The CKEditor 5 license key is simple to implement once you understand your use case. For most open-source or non-commercial projects, you won’t need one at all. For commercial applications, especially those leveraging advanced collaboration or export features, a license is both legally required and technically beneficial (support, updates, stability).
Get your license key → CKEditor Customer Dashboard
Have questions about which license fits your project? Leave a comment or check the official CKEditor forums.
CKEditor 5 , you generally need to provide a license key in your editor configuration to activate premium features or remove the "Powered by CKEditor" logo. Quick Setup Code In your JavaScript configuration, use the licenseKey property within the ClassicEditor.create() or similar factory methods: javascript ClassicEditor.create( document.querySelector( ), {
licenseKey: '
(up to 1,000 editor loads/month) requires a license key from the CKEditor Ecosystem dashboard Why is it needed?
Starting with version 44.0.0, a license key is used by default primarily for text formats that have premium plugins
enabled. If you have an unlimited license, adding the key also hides the "Powered by CKEditor" branding across all instances. License key and activation | CKEditor 5 Documentation
If you're looking for a comprehensive guide on managing CKEditor 5 license keys, the official License Key and Activation Guide CKEditor Documentation is the most authoritative resource. Key Takeaways for CKEditor 5 Licensing Free Open-Source Usage
: If you are using CKEditor 5 under an open-source license like GPL v2+, you should use as your license key in the configuration. Commercial Trial : New users can sign up for a 14-day free trial
to test premium features, which provides an instant temporary license key. Obtaining a Key
: Commercial license holders can retrieve their specific keys by logging into the CKEditor Ecosystem Dashboard under the "Your Products" section. Configuration
: The key is typically added to your editor's configuration object as follows: javascript ClassicEditor .create( document.querySelector( ), { licenseKey: 'YOUR_LICENSE_KEY_HERE' // Use 'GPL' for open-source
A useful way to implement the licenseKey feature in CKEditor 5 is to treat it as a dynamic configuration gateway. Starting with version 44.0, a license key is required even for open-source installations to activate the editor properly. Feature Concept: "Smart License Manager"
Instead of hardcoding a string, develop a utility that dynamically resolves the license key based on your environment. This ensures you remain compliant with CKEditor 5 Licensing without exposing production keys in development. 1. Configuration Strategy
You can configure the editor to automatically switch between the mandatory 'GPL' string for open-source local testing and your commercial production key. javascript
import ClassicEditor from 'ckeditor5'; // Resolves key based on environment variables const editorConfig = licenseKey: process.env.NODE_ENV === 'production' ? process.env.CKEDITOR_LICENSE_KEY : 'GPL', // Required for OSS/local testing from v44.0+ plugins: [ /* your plugins */ ], toolbar: [ /* your toolbar */ ] ; ClassicEditor .create(document.querySelector('#editor'), editorConfig) .catch(error => console.error(error)); Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard 2. Key Features of this Implementation Interface EditorConfig | CKEditor 5 API docs
CKEditor 5 is dual-licensed, requiring a valid license key for both commercial use and open-source projects . Starting with version 44.0.0 licenseKey property is mandatory in the editor configuration. 1. Types of License Keys ckeditor 5 license key
Depending on your project's environment and needs, different keys are available: Production License Key
: Provides unrestricted access to all subscribed features for live end-users. On cloud-hosted plans, these keys track and consume "editor loads". Development License Key
: Intended for local work, CI/CD, and testing. These keys are restricted to specific domains like and display a "development" banner. Trial License Key
: A 14-day evaluation key that grants access to all premium features. It is not authorized for production and may have functional limitations on session time. GPL License Key
: For open-source projects compliant with the GPL 2+ license, the value must be entered into the licenseKey 2. Pricing and Plans
Commercial plans are categorized by the number of editor loads and distribution methods: Monthly Editor Loads Monthly Price (Approx.) Support Level Free Commercial Starting at $45 Professional (2 requests) Professional Starting at $30 Professional (4 requests) Enterprise/LTS Contact Sales Dedicated Enterprise
Note: Overage for usage-based plans typically ranges from $30 to $60 per 1,000 additional loads depending on the tier. License key and activation | CKEditor 5 Documentation
Understanding CKEditor 5 License Keys: A Complete Guide If you are integrating a modern rich-text editor into your application, you’ve likely come across CKEditor 5. It is one of the most powerful WYSIWYG editors available today, but its licensing model can be a bit confusing for newcomers.
Specifically, developers often ask: Do I need a license key? How do I get one? And what happens if I don't use it?
This guide breaks down everything you need to know about the CKEditor 5 license key. 1. Do You Always Need a License Key? The short answer is: It depends on your project.
CKEditor 5 is distributed under a dual-licensing model. This means it can be used for free under an Open Source license or through a paid Commercial license. The Open Source Route (GPL v2+)
If your project is open-source and compatible with the GPL 2.0 (or later) license, you can use CKEditor 5 for free. In this scenario, you generally do not need a commercial license key for the core editor features. The Commercial Route
You need a commercial license (and a corresponding license key) if: You are building a proprietary/closed-source application.
You want to use Premium Features (like Real-time Collaboration or Track Changes). You require professional technical support. 2. Where to Get a CKEditor 5 License Key
To obtain a key, you must sign up via the CKEditor Ecosystem dashboard.
Free Trial: You can start with a 30-day free trial that provides a temporary license key to test premium features. The CKEditor 5 license key is simple to
Commercial Plans: Once you purchase a subscription (Standard or Premium), your unique license key will be generated in your account console. 3. How to Add the License Key to Your Project
Once you have your key, you need to provide it in your editor configuration. Without it, premium plugins won't activate, and you may see "missing license key" warnings in your browser console.
Here is a basic example of how to implement it in JavaScript: javascript
ClassicEditor .create(document.querySelector('#editor'), // Add your license key here licenseKey: 'YOUR_LICENSE_KEY_HERE', // Your other configuration... toolbar: [ 'bold', 'italic', 'bulletedList', 'numberedList', 'blockQuote' ], ) .then(editor => console.log('Editor was initialized', editor); ) .catch(error => console.error(error.stack); ); Use code with caution.
If you are using a framework like React, Angular, or Vue, the licenseKey property is passed into the config object of the editor component. 4. What are Premium Features?
The license key unlocks "Premium Features" that are not included in the standard open-source build. These include:
Real-time Collaboration: Multiple users editing the same document.
Comments & Track Changes: Essential for editorial workflows. Export to PDF/Word: High-quality document conversion. AI Assistant: Integrating LLMs directly into the editor.
Pagination: Viewing the document exactly as it would look on a printed page. 5. Frequently Asked Questions Is there a "Free" License Key?
There isn't a permanent "free" key for commercial use. However, the Free Tier for the CKEditor Cloud Services allows small projects to use certain features for free up to a specific limit of monthly active users. What happens if my license key expires?
If your subscription ends or the key expires, the premium features will stop working. The core editor functionality usually remains, but you will likely see console errors and lose access to advanced plugins. Can I use CKEditor 5 without a key in production?
If you are strictly using the Open Source (GPL) version and haven't included any premium plugins in your build, you do not need a license key. However, ensure your project's legal terms comply with the GPL.
The CKEditor 5 license key is the bridge between a basic text box and a professional-grade content creation suite. Whether you need one depends entirely on your project's scale and your need for advanced collaborative tools.
If you're just starting, grab a 30-day trial key to see if the premium features are worth the investment for your team.
This guide covers everything you need to know about the CKEditor 5 license key, from how to get one to common troubleshooting tips for both open-source and commercial users. 1. Why Do You Need a License Key?
Starting with version 44.0.0, the licenseKey property is a required field in the editor configuration. This change ensures that all users—whether using the free open-source version or a paid plan—are properly registered or acknowledged. 2. How to Get Your License Key Your key depends on how you plan to use CKEditor 5: Have questions about which license fits your project
Open-Source Users (GPL): If you are self-hosting the editor (via npm or ZIP) and your project is compliant with GPL 2+ terms, you do not need a unique alphanumeric key. Instead, you must set the property to the string 'GPL' in your code. Commercial & Premium Users:
Sign up for a paid plan or a free 14-day trial on the CKEditor Ecosystem website. Log in to the CKEditor Customer Portal.
Navigate to the "Subscription" or "License Keys" tab to copy your unique production or development key.
Cloud (CDN) Users: Even for free tiers, if you use the CKEditor CDN, you must obtain a license key from the Customer Portal. 3. Implementing the Key in Your Configuration
You must add the key to the ClassicEditor.create() (or similar) configuration block. Without this, the editor may fail to load or display a console error. javascript
ClassicEditor.create( document.querySelector( '#editor' ), // For commercial users: licenseKey: ' Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard 4. Common Issues & Error Codes If your key isn't working, check for these common mistakes:
license-key-missing: You upgraded to version 44+ but haven't added the licenseKey property to your config.
license-key-domain-limit: Development keys often have domain restrictions. Ensure you are using a Production Key for live deployments and the Development Key for local testing.
ai-trial-license-key-reached-limit: Specific to the AI Assistant feature, this means you've hit the usage cap for your current trial or plan.
Outdated Formats: If you upgraded from an older version (pre-v44), old keys may not work. You must log in to the portal to get the updated key format. 5. Summary Table: Choosing Your License
Uncaught CKEditorError: license-key-domain-limit #18914 - GitHub
CKEditor 5 is licensed under the GPL (General Public License) version 2 or later. This license is one of the most commonly used free software licenses and is known for its copyleft provisions, which require derivative works to be distributed under the same license.
Key Points of GPLv2 License:
If you are using the pre-built version from a CDN, you typically set the license key as a global configuration:
<script src="https://cdn.ckeditor.com/ckeditor5/40.0.0/classic/ckeditor.js"></script>
<script> ClassicEditor .create( document.querySelector( '#editor' ), licenseKey: 'YOUR_CKEDITOR_5_LICENSE_KEY_HERE', // <-- Insert key // other config options... ) .catch( error => console.error( error ); ); </script>
After selecting your plan, you will: