> Markdown version of [Licensing Model](https://vaadin.com/docs/v24/tools/collaboration/developing-with-ce). Section index: [llms.txt](https://vaadin.com/docs/v24/tools/llms.txt)

# <a id="ce.developing"></a>Licensing Model (deprecated since V24.5)

> **Note: Collaboration Kit is Now Free**
>
> Collaboration Kit features are free for all users both during development and in production.

Collaboration Kit is licensed under the [Vaadin Runtime License](https://vaadin.com/commercial-license-and-service-terms). You can try Collaboration Kit, and use it to develop applications without charge. When your application goes to production, though, you’ll need a valid license.

While your application is in development mode, you can use all of the features of Collaboration Kit without any restrictions. You don’t need a development license or a separate trial. Development mode is the default mode of a Vaadin application and is used when not configured explicitly for a production build.

To get started, follow the [Quick Start Guide’s instructions](https://vaadin.com/docs/v24/tools/collaboration/tutorial.md) to add Collaboration Kit to your Vaadin application, and to use its high-level APIs.

## <a id="ce.developing.billing-model"></a>Billing Model

Collaboration Kit is billed at runtime, based on the number of unique users per month using collaboration features in an application. See the [pricing page](https://vaadin.com/pricing) for the number of monthly end-users allowed under the free tier.

To move an application using Collaboration Kit into production, there are two options: a free *universal* license; or a commercial license. Each is described below.

### <a id="ce.developing.free-universal-license"></a>Free Universal License

The universal license allows any developer to use the Collaboration Kit for free. It allows a limited number of unique users each month in a Vaadin application to use features that rely on Collaboration Kit. Developers aren’t required to have a commercial Vaadin subscription to use the universal license.

See the [pricing page](https://vaadin.com/pricing) for the number of monthly end-users allowed under the free tier.

To download the universal license, click on the [Production Configuration](https://vaadin.com/docs/v24/tools/collaboration/going-to-production.md) link in the margin here, and look for the [Free Universal License File](https://vaadin.com/docs/v24/tools/collaboration/going-to-production.md#ce.production.obtain-universal-license) section.

### <a id="ce.developing.paid-commercial-license"></a>Commercial License

A commercial license requires an active [commercial Vaadin subscription](https://vaadin.com/pricing). The commercial license allows an unlimited number of end-users to use Collaboration Kit features.

If you already have a commercial Vaadin subscription, [contact Vaadin to request a license](https://vaadin.com/collaboration#contact-us). Otherwise, visit the [pricing page](https://vaadin.com/pricing) to buy a commercial Vaadin subscription.

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