RetroMail Licensing Model
RetroMail Pricing Model: How Free vs. Commercial Editions Work
Discover the structure of our software pricing model. Learn about the free Community Edition with full multi-server sync, and what the Commercial License unlocks.
Monetizing software in the Minecraft ecosystem is a delicate balance. On one side, developers need to cover hosting costs and devote hundreds of hours to writing optimized code. On the other side, server owners need accessible tools to grow their networks.
To address both needs, we utilize a **split-tier pricing model** (Free Standalone vs. Paid Commercial) for **RetroMail**. Let's look at exactly how both tiers function and how to choose the right one for your network.
1. RetroMail Community Edition (Free)
The **RetroMail Community Edition** is published for free on Modrinth and SpigotMC. It is designed to be fully featured, offering all proxy features, database configurations, and web front-ends without paywall limitations.
- ⚙️ Standalone Core Verification: Includes full double-opt-in SMTP email verification, player cooldowns, and customizable reward commands.
- 🔗 Multi-Server Network Sync: Fully supported! Coordinate queues, sync databases, and verify player states across BungeeCord and Velocity proxy nodes without restrictions.
- 💾 Enterprise Storage: Remote connection integration for MongoDB, Redis, and MySQL clusters is fully functional.
- 🌐 Web Front-End: Free access to our responsive administrator Web Console & Visual Composer. You can track player metrics and send newsletters from your browser.
- ⚠️ The Branding Disadvantage: The Community Edition appends a mandatory "Mail System by AJA_RETRO" developer watermark to the bottom of all sent player emails. Not having a white-labeled sender identity can hurt your playerbase's perception of your network and make it look less premium or custom.
2. RetroMail Commercial License (Paid)
The **RetroMail Commercial License** is built for server networks looking to establish a professional, white-labeled brand presence, get direct developer access, and secure high-availability priority support.
White-Label & Watermark Removal
Removes the mandatory "Mail System by AJA_RETRO" watermark from all verification and announcement emails, helping you maintain a premium, clean, custom-branded identity for your server.
Dedicated SLA Support
Receive a direct line of communication to Ahmed Ayeman (AJA RETRO) for prioritized developer support, custom integrations, database migrations, and hotfix requests.
- 🔑 Automated License Verification: Paid installations link securely to our centralized licensing server using HMAC-SHA256 signature verification.
- 🛠️ Custom Patches: Request tailored adjustments or hooks specifically matched to your custom network architecture.
Comparison: Standalone vs. Commercial
| Feature | Community Edition (Free) | Commercial License (Paid) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free ($0) | Flat commercial fee / Custom Quote |
| Core Logic | Included (Full) | Included (Full) |
| Proxy Sync (Bungee/Velocity) | 🟢 Included (Free) | 🟢 Included (Free) |
| Storage Options (MySQL/Redis/MongoDB) | 🟢 Included (Free) | 🟢 Included (Free) |
| Web Front-End & visual composer | 🟢 Included (Free) | 🟢 Included (Free) |
| Developer Watermark | ⚠️ Appended to sent emails | ❌ Removed (100% White-Labeled) |
| Developer Support | Community Board | Guaranteed SLA Priority Channel |
Conclusion
Our pricing model is built to scale *with* your server. As your player base grows and your setup transitions from a single server to a network cluster, you can transition from the free standalone tier to the commercial license to unlock clean white-labeling, web panels, and dedicated support.