Dyalog Developer Licences
Choose the licence that fits your development needs – from personal projects to professional applications
Our Developer Licences provide flexible options for everyone, from hobbyists to professional developers – whether you’re experimenting with APL for personal projects or building commercial applications, there’s a licence to suit your needs. This page outlines the available Dyalog Developer Licences, helping you to understand what’s included and choose the right one for your intended use. Still unsure which Dyalog licence you need? Use our Licence Guide to help you.
In Summary
Dyalog offers a free Basic Licence for personal/educational use and a Commercial Licence for business use at £1,375/year. Both provide the same full development environment, but you do need a separate Run-Time Licence to distribute applications. Essentially, it’s free for non-commercial use, paid for business use.
Dyalog Developer Licences
Dyalog Basic Licence
For personal use, students, and APL enthusiasts
You will be granted a Basic Licence when you accept the conditions and download a free copy of Dyalog. The Basic Licence allows APL users to have a copy of the latest Dyalog technology for personal or non-commercial use and experimentation and other Non-commercial Purposes only. The Basic Licence is intended for use as a personal productivity tool in a general non-commercial environment, and you may not exercise any of the rights granted to you by the Basic Licence for any Commercial Purpose. This means that as long as you are not making or trying to make money from your use of the licensed work, you are OK. Common categories of non-commercial use include educational use, personal use, experimentational use, proof of concept use, participating in programming competitions for prizes, and just for fun use.
Holders of Basic Licences can subscribe to the Dyalog Support Service (DSS), which offers users support, maintenance and upgrades, in return for payment of the relevant fee.
“Non-commercial Purposes” means those purposes for which no fee, rate, charge, or other consideration is charged to any third party, or which is considered by Dyalog Ltd as a charitable, educational, or other not-for-profit purpose, and which is not otherwise considered a Commercial Purpose.
Note: If you want to distribute Dyalog with your work, you will need an appropriate Run-Time Licence. Holders of Basic Licences can distribute Dyalog with their work under the terms of the Royalty-Based Run-Time Licence, which will apply as the default run-time licence.
Free, full-featured licence for non-commercial use
The Basic Licence gives you access to the complete Dyalog development environment — no feature limits, no trial periods. It’s free to use for non-commercial purposes.
Educational, experimental, and personal projects allowed
Use Dyalog for learning, teaching, exploring new ideas, or building tools for your own use. The Basic Licence covers a wide range of non-commercial activities.
Code Golfing permitted (with prizes)
Yes, you can use your Basic Licence to take part in coding competitions — including those with cash or prize rewards.
Windows, Linux & macOS
Dyalog runs on all major platforms. The Basic Licence lets you install and use it freely on Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Dyalog Developer Licences
Dyalog Commercial Licence
For professional developers working on commercial projects
A Commercial Licence allows a single user to run the Dyalog development environment for Commercial Purposes, including as a tool for application development, a productivity tool, and a platform for running applications developed in Dyalog. Commercial Licences are provided on an annual fee basis and include Dyalog Support Service (DSS) membership, which offers users support, maintenance and upgrades.
“Commercial Purposes” means those purposes for which a fee, rate, charge or any other consideration is charged, or any purposes directly or indirectly connected with any business or which is otherwise intended for profit or to make money.
Note: A Commercial Licence does not include a licence to distribute Dyalog with your work – to do that you will need to obtain an appropriate Run-Time Licence.
Paid annual licence for commercial use
The Commercial Licence is required if you’re using Dyalog in a business or commercial setting. It’s available on an annual subscription basis.
Allows full development with Dyalog
You get full access to the complete Dyalog development environment — ideal for building, testing, and running applications in a professional context.
DSS included for support and updates
Your Commercial Licence includes membership of the Dyalog Support Service (DSS), giving you access to expert support, updates, and maintenance.
Windows, Linux & macOS
Dyalog supports all major operating systems. Commercial users can develop and deploy on Microsoft Windows, Linux, and macOS with a single licence.
Features | Basic Licence | Commercial Licence |
|---|---|---|
Cost | FREE | £1,375 annually* |
Usage | Educational, experimental, and personal use only | Commercial and professional use |
Distribution | Run-Time Licence required | Run-Time Licence required |
Competitions | Allowed, including prize-winning competitions | Allowed |
Platforms | Linux (including the Raspberry Pi) macOS Microsoft Windows | AIX* Linux (including the Raspberry Pi) macOS Microsoft Windows |
Support Options | Optional paid support via DSS | DSS support and updates included |
Licence Term | Indefinite | Annual Renewal |
Dyalog Developer Licences FAQ
What is a Commercial Licence?
A Commercial Licence allows a single user to run the Dyalog development environment for commercial purposes, including as a tool for application development, a productivity tool, and a platform for running applications developed in Dyalog. It does not include a licence to distribute Dyalog with your work; for distribution, an appropriate Run-Time Licence is required. Commercial Licences are provided on an annual fee basis and include Dyalog Support Service (DSS) membership, offering support, maintenance, and upgrades.
How much does a Commercial Licence cost?
The annual cost for a Commercial Licence for Microsoft Windows, Linux, and macOS is £1,375.
What is a Basic Licence?
A Basic Licence is granted when you accept the conditions and download a free copy of Dyalog. It allows APL users to have a copy of the latest Dyalog technology for personal or non-commercial use, experimentation, and other Non-commercial Purposes only. Common categories of non-commercial use include educational use, personal use, experimental use, proof of concept use, participating in programming competitions for prizes, and just-for-fun use.
Can I distribute Dyalog with my work using a Basic Licence?
To distribute Dyalog, you will need an appropriate Run-Time Licence. Holders of Basic Licences can distribute Dyalog with their work under the terms of the Royalty-Based Run-Time Licence, which applies as the default run-time licence.
Is there support available for Basic Licence holders?
How much does DSS membership cost for Basic Licence holders?
The annual cost for DSS membership for Basic Licence holders is £150.
What is a Run-Time Licence?
A Run-Time Licence is required to distribute Dyalog with your work. Full details on Run-Time Licences can be found on the Run-Time Licences page.
Are the prices inclusive of VAT?
All prices are in £ Sterling (GBP) unless stated otherwise, and are exclusive of VAT
How can I obtain more information about Dyalog licences?
For more information, you can contact Dyalog Ltd directly on sales@dyalog.com
Need help selecting your licence?
Unsure which Dyalog licence suits your needs? Our guided questionnaire will help you determine the most appropriate licence based on your intended use. Whether for personal learning, research, or commercial development, we’ll help you to make an informed choice.
Need help choosing a Licence?
If you’re unsure which option is right for you, we’re here to help. Email us at sales@dyalog.com, call +44 1256 830030, or send us a message to talk to our team.
