Symptoms:
- I would like to know if I can sell a game that I made in Unity using the Personal (free) Edition.
- Can I make money from a game or app I made using the free version of Unity?
Resolution:
You can absolutely sell commercial games made in the Personal Edition of Unity.
To do this, you must meet the requirements to use Unity Personal Edition. This is that you did not earn or receive more than $200,000 in revenue or funding in the most recent 12-month period.
More Information:
If you are an 'independent/solo developer' - the revenue earned is based on personal revenue made from using Unity, in the most recent 12-month period. For example, money earned from Unity Ads or games published.
If you wish to use Unity Personal Edition, whilst working for a company or freelancing, the $200,000 cap is in relation to the entire company you are providing work for, overall earned revenue, or funding for the most recent 12-month period.
Please see our Software Terms of Service for all information on our different license tiers.
Comments
69 comments
Good
Does this mean even if my company isn't related to game development at all and they make 100,000, I have to pay for plus edition if I work for them, before I can sell my game?
Hi Nathan,
That would be correct. The amount would be the company/individuals total gross income, even if it not game development related.
If I am using the Unity Personal Edition outside of office hour, i.e. for personal use, no relation to my company, then do I consider under the 'independent/solo developer' category?
I would like to ask the same question as Winnie Liew. I work for a firm. However, building apps using Unity personal edition is my pet project and not associated with my firm. I work on my project outside office hours in "independent capacity" and the output will not be used by or for my firm. In this case, will I be considered as "independent developer"?
Hi both,
With your cases, providing the work you are doing is totally independant from the company you are working for, you would fall under the independat/solo category so your companies revenue does not come into account.
It is only when you use Unity for any part of your job which would then likely require a paid license unless the company earns under $100,000 USD.
*phew glad that was cleared up, I'm under independent developer then, the company I work for doesn't have anything to do with unity lol
Expired Unity Pro subscription and switched to the Personal version, my company exceeds 100K, the games published with the Pro version, are reported or removed?
Hi Alexander,
We have no overall control on the items that you have Published. You would only be in violation if you are continuously developing onto it (for example, with content patches) as you would effectively working on this while on the incorrect license type.
You would only need to be on the correct license tier while developing or updating. If your project is completely deployed and you are not updating it, you would not need to be on a specific license tier.
Hi,
If I develope and publish a game using Unity personal edition. What happens if the revenue exceeds 100k? It is possible to switch to the Profecional version after the publish to allow revenues higher than 100k?
Let's say hypothetically, I use the personal version and publish a game. Let's say said game takes off and nets me massive revenue. Would this just be a simple transition/switch to the Pro version?
What if this is my first game using Unity?
Hey folks,
If you do publish in Personal and your game takes off to the point where you are earning over $100,000 USD a year, you can just take out an upgrade to a Plus/Pro subscription which can be added to your Personal organization.
Hi Maru
I am planning on releasing a citizen science game for free through my University. Their revenue is over $100,000 per year, but I won't be monetising the game in any way. Is that acceptable under the Unity Free licence? Or will I have to start my own company and release it?
In previous comment was clarified that if you work for a company that doesn't have anything to do with Unity, company's revenue does not come into account for the 100K limit:
"It is only when you use Unity for any part of your job which would then likely require a paid license unless the company earns under $100,000 USD"
I fall under this category since I work for a software company totally unrelated to Unity and to Game developing in general. I want just to start using Unity by personal interest in my free time which may lead to an interesting project.
But, when I try to start using Unity Personal it requests me to accept the following terms:
The first bullet seems to be contradictory to the previous comment. Moreover, then I have to accept that I have not raised funds in excess of $100K. If I raised such funds in the company where I work by having an income more than $100K, how can I accept those terms?
Freelance developing an App for a client.
The client will be publishing the created app only, they do not use unity.
As i am under the $100k revenue cap, would i be able to use Unity Personal for that project?
hola como esta unity soy mexicano y planeo hacer un juego que sea free to play apenas planeo empezar en unity jamás había trabajado en diseño de videojuegos este será la primera vez que trabajo en uno y la monetización será en pesos mexicanos eso significa que mientras no llegue a 100000 dólares anuales podre recibir todo el dinero que salga de ese juego? por cierto esto sera en el uso de licencia personal .
por cierto quisiera saver como quitar el logo de unity
hello as this unity I am Mexican and I plan to make a game that is free to play I just plan to start in unity I had never worked in video game design this will be the first time I work in one and the monetization will be in mexican pesos that means that until I arrive at $ 100,000 per year can I receive all the money that comes out of that game? certainly this will be in the use of personal license.
by the way I would like to know how to remove the unity logo
Hi there!
@Graham: If this is released on behalf of the University (I.E being affiliated with them), then it would be required that you need to be on a Unity Pro license. If you choose to release this yourself and the app has no affiliation with work + you earn under $100,000 USD, then you are free to use Unity Personal.
@Ahmed: Unfortunately not. Removing the Unity Logo/Splash screen requires you to be on a Unity Plus/Pro subscription.
@Thanos: The information you mentioned at the bottom would be the correct information. Can you please let me know where it says that the revenue limit doesn't come into account if the company does not involve game development?
@scherten: Ultimately, the client would need to provide you with the license to do the work so if that company earn over $100K a year, they would need to have the correct license, even if they are not doing the work because the app is being made on their behalf.
@crashbalagcruz: That is correct. It's only when you start earning $100,000 USD in total income (includes money earnt outside of the app) that you need to be on a paid license. The Unity logo can be removed in the Editor. The option is only made available on Plus and Pro subscriptions.
Is it possible to surpass the limit with unity plus version? or is it only possible with pro version?
If I make a game with Unity Personal and I release it on Steam for example, and it will generate me a revenue of more than 100,000 USD, and I don't want to make any other game or use Unity in any other way anymore, do I still have to buy the Plus license? And if yes, for how long do I have to pay for it?
I work for a company that makes more than $100,000 a year and have been using the free tier to play around with personal projects unrelated to my work. My company does not do any game development. However, I had an idea for a game that I thought would be cool if we put it on our website, and wanted to develop a prototype to see if they are interested in the idea. At this time, I have not been authorized to work on this project, they aren't even aware that I am doing so on the side, and there is no guarantee that they will want it if I write it. As it currently stands, this is a completely personal project, but it is one that I am considering turning into a professional project if I can convince my company to take it on. I am concerned of the legality of developing this game on the free tier. Can I develop this prototype using the free tier, show it to my company, and then upgrade to a paid tier if they decide to develop the game, or would even developing a game that /might/ be used by a company making more than $100,000 a year in the future be a violation of the license agreement?
https://goo.gl/search/Mobile+Legends:+Bang+Bang
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Online game
Hi there!
@Filiope55: Do you mean the revenue limit for Unity Plus version? If not, please provide more information on your inquiry. Thank you.
@Krzysztof Szcześniewski: As the game is made by Unity and generate more than 100,000 USD even though it is just one game, you will need to get a Plus license after that in order to continue any upgrades/updates to your game. Every new subscription will have a 12 months commitment period so you are require to pay for 12 months for the subscription.
@Jeremiah Edward Blondin: Currently, you can still work on the prototype of your game on Unity Free/Personal Edition since there is no revenue generate from it. However, once the game is release to the market and generate revenue over $100K a year, then a Plus/Pro license will be require at this instance.
@Hazel What is the limit for Unity Plus Version?
Hi Filiope55,
The eligibility of Plus is when you or the company generate annual revenue or funds raised of more than $100k and less than $200k from the projects you make using Unity.
Hi, if i make a game and this game earn 100k and i stop making update/making new project do i need to buy unity Plus?
If you make more than 100k can donate that to charity?
Hi WoWboy,
Thanks for the comment.
If your project is completed and you don't need to use Unity anymore, then you won't need to have the subscription. However, as long as you need to maintain your game or develop new project by editing via Unity, yes, you will need to have the right subscription based on your Tier Eligibility.
@Unity AJ_KR
Is it the same for companies?
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