FAQ section

Our new flexible Credit licensing model is an industry first! offering flexibility and scalability for users deploying SP Grid onto projects of all shapes and sizes. With flexibility, we expect to need to provide guidance on the options available. Here we dive into the licenses questions that have come up most frequently in our experience so far.

General Licensing Questions

What is a Credit in SP Grid?

A credit is a unit that represents the scale and complexity of your SP Grid project — things like connected devices, data protocols, add-on features for calibration tools, and external device Grid Viewer connections.

You only need as many credits as your project requires, and you can increase them at any time.

What licence do I need to get started?

All SP Grid projects start for free in Grid Studio! With Data watermarks as you build projects.

From there, you can:

  • start with a minimum 3 month license for credits needed to remove data-watermarks
  • extend the licence timer if the project runs longer, or
  • add more credits to your timed license, if the project grows

How much do Credits costs?

SP Grid uses simple, time-based pricing: You first decide the type of time license you wish to work within. Prices per credit on the available durations are:

  • 3 months → €2 (minimum purchase)
  • 1 year → €5
  • Perpetual → €20

These prices cover the runtime of the software — credits are purchased separately based on projects needs.

Can I extend my Credit Licence later?

Yes. You can extend your licence at any time to add more time to the credits in your license:

  • Add 1 month → €1
  • Add 3 months → €2
  • Add 12 months → €5

Extensions of time can be added whenever your project timeline changes. Additional credits can also be added during the time period. Only pay for the time remaining on the license to the nearest quarter remaining. Perpetual license Credits must be added within the runtime of the 1st year maintenance period.

What happens if my project grows in size?

If your project needs more devices, data, or features, you can add more credits at any point during an active licence.

This lets you scale the system easily.

What’s the difference between adding time and adding credits?

  • Adding time extends how long the licence runs.
  • Adding credits increases how large or complex the system can be.

You can do either — or both — independently.

What is a perpetual licence?

A perpetual licence gives you permanent usage rights to SP Grid for the credits you purchase.

  • Perpetual credits cost €20 per credit
  • Credits never expire
  • The system continues to run indefinitely
  • Access stops to new software versions after the 1 year has lapsed.
  • Add more credits if needed within the first year.(the maintenance period).
  • Buy back in to new software versions for the cost of 1 year price for Credits.

What is maintenance on a perpetual licence?

Maintenance Period is the first year of a perpetual license. optional annual renewal that costs €5 per credit to buy back in to a new 1 year maintenance period.

Active maintenance gives you:

  • software updates
  • support
  • the ability to purchase additional perpetual credits

If maintenance expires, your system continues to run, but you won’t receive updates or be able to add new credits until maintenance is renewed.

If my perpetual credits expire, can I buy back in for a new release

You sure can! At anytime, for one year subscription costs, you can buy back in to receive a further 12 months of software update access and support.

What happens if my licence expires?

If a licence expires, it can be reactivated, but reactivation defaults to the available 3 month or 1 year options.

For this reason, we always recommend extending the licence before it expires if you expect the project to continue for a smaller time period, such a single month.

Can I change licence types later?

Yes. Many customers start with a short-term licence and later move to a 1-year once frequency usage of using Grid rises.

Your credits and project work are preserved when upgrading.

Is this model suitable for both temporary and permanent projects?

Yes. The system is designed so that:

  • short-term projects stay lightweight and affordable
  • long-term installations remain predictable and scalable
  • permanent systems can be future-proofed with perpetual licences with no renewal costs.

Do I need to know how many credits I need upfront?

No. You can use Grid Studio for free to build your project with data-watermarks. You can then start with the credits you need today to remove those watermarks and adjust later as the project evolves.

Our team can also help you calculate the right starting point or you can use Grid Studio to build out your project for free and see in real-time what the credit count will be.

Why does SP Grid use credits instead of fixed feature tiers?

Credits allow SP Grid to stay device-agnostic and flexible, so you only pay for what your project actually uses — not predefined bundles that don’t fit unique user needs. We have come from a module system and our user feedback was that they only wanted to pay for what they needed. hence the new credit model.

Do Credits ever expire?

Yes & No - It depends on the type of credit you purchase. We offer 3 month and 1 year durations, they will expire. However Perpetual runtime credits for permanent assignment will not expire, but updates to credit amounts will no longer be available or for new features and software version after 1 year has passed.

How have you decided what connections cost how many credits?

Please check our “Licensing page” under the buy page on our website to see what class a connection or feature sits within. IO Connections, 3D sensors, Camera Tracking, 2D sensors are just some examples of the class types.

Buying & Pricing

Where can I buy Credits?

You can purchase Credits starting at a minimum of 25 credits, directly through our online store for the exact amount you need.

Via our sales team in credit pack bundles for B2B discounts

Or via an Enterprise agreement if you need larger volumes and flexible “pool” style deployment.

Why is there a minimum 25 credits starting point

As you would expect, we have transaction expenses and licensing to cover so 25 is the minimum you can order.

Do you offer discounts on Credits?

Yes — B2B & Enterprise customers can purchase bulk Credit Packs at reduced rates. This option is available through our sales team. Please note minimum credit orders start at 125 credits on B2B rates.

Can I pay yearly credits in advance in 3 year or larger leasing periods?

Yes! We have 3 years and 5 years Capex packages available on credit bundles. Speak to our team.

Deployment & Usage

Can I move Credits between projects?

Yes, Credits are automatically reassigned across projects by simply shutting down your Grid Studio instance and opening a new project, giving you full flexibility of movement between SP project instances.

Do I need to pre-allocate all my Credits?

No — you can scale up as your project evolves. Simply add more Credits at any time.

Are Credits tied to hardware?

Flexible yearly and 3 month Credits are linked to your Grid account, not to specific hardware. Perceptual credits are locked to hardware on their first activation. If you need a different approach, speak to our team. We are flexible company!

Can Credits be Released?

  • Yearly and 3 month credit licenses can be released from a machine by you in your SP account. There is both an online and offline method, following the instructions found in our Grid Studio manual. Charges may apply to release credits that have been left behind if you not longer have access.
  • Perpetual credits can be released via Stage Precision support team email. This is not so easy or quick and a charge of ÂŁ150 will apply.

Will my credits be gone when used in a project?

No - when closing the project the credits will still be bound to the license key ready to go again on another project.

Can I step down on Connections / Add-ons to give myself some credit headspace again?

Yes - credits will only be needed when connections or Add-ons are in your Project Tree or switched on (in the case of Feature Add-ons). So theoretically you could only populate connections in your project tree as needed.

Can I combine multiple wallets for bigger projects?

No, but you can Scale-up by adding more credits to your license at any time. Or use a new short term license and bill it to that project.

Still unsure what you need?

Our team can help you choose the right licence and credit level for your project.

👉 Talk to us before you buy