The flexible licensing model lowers entry barriers for freelancers, short‑term projects, and students, expanding Phaser’s market reach. It also enhances asset control for studios through transferable licences.
The software development ecosystem has long wrestled with licensing rigidity, especially for tools that power game creation. By adding one‑time, fixed‑duration licences, Phaser Editor aligns its pricing with the gig economy, where developers often work on contracts lasting only a few months. This approach removes the friction of recurring payments and allows freelancers or students to budget precisely for the period they need. Moreover, offering both Developer and Professional tiers under the same flexible terms ensures that users can scale capabilities without renegotiating their entire subscription model.
Beyond individual users, the new transfer and gifting feature introduces a layer of asset mobility rarely seen in development tools. Studios can purchase a bulk pool of licences and allocate them to team members on a project‑by‑project basis, then reclaim unused licences without financial loss. The ability to revoke a transferred licence adds security, while gifting opens a low‑cost entry point for collaborators or community members. This flexibility not only improves internal resource management but also creates a viral referral channel as satisfied users share licences with peers.
From a market perspective, Phaser’s licensing overhaul positions it competitively against rivals that rely solely on subscription or perpetual models. The hybrid offering caters to a broader audience, potentially increasing adoption rates among educational institutions and short‑term development houses. Retaining the annual plan with its deepest discount preserves loyalty among power users, ensuring a steady revenue stream. As the industry continues to prioritize cost‑effective, adaptable tools, Phaser’s strategy may set a new standard for licensing transparency and user‑centric design.
Published on 12 Feb 2026

We've listened to your feedback, and today we're introducing a significant change to how you can purchase Phaser Editor licences: one-time, fixed‑duration licences are now available alongside our existing subscription plans.
Previously, the only way to access Phaser Editor's Developer or Professional tiers was through a recurring monthly or annual subscription. That works well for many developers, but we heard from plenty of you that it didn't fit every situation. Freelancers on fixed‑term contracts, teams building internal prototypes, and students working on coursework all had the same concern — why commit to a rolling subscription when you know exactly how long you need it for?
So we've added one‑time licences in one‑month (Dev only), three‑month, and six‑month durations. You pick the tier, pick the length, and that's it. No auto‑renewal, no forgetting to cancel. The licence is active for the period you bought, and then it simply expires.

For those of you who rely on Phaser as part of your daily workflow, we still offer twelve‑month recurring subscriptions — and at the best possible price. We value the commitment of our long‑term subscribers, and the annual plan reflects that with the highest discount available.
If you already have an active subscription, nothing changes for you. Your plan continues at the same price you're currently paying. No surprises.
We've also introduced the ability to transfer licences to other users on Phaser.io. Whether you hold a one‑time licence or a subscription, you can now log in, head to your account, select the licence, and click Transfer. The licence moves to the recipient and remains with them until it expires.
If circumstances change, you can also revoke a transferred licence before it expires, pulling it back to your account. While the licence is transferred, you won't be able to use it yourself — the recipient holds it — but you retain full control over it.
This opens up some practical possibilities. Studios can purchase multiple licences and distribute them across team members. If a colleague or friend wants access, you can buy a licence and gift it to them directly. It's straightforward and entirely within your control.
Both the Developer and Professional tier licences can now be purchased as either a subscription or a one‑time fixed‑duration licence. Head over to our pricing page to see the full breakdown and choose the option that works for you.
Comments
Want to join the conversation?
Loading comments...