Allowed & Prohibited Products

Freemius is exclusively focused on serving makers selling software like SaaS and downloadable software. We do not support the selling of physical goods or human services like consultations. We also don’t allow anything illegal, harmful, abusive, deceptive, or sketchy—our goal is to support trustworthy makers building real software businesses.

Acceptable Products

We support three main software categories:

Modern software often blends these categories—for example, SaaS products may include downloadable components for easy integrations, and apps can offer cloud-based features through connected services. We fully support these combinations, as long as the core product remains software.

Prohibited Products

Important: If you violate our Vendor Terms of Service or attempt to sell prohibited products, your account may be restricted, placed under review, or suspended without notice—especially if we determine your business to be deceptive, fraudulent, high-risk, or low quality with excessive risk of refunds or chargebacks.

Non-Software Products

• Physical goods or services requiring physical delivery.
• Human services like SEO, marketing, design, development, consulting, or support.
• SaaS products requiring fulfillment through human services or physical delivery.
• Hosting services.
• Marketplaces selling third-party products via Freemius.

Illegal or Restricted by Law

• Any product violating any law or government regulation.
• Adult and other age-restricted products.
• Gambling-related products.

Intellectual Property Violations

Products that infringe on, or facilitate the infringement of, trademarks, copyrights, terms of service, or trade secrets. This includes, but is not limited to:

• IPTV services.
• Illicit streaming services.
• Streaming downloaders.
• Media burning software used to copy or distribute protected content.

Unlicensed or Resale-Restricted Products

Products you didn’t create or don’t fully own the rights to, including, but not limited to:

• Products for which you lack proper licenses or original intellectual property rights.
• Private Label Rights (PLR) or Master Resell Rights (MRR) products.
• Any resold product, even with a reseller certificate.

Payment Processing Restrictions

• Products listed on Stripe’s restricted businesses.
• Products listed on PayPal’s prohibited list.
• Products that violate rules set by Card Brand Networks (e.g., Visa or MasterCard).

Unauthorized Access & Hacking Tools

Products or services that enable unauthorized access to systems, data, or devices belonging to others, including but not limited to:

• Spyware
• Keyloggers
• Phone or device unlocking services
• Hacking tools or exploits
• Password recovery or cracking tools

Deceptive, Risky, or Harmful

• Sexually-oriented or pornographic content, including NSFW chatbots.
• Products threatening Freemius’ or our partners’ reputation.
• Products that cause, or pose a significant risk of, chargebacks, refunds, fines, damages, or other liabilities.

We reserve the right to update this list at any time.

FAQ

Can I sell a subscription that includes access to support?

Yes, you can—as long as the subscription unlocks real product features. Support can be part of the value you offer, but the core of what you’re selling must be your software.

In open-source ecosystems—like WordPress—it’s common to include premium support as part of a paid license. That’s totally fine, provided there are tangible features beyond just access to support.

If you stop providing support and we receive valid claims from buyers—with evidence—that they’re not getting the help they paid for, we’ll reach out to you first. If the issue isn’t resolved, we may be forced to issue refunds to protect the buyer experience and maintain trust.

Can I use Freemius to sell my product on behalf of someone else?

No. You must be the creator or legal rights holder of the product. Freemius is designed for makers selling their own software, not as a platform for reselling others’ products.

Can I sell software related to crypto or blockchain?

Crypto-related products fall under restricted categories due to high risk. Some may be allowed on a case-by-case basis, but they require additional review. Please contact us to discuss before selling anything blockchain-related.

Why can’t I sell services like support or product customization?

We get it—paid customizations and dedicated support plans often go hand-in-hand with software. While we plan to support service-based add-ons in the future, right now, offering services through Freemius brings compliance, legal, and risk challenges we’re not equipped to handle:

• Tax & Legal Complexity: Services are taxed differently than software, and handling that properly requires separate systems and processes. Plus, the legal documents we generate—like Buyer Terms and the EULA—are designed for software sales and would need major adjustments to cover services.
• Fulfillment Risks: As your Merchant of Record, we’re responsible for the transaction. If a customer claims “Service not as described”, we have no way to verify delivery, which could force us to issue refunds—sometimes for thousands of dollars.

Moreover, Freemius is built from the ground up for selling software. From license key management to automated software updates and software-focused workflows, our platform is tailored to digital products—not services.

Can I sell pre-launch orders or charge for early access before my product is ready?

Usually, no. Pre-orders and paid waitlists are considered high-risk for us. If the product or service isn’t delivered as promised, buyers may demand refunds or file disputes, exposing both you and Freemius to financial and reputational risk.

That said, we do make exceptions in high-trust cases—but trust is key. Here’s when we might allow it:

• If you have a proven track record with Freemius, supported by solid historical payment data.
• If you have other actively selling products on Freemius, where existing income can serve as collateral.

In these cases, pre-orders may be allowed, but we may need to adjust your payout terms—holding some or all funds until fulfillment is verified.