download any purchased plugin, theme, or other licensed software. All download URLs are protected and expire automatically, using rules similar to, but expanded from, the base WooCommerce software download handling.
Selling WordPress plugins or WooCommerce extensions? Kestrel API Manager makes it seamless. Our PHP SDK for plugins and themes lets you add license key validation, activation, and automatic updates in just a few minutes.
Once added to your plugin or theme, customers can:
It’s fast to implement, easy for customers, and fully integrated with WooCommerce plugin licensing and subscriptions. Whether you’re selling one plugin or a full suite, the experience feels polished and professional from day one.
🔗 View the SDK developer documentation
Screenshots below show the license activation prompt, plugin update notices, and plugin details panel – all powered by the Kestrel API Manager SDK.
When your customer activates your plugin, the license screen is front and center. Easy to find, easy to use.
After activation, the API confirms with activation totals. The Product ID field is optional and can be left blank in most cases.
When a new version is available, customers receive a standard WordPress update notice and can update the plugin with a single click. Just like what they experience when using plugins from WordPress.org.
Once your plugin is installed, users can view version information, changelog notes, update history, and compatibility details—just like any plugin listed on WordPress.org. This builds trust and makes your product feel familiar and professional. All of this is powered by the Kestrel API Manager SDK behind the scenes.
If you’re currently using the WooCommerce Software Add-On, the Kestrel API Manager includes a built-in migration tool to import your existing license data. It can even respond to legacy API requests, so you can switch without breaking customer access. Once migration is complete, you can safely remove the Software Add-Ons extension.
Moving from another platform? We’ve helped developers migrate from tools like Easy Digital Downloads, Freemius, and custom-built solutions. Whether you’re dealing with expiring keys, remote updates, or customer entitlements, our team can help you transition smoothly.
Need help planning your migration? Our support team is happy to help.
Not sure if Kestrel API Manager is the right fit? Contact us — we’re happy to answer questions or talk through your setup.
Built and supported by the team at:
This protects your product without manual enforcement.
Yes. You can:
Yes. You can:
Works well for freemium models, upgrade paths, or gated resources.
Yes. Kestrel API Manager works great with both WooCommerce Subscriptions and Constellation by Kestrel. You can automatically handle renewals, expirations, and access control, no manual work required.
Yes. It can do more than that, but it is frequently used for selling WordPress plugins and themes. With our drop-in PHP SDK, you can add license checks and automatic updates in minutes. Customers will see update notices and changelogs just like they do with WordPress.org plugins.
You can deliver secure, one-click updates using our built-in SDK. Files can be hosted:
All download URLs are secure and automatically expire.
Yes.
Need help? Reach out, we’ll walk you through it.
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