Perpetual Plugin Licenses and Plugin Subscriptions Compared

Jun 23, 2025

Welcome to our guide comparing perpetual plugin licenses with plugin subscriptions. On this page you can explore the advantages of each model, to help you make the right choice for your needs.

Here are the basic points you should consider:

License Type: Perpetual licenses are one-time purchases that allow you to use a specific version of Waves software, while subscription licenses require ongoing payments for continued access.

Cost: With a perpetual license, you pay a higher upfront cost, but with a subscription, you have lower initial costs spread over time.

Software Updates: Subscription licenses include ongoing updates and new features, whereas perpetual licenses may require additional payments to renew your Waves Update Plan for major version updates. Software updates are necessary to improve functionality and ensure compatibility with other evolving technologies like your computer hardware and operating system.

Here’s the full comparison between perpetual plugin licenses and plugin subscriptions:

	Perpetual License	Subscription
Plugins	Purchase plugins one-by-one or in bundles	Subscribe to over 240 plugins in Waves Ultimate, over 110 plugins in Waves Essential
Payment	One-time purchase	Monthly or annual subscription
Updates	1 free year of updates from the moment you purchase. Further version updates with an active Waves Update Plan.	Updates included automatically with your subscription: easy one-click plugin updates from Waves Central.
New plugins	Select bundles with an active Waves Update Plan may get new plugins added	New plugins added for free (select plugins added to Essential, most plugins added to Ultimate)
Number of licenses	1 license can be used on one system at a time; a 2nd license can be used by the owner on another system if the product is covered by the Waves Update Plan (see above). See Terms & Conditions	2 licenses can be used by the owner on two systems at a time
Activate different products to different machines	You can use one plugin or bundle on one system, and other plugins or bundles on a second system; the licenses are separate. See Terms & Conditions	All plugins included in Waves Creative Access are managed via a single license for each subscription, with activation on 2 systems at a time. See 2nd license terms & conditions
StudioVerse plugin chains	Use StudioVerse chains that include the specific plugins you own	Use a vast number of StudioVerse chains that include your Ultimate or Essential plugins
Waves Stream	X	Free access to Waves Stream remote audio collaboration service
Free Courses	X	Access dozens of hours of premium mixing courses free of charge
Gemstones	X	Gemstones included

For full terms and conditions, please see the Waves EULA.