# Licensing

> How Crystl license keys work — activation, renewal, and offline use.

## Getting a License Key

When you purchase Crystl, a license key is generated and emailed to you automatically. Keys look like this:

```
ABCD3-XY7KN-QR2MP-8HJVW
```

No account or login required — just the key.

## Activating Your License

Crystl works on the free plan without a license key. To activate a Guild license:

1. Open Crystl
2. Go to **Settings > License**
3. Paste your license key
4. Crystl verifies the key and you're good to go

Your key is stored securely in the macOS Keychain. You won't need to enter it again unless you reinstall or switch machines.

## What the Key Includes

Each license key is tied to:

- **Your email** — the one used at checkout
- **A plan** — determines which features are available
- **An expiry date** — one year from purchase

### Plan Comparison

| | Free | Guild ($85/year) |
|---|---|---|
| Gems | Up to 5 | Unlimited |
| Shards per gem | 5 | Unlimited |
| Facet Inserts | Up to 5 | Unlimited |
| Prompt Library integration | — | Full access |
| Formations | — | Full access |
| Isolated shards | Yes | Yes |
| MCP server config | Yes | Yes |
| API key storage | Yes | Yes |
| Split view | Yes | Yes |
| Conversation history | Yes | Yes |
| Metal GPU rendering | Yes | Yes |

## Checking Your License

You can check your license status at any time from the Crystl menu bar:

**Crystl > License**

This shows your current plan, expiry date, and whether the license is active.

## Renewal

Crystl uses auto-renewing yearly subscriptions through Stripe. Here's how it works:

- **Automatic renewal** — Your license renews automatically each year. No action needed.
- **New key on renewal** — When your subscription renews, a new license key is emailed to you at your purchase email address from **chris@updates.crystl.dev**. Paste the new key into Crystl when prompted.
- **Cancel any time** — You can cancel your subscription from [Stripe's customer portal](https://billing.stripe.com/p/login/crystl). After cancellation, your current license remains active until the end of the billing period.

Crystl will notify you 30 days before your license expires. If your license expires and your subscription has been cancelled, Crystl will prompt you to resubscribe but won't lock you out immediately. There's a short grace period so you don't lose work.

## Offline Use

Crystl caches your license status locally. You can use Crystl offline without issues — it only needs to reach the verification server once every few days. If you're offline for an extended period, Crystl continues to work based on the last cached status.

## Moving to a New Machine

Copy your license key to your new machine by entering it in **Settings > License**. If you no longer have your key, check the original email from **chris@updates.crystl.dev** or [contact support](/contact).

## Troubleshooting

| Issue | Fix |
|---|---|
| "Invalid license key" | Double-check for typos. Keys use letters and numbers only (no O/0 or I/1 ambiguity). |
| "License expired" | Renew at [crystl.dev](https://crystl.dev). Your key will be extended automatically. |
| "Verification failed" | Check your internet connection. Crystl will retry on its own. |
| Lost your key | Search your email for a message from **chris@updates.crystl.dev**, or [contact support](/contact). |

---
Source: https://crystl.dev/docs/licensing/