1C licenses: types, prices, and terms

All products on the 1C:Enterprise 8 platform must be licensed. This means that to access the functionality of a given configuration, and to add user seats (workstations), you need to purchase user licenses.

A standard configuration purchase includes the platform, the selected configuration, and a license for 1 user seat (workstation). Accordingly, for more employees to work in the system, you need to buy additional client licenses. They are available for 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 300, 500, and 1,000 seats. The required number of seats is purchased by combining these options.

Main types of 1C licenses

Main product (Basic)

– a single-seat configuration (application software) that already includes the platform (example: 1C:Accounting 8. Basic version), with limitations on scaling, support, and customization of the system

Main product (PROF or CORP)

– a configuration with the platform for one seat, with the ability to scale and further develop the system (example: 1C:Payroll and HR Management 8 CORP).

Main product of an industry solution

– a configuration with additional licensing that requires a dedicated developer support line for industry-specific questions (e.g., 1C:Motor Transport Management. Standard).

Modules for main products

– products that require the configuration and platform of a specific solution (e.g., 1C:PM Project Management. Module for 1C:ERP).

Client license

– a product that also requires a configuration or a standalone 1C:Enterprise 8.3 platform and lets you increase the number of seats (e.g., 1C:Enterprise 8 PROF. Client license for 50 seats).

Server license

– lets you run the solution on a virtual machine or a separate physical server, including to provide remote access for employees (e.g., 1C:Enterprise 8.3 PROF. Server license (x86-64)).

Mobile device license (mobile seat)

– provides access, on a mobile device, to applications that functionally complement the main configuration (e.g., 1C:Enterprise 8. Client license for 20 mobile seats).

Cloud licenses (SaaS)

– a ready-to-use seat (session) for quickly putting the system into operation on a subscription basis (e.g., 1C:Fresh CRM)

Bundles and delivery kits

– several configurations with the platform, or a main product bundled with several seats (e.g., 1C:ERP Enterprise Management 2 + Document Management CORP. Server (x86-64). 50 client licenses).

Which 1C licenses should a client buy when implementing the software from scratch?

As an example, let’s take a manufacturing company without specific industry requirements (such as an oil refinery, metalworking, or railcar repair). The company has no subsidiaries and is not part of a group of companies or a holding company. It has more than a hundred employees, and about 50 people will use the system at the same time. Automation must cover all key tasks of operational, management, and statutory accounting.

In this situation, the following set of licenses and support may be suitable*

Every company is unique in terms of its business processes, so the items above are recommendations only. Additional services or configurations need to be discussed separately.

What’s in the box of a 1C configuration?

A boxed 1C product includes:

• Distribution kits of the technology platform and the application solution (configuration) for installation, on a disc or in your 1C account;
• A set of software protection PIN codes or a hardware key (USB), except for the Basic version (in an envelope or in your account);
• License agreement;
• Software product registration card, documentation (manuals), and a mailing envelope for sending the card to 1C;
• “Recommendations for working with the product” brochure;
• A leaflet with information about certified training centers.

*Contents may vary depending on the delivery type.

Perpetual and time-limited 1C licenses

Licenses for a configuration, platform, server, or user seats are purchased once and assigned to an organization (legal entity). To comply with the license terms, affiliated entities (subsidiaries) must purchase separate client licenses for access.

The exception is ITSaaS products (1C:Fresh or GRM, a ready-to-use workstation), which work on a subscription basis and are valid for a specific period (a month, quarter, six months, year, etc.). The same applies to Support Package products, mobile seats, and other cloud solutions.

1C:Enterprise 8 license cost

Prices for 1C configurations and licenses may change, so check them before you buy.

Top 10 most popular items as of October 15, 2024

Updated September 9, 2026: prices for 1C:ERP Enterprise Management and 1C:Holding Management 8 have been brought in line with the current 1C price list. The other items in the table are current as of October 15, 2024; check the current price at v8.1c.ru/price before you buy.

What determines the price of a license?

License prices vary depending on the protection type, the delivery package, and individual 1C promotional offers.

Some configurations require additional licensing or special support terms, so we recommend clarifying this in advance.

You can check whether a product is licensed using its registration number (included in the package). You can also check whether a solution is covered by 1C:ITS support in 4 ways:

• the list of software products on the 1C Solutions website;
• the official 1C price list;
• through 1C franchising partners;
• 1C information letters.

Software-based and hardware-based 1C licensing

The 1C:Enterprise 8 system uses software and hardware protection to assign licensed products to users.

Software protection is the most widespread and popular option because it does not require a physical device to access the system. Software protection is typical of electronic delivery and comes as a set of PIN codes included with the purchased box (configuration).

Software-protected licenses are bound to the PC on which they were activated. Subsequent changes to the OS or hardware components (CPU, RAM, etc.) may require you to activate a new PIN code. The number of activations for the Basic version is limited, and once they run out you will need to purchase a new product. For PROF or CORP versions, you only need to obtain new PIN codes by contacting 1C directly or through a partner

Hardware protection is typical of more secure systems with personalized USB port access and is most often needed by system administrators for server licenses. It is a USB key (dongle) with a code. This type of license is convenient when moving offices, on business trips, or for mobile work.

1C:Enterprise 8 products can use both software licenses and previously purchased hardware licenses at the same time when working with the same infobase.

What happens if you don’t buy licenses?

When purchasing a product, make sure you have a valid Support Package (1C:ITS information and technological support).

Without 1C:ITS, running PROF or CORP solutions will involve difficulties with scaling and with updating the platform or configuration to the latest release, and access to many auxiliary services and guidance materials will be limited.

The software product license itself is a file. Since the license is bound to a specific PC or server, using a copy of this file on another PC violates the license agreement. In that case, the activation server will issue a notice that the license has been deemed invalid.

Using licensed software on the current platform with an active Support Package helps you avoid problems and gives you the following:

• for PROF or CORP versions, official partners can advise on technical issues and connect remotely for diagnostics only if you have an active Support Package;
• a higher level of information security for the system when you use the current platform and configuration;
• licensed solutions incorporate lessons learned from past errors and other users’ requests for product development;
• statutory reporting filed in line with current legal requirements;
• compliance with regulatory requirements (1C is Russian software and is included in the Russian Software Registry) and, as a result, no related violations.

Also keep in mind that PROF licenses are intended for an infobase with no more than 500 concurrent users running on no more than 12 processor cores. If the number of sessions exceeds this limit, CORP licenses are required.

Updating licenses when updating the configuration

You do not need to update licenses when you update configurations. An exception may be an upgrade program that involves moving to the current platform. Client licenses must run on the same platform as the configurations.

How can you save on 1C licenses?

• If an organization has licensed 1C solutions on an outdated platform, they can be upgraded with a partial credit for the cost of the existing products.
• When a company’s needs expand due to growth or an increase in user seats, the upgrade procedure can also be used to move configurations to solutions with broader functionality. It is very important to confirm technical feasibility with 1C partners (example: moving from 1C:Accounting 8 PROF to 1C:ERP Enterprise Management).
• The 1C Company price list includes bundles of several configurations, as well as configurations sold together with client (server) licenses. In this case the total cost of the purchase is lower, but later upgrades or technical support may be difficult (not every 1C partner has the expertise to advise on a combined product)
• From time to time, government support programs offer subsidies to businesses that cover part of the total purchase cost
• 1C encourages the use of licensed software. For example, students of some training courses can buy the software at a discount when they complete the course