Keygen.sh vs KeyPort — Which License Management API Is Right for You?
Side-by-side pricing, feature comparison, and use-case analysis. Plus a migration guide from Keygen.sh to KeyPort.
If you're evaluating license management APIs, you've likely come across Keygen.sh. It's been around since 2016, the docs are excellent, and it's the most well-known solution in this space. KeyPort is newer and simpler. This comparison helps you decide.
The One-Line Summary
Keygen.sh is a powerful, flexible, API-first platform with a steeper learning curve. KeyPort is simpler and opinionated — built for developers who want to be done in a day, not a week.
Pricing
| Plan | Keygen.sh | KeyPort |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Community (self-hosted only) | Free cloud tier (200 licenses) |
| Entry paid | ~$149/mo | $7.99/mo |
| Enterprise | Custom | $19.99/mo |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Keygen.sh | KeyPort |
|---|---|---|
| License validation API | Yes | Yes |
| IP-based controls | Partial | Yes 3-tier system |
| Webhooks | Yes | Yes Pro+ |
| Customer portal | Limited | Yes Included |
| Version control | Yes | Yes Pro+ |
| Signed validation | Yes | Yes Enterprise |
| Self-hosted | Yes open source | No |
Developer Experience
Keygen.sh has a rich data model: Policies, Entitlements, Machines, Components, Tokens. It's powerful but there's a real learning curve — count on a few hours to understand the model before you ship anything.
KeyPort is more opinionated. You have: Organizations, Products, Licenses, Customers. One validate endpoint. IP system included. Less flexibility for exotic use cases, but a much faster path to production for standard ones.
Choose Keygen.sh If
- You need self-hosted / open source deployment
- You have complex entitlement models (feature flags per license)
- Budget isn't a constraint and you need enterprise-level customization
Choose KeyPort If
- You want to be operational in under an hour
- You're an indie developer or small team on a budget
- You want IP validation handled properly out of the box
- You want a customer portal without building one
- $7.99/mo vs $149/mo matters to you
Migrating from Keygen.sh
- Export customer list from Keygen.sh dashboard
- Create customers in KeyPort via API or dashboard import
- Generate new license keys (or reuse existing key strings)
- Update your app's validation endpoint URL and auth header
- Test for active, expired, and revoked key responses
- Update customer portal URLs
The main code change is the endpoint URL and response shape. KeyPort's response is simpler: valid boolean + status string. Most integrations migrate in under 2 hours.