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 to 30 percent over seven years depending on tier and user count. Subscription 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.