The world of web technology moves fast. Platforms evolve, security standards tighten, and the tools we use to build modern websites have to keep up. Over the past year, several major WordPress theme developers — including those behind templates I use for client projects — have updated their licensing models. Themes that were once “pay once and own it forever” are now shifting to annual licensing.
I want to take a moment to explain why this is happening, what it means for your website, and how I’m handling these changes on your behalf.
Why Theme Developers Are Moving to Annual Licensing
For years, many WordPress themes were sold as one‑time purchases. You bought the theme, installed it, and that was that. But the internet doesn’t stand still. Behind the scenes, theme developers work constantly to:
- keep up with new versions of WordPress
- maintain compatibility with plugins
- update code for PHP changes
- patch security vulnerabilities
- improve performance and accessibility
- meet new industry standards
These updates aren’t optional — they’re essential. Without them, websites become vulnerable, outdated, or incompatible with the tools they rely on.
As the workload and security expectations have grown, developers have shifted to annual licensing to support ongoing maintenance. This ensures they can continue delivering updates that keep your website safe, stable, and functioning smoothly.
Security Is No Longer a “Nice to Have”
Cybersecurity threats increase every year, and outdated themes are one of the most common entry points for attacks. When a theme stops receiving updates, it becomes a risk — even if the website looks perfectly fine on the surface.
Annual licensing ensures your theme continues receiving:
- security patches
- bug fixes
- compatibility updates
- performance improvements
This is part of keeping your website protected, not just polished.
How This Affects Your Website
I use several different templates across client projects, and each developer has their own licensing structure. Some now require annual renewals for updates; others have introduced new maintenance tiers.
To keep your website secure and functioning properly, I maintain agency‑level licenses that cover all client sites. For themes that now require annual licensing, the cost of a single‑site license will be added to your yearly maintenance invoice. This ensures your site continues receiving the updates it needs without interruption.
If you prefer to purchase your own license directly, that’s always an option — and I’m happy to help connect it to your site.
Technology Evolves — And So Does Website Care
The shift to annual licensing isn’t about charging more; it’s about keeping your website safe, modern, and compatible with the tools it relies on. As the web grows more complex, ongoing updates are simply part of responsible website ownership.
My goal is to make these transitions as smooth and transparent as possible. Your website is an important part of your business, and staying ahead of security and technology changes is part of how I protect it.
Why is there an annual charge now?
The developer of The7 changed their licensing model. It’s no longer a one‑time purchase — updates and security patches now require an annual license.
Why is there an annual charge now?
The developer of The7 changed their licensing model. It’s no longer a one‑time purchase — updates and security patches now require an annual license.
Can I skip the license?
Skipping the license means your site would stop receiving updates and security fixes, which can lead to errors, plugin conflicts, and vulnerabilities.
Can I buy the license myself?
Brandesigns will purchase the annual license for you and invoice you for the cost. And, yes, you can purchase the license yourself if you prefer.— it’s $49/year. I can help connect it to your site if you decide on that option.
