Subscription License
A recurring annual IBM i software license fee, now the only option for new P05/P10 purchases and the structure behind the P20/P30 bundle tiers.
Subscription licensing folds what used to be a separate OTC-plus-SWMA structure into one recurring annual fee. Over a multi-year holding period, subscription pricing generally runs higher than the equivalent perpetual-plus-SWMA total -- IT Jungle's analysis put the premium at roughly 13-30% over seven years depending on tier and user count -- but it avoids the large upfront capital outlay and includes current-release entitlement by default.
Related Terms
Perpetual License
A software license purchased once (as an OTC) that does not expire, paired with optional annual SWMA for support and upgrades.
P05
The entry IBM i software tier, subscription-only for new purchases and license transfers since May 7, 2024.
P10
The small-business IBM i software tier, also subscription-only for new purchases since May 7, 2024.