Going Premium (Without Getting Cancelled on Reddit)

So, your plugin is useful, polished, and your support inbox is busier than your DMs after a haircut. It’s time to charge for the good stuff. But how do you do it without being that dev?

“You either die a hero, or live long enough to launch a PRO version.”

🤔 Step 1: Ask Yourself… Is This PRO-Worthy?

Not everything needs a price tag.

Good candidates for PRO features:

• Stuff that saves time (1-click magic buttons)
• Deep integrations (hello, Zapier)
• Customization options (theme support, templates)
• Role-based access, reports, analytics, charts — all the buzzwords

Bad candidates for PRO features:

• The plugin’s core functionality
• Fixing a bug you caused
• Literally everything — don’t “paywall” the Save button

🧃 Remember: Free users are your unpaid marketing team.

🧱 Step 2: Split the Plugin Like a Smart Cookie

Two options:

1. Separate Plugins

• Free version stays on WordPress.org
• PRO version is a separate download from your site
• Requires the free version to work

if ( ! function_exists('my_plugin_pro_feature') ) {
    echo "Upgrade to PRO to unlock this beautiful nonsense";
}

2. Same Plugin, Unlock With License

• One plugin, check for license key
• Unlocks extra features if key is valid
• You’ll need licensing logic (Easy Digital Downloads, Freemius, etc.)

Either way, keep the code clean, and don’t throw PHP errors if the PRO part is missing. Be classy.

💼 Step 3: Pricing Like a Capitalist with a Heart

Things to consider:

• Annual license vs. lifetime
• Single site vs. unlimited sites
• Add-ons or bundles?

Common prices:

• $29/year – Solo developer
• $99/year – Freelancer bundle
• $199/year – Agency license (aka “please let me use it on 57 sites”)

Use charm pricing, too:

“Only $49.99 — because $50 would be rude.”

🔐 Step 4: Add Licensing & Updates (or You’ll Regret It)

Use a license system that:

• Validates keys
• Limits activation
• Sends updates only to legit users

Popular tools:

• EDD Software Licensing
• Freemius
• WP Licensing System

💡 Pro move: Use GitHub Actions or CI to auto-build PRO zips for paying users.

🫡 Step 5: Be Honest. Be Transparent. Be Cool.

Tell users:

• What’s free
• What’s paid
• Why it costs money (support, maintenance, pizza)

Avoid:

“You must upgrade to PRO to fix this critical security flaw.”

Instead, go with:

“We offer a premium version that includes [amazing stuff], and it helps fund continued development. But we ❤️ all users.”

🪙 Bonus: Take Payments Like a Boss

Use:

• Stripe
• Paddle (handles EU VAT too!)
• PayPal if you like stress

And don’t forget to:

• Email receipts
• Auto-renew (but let people cancel without needing a PhD)
• Offer a money-back guarantee (because karma)