# Xojo Lite license for macOS is dead? **URL:** \ **Category:** General\ **Created:** [October 11, 2026, 9:48am UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/xojo-lite-license-for-macos-is-dead/88985 "2026-10-11T09:48:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Denis\_DUBOIS](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Denis\_DUBOIS](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Denis_DUBOIS)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2026, 9:48am UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/xojo-lite-license-for-macos-is-dead/88985/1 "2026-10-11T09:48:46Z")
I wanted to renew my Xojo Lite license for macOS, but I read that “Xojo Lite licenses have been discontinued and are no longer available for purchase.” The only licenses left are the $500 Desktop licenses! This effectively prevents individuals like me—who develop free apps just for fun—from accessing Xojo. What a disappointment! I’ll have to give up development or switch to Xcode! Dany ---
**Author:** ![Emile\_Schwarz](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/90ced4/32.png) [@Emile\_Schwarz](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Emile_Schwarz)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2026, 10:04am UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/xojo-lite-license-for-macos-is-dead/88985/2 "2026-10-11T10:04:07Z")
As you said AND according to mémory AND [Xojo Store: Buy](https://store.xojo.com/?_gl=1%2A1c2tc6o%2A_gcl_au%2AMTQyOTExMTMyMi4xNzg4ODY5MzU0) Another point: there is no renew (or I misread) for some years (unless your license is still running - unsure of that). Yes, there are free solutions to switch to. ---
**Author:** ![Geoff\_Perlman](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/geoff_perlman/32/48_2.png) [@Geoff\_Perlman](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Geoff_Perlman)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2026, 12:40pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/xojo-lite-license-for-macos-is-dead/88985/3 "2026-10-11T12:40:01Z")
Do you need to be able to distribute these apps? I ask because you can run your projects from the IDE without a license at all. ---
**Author:** ![ChristopheDV](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@ChristopheDV](https://forum.xojo.com/u/ChristopheDV)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2026, 1:23pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/xojo-lite-license-for-macos-is-dead/88985/4 "2026-10-11T13:23:03Z")
He’s talking about free apps, meaning apps he distributes for free. I think quite a few Xojo users do the same and I completely understand why they wouldn’t want to pay for an expensive license just to give their apps away for free. But we’ve been through this discussion many times before. 🫢 ---
**Author:** ![Denis\_DUBOIS](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Denis\_DUBOIS](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Denis_DUBOIS)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2026, 2:29pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/xojo-lite-license-for-macos-is-dead/88985/5 "2026-10-11T14:29:46Z")
UK/US : I think it would have been possible (this has already been done in the past by other development tools) to offer a specific, less expensive license that prohibits the commercial distribution of the generated apps (freeware only). All of this reminds me of Borland’s Delphi era (Pascal language) back when I was using Windows; when they were acquired, they started offering very expensive licenses and forgot about individual users. Generally speaking, that ends badly (for everyone). Dan FR : je pense qu’il aurait été possible (cela a déjà été fait dans le passé par d’autres outils de développement) de proposer une licence spécifique et moins chère qui interdit la commercialisation des apps générées (uniquement des freewares) . Tout cela me rappelle la période Delphi de Borland (langage Pascal) à l’époque où j’étais sous Windows lorsqu’ils ont été racheté, ils ont alors proposés des licences très chères et oubliés les particuliers. En général, ca se termine mal (pour tout le monde). Dan ---
**Author:** ![Odeyani\_Lugardo](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/o/f07891/32.png) [@Odeyani\_Lugardo](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Odeyani_Lugardo)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2026, 3:20pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/xojo-lite-license-for-macos-is-dead/88985/6 "2026-10-11T15:20:29Z")
> [@Geoff\_Perlman](#): > > you can run your projects from the IDE without a license at all. > [@Denis\_DUBOIS](#): > > The only licenses left are the $500 Desktop licenses! This effectively prevents individuals like me—who develop free apps just for fun—from accessing Xojo. So many FREE options out there an Xojo keeps pushing clients to them… ---
**Author:** ![Thom\_McGrath](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/thom_mcgrath/32/192_2.png) [@Thom\_McGrath](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Thom_McGrath)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2026, 3:21pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/xojo-lite-license-for-macos-is-dead/88985/7 "2026-10-11T15:21:58Z")
Look on the bright side, Xojo just gave you a reason not to pay them $100. ---
**Author:** ![Andreas\_Michelk](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Andreas\_Michelk](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Andreas_Michelk)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2026, 5:29pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/xojo-lite-license-for-macos-is-dead/88985/8 "2026-10-11T17:29:27Z")
I also complained a few months ago about the new license costs for new customers or to renew the lic. I accepted that. But I hope XOJO will check the overall income of US$ since the lic change and compare it to the situation before. If the overall sold US$ is at least 20% more than same compared time old lic prices then they made all right! But if less than 20% more sold US$ or only equal or badest less than before lic price / lic models change it was an mistake. Geoff will know that customers (pro) which left XOJO will newer come back. And new users are needed - hard with that new lic models / high prices for hobby programmers. Solution if for XOJO to solve problem of programming cost for XOJO vs lic models/price? Option 1: Let android dev option die! freeze Android at the state of know - maybe only fix some major bugs - no new features, no new support for newer OSes. Saves Money for XOJO - and let programmers have more time for the Major XOJO Desktop/Web solutions. Option 2: Think about an PRO\_Tiny Licens which can only build for up to 2 targets (plus free Rasperry). For example : Mac/Win Desktop, Mac/Web, Mac/Linux etc. ---
**Author:** ![Gilles\_Plante](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/gilles_plante/32/667_2.png) [@Gilles\_Plante](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Gilles_Plante)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2026, 9:56pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/xojo-lite-license-for-macos-is-dead/88985/9 "2026-10-11T21:56:15Z")
True, there are free or cheap solutions available. The question is for how long will these be free/cheap ? ---
**Author:** ![Christian\_Schmitz](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/christian_schmitz/32/158_2.png) [@Christian\_Schmitz](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Christian_Schmitz)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2026, 10:19pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/xojo-lite-license-for-macos-is-dead/88985/10 "2026-10-11T22:19:06Z")
You can always email [hello@xojo.com](mailto:hello@xojo.com) and ask if there is some coupon code or special offer available. ---
**Author:** ![Gavin\_Smith](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/gavin_smith/32/13901_2.png) [@Gavin\_Smith](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Gavin_Smith)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2026, 11:24pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/xojo-lite-license-for-macos-is-dead/88985/11 "2026-10-11T23:24:50Z")
That’s true, and they are accommodating and friendly, for sure. It’s hardly a long term or reliable solution to a specific problem, though, is it. This doesn’t just affect the entry level market. It affects the pro part of the market too, something I fear Xojo Inc haven’t taken into consideration, despite efforts made. Why? It affects overall _confidence_. It affects user base numbers which can be important to the pro market. It has a knock-on effect beyond just “cheaper licenses”. I worry that the damage is already done, even if they change course now. ---
**Author:** ![Christian\_Wheel](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/christian_wheel/32/20536_2.png) [@Christian\_Wheel](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Christian_Wheel)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 3:54am UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/xojo-lite-license-for-macos-is-dead/88985/12 "2026-10-12T03:54:43Z")
I know we have beaten this conversation to death, but to be totally honest, we live in a profoundly different world for developers today than we did a year ago when Xojo made this decision. Today, for less than the cost of a Xojo license, a person can use an LLM to convert their Xojo code to another, often free language. That completely changes the decision-making process for developers choosing a programming language. I’m certainly not insensitive to inflation, the need for further investment in Xojo and its engineers. And frankly I am loving a lot of the changes that have been coming to the language lately, which will likely keep me personally subscribed for years to come. But I hope that Xojo will reconsider the discontinuation of the Lite license in light of these changing market conditions. It’s always cheaper to retain customers than to attract new ones. ---
**Author:** ![Thom\_McGrath](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/thom_mcgrath/32/192_2.png) [@Thom\_McGrath](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Thom_McGrath)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 4:57am UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/xojo-lite-license-for-macos-is-dead/88985/13 "2026-10-12T04:57:08Z")
Even though the loss of a lite license doesn’t affect me directly, as a form of protest, I went from auto-renewing to waiting for features I actually want to pay for. We are in a situation where even _I_ am considering utilizing an LLM to port my app from Xojo so that I can gain mobile support since Xojo refuses to give us proper cross platform projects. That would be one less pro license on their books, even at my reduced rate of renewal. ---
**Author:** ![ChristopheDV](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@ChristopheDV](https://forum.xojo.com/u/ChristopheDV)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 5:12am UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/xojo-lite-license-for-macos-is-dead/88985/14 "2026-10-12T05:12:55Z")
> [@Christian\_Wheel](#): > > I’m certainly not insensitive to inflation, the need for further investment in Xojo and its engineers. And frankly I am loving a lot of the changes that have been coming to the language lately, which will likely keep me personally subscribed for years to come. Higher costs are avoidable. With the help of AI, Xojo Inc could reduce costs considerably while getting even more done. I’d bet that much of the new stuff we are seeing now is already being developed with AI assistance (or even fully by AI) and at a very rapid pace (read: knowing Xojo Inc and the former slow pacing it is evidence it is now done by/with AI which is btw fine by me). They could potentially achieve all this with half the staff. At least, that’s how I would do it. ---
**Author:** ![Denis\_DUBOIS](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Denis\_DUBOIS](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Denis_DUBOIS)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 10:44am UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/xojo-lite-license-for-macos-is-dead/88985/15 "2026-10-12T10:44:41Z")
Hello, To answer your questions: Yes, I distribute my free apps. They are signed and notarized and are regularly featured in articles in the French trade press. > **[MicMac, (re)prenez le contrôle de votre Mac !](https://www.micmac-app.fr)** > > Ce site propose nos différents utilitaires pour macOS en libre téléchargement. Téléchargez MicMac Companion, PowerFox, PowerBoot ou HideMySecrets gratuitement ! [www.serial-codeur.fr](http://www.serial-codeur.fr) ---
**Author:** ![Vince\_Du\_Beau1](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/v/838e76/32.png) [@Vince\_Du\_Beau1](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Vince_Du_Beau1)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 3:52pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/xojo-lite-license-for-macos-is-dead/88985/16 "2026-10-12T15:52:44Z")
i have recently been looking at Lazarus. It is free to develop with. Only problem is that it is based on Pascal. It’s been many years since I used Pascal. ---
**Author:** ![Jose\_Fernandez\_del\_Valle](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@Jose\_Fernandez\_del\_Valle](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Jose_Fernandez_del_Valle)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 5:01pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/xojo-lite-license-for-macos-is-dead/88985/17 "2026-10-12T17:01:50Z")
Your app is great! I currently use CleanMyMac, and I was wondering if you could put together a comparison between the two apps. I think that would be both useful and interesting for potential users. One thing I noticed on your website is that you accept payments in the form of support or donations. Since you do receive some form of financial support, it might be difficult to describe the app as entirely free, at least in the strictest sense of the word. Have you considered reaching out to Geoff Perlman to discuss obtaining a license? Perhaps you could negotiate a special arrangement, similar to those available to schools or nonprofit organizations, that would allow you to use the software under favorable terms while creating a win-win situation for both parties. ---
**Author:** ![Jose\_Fernandez\_del\_Valle](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@Jose\_Fernandez\_del\_Valle](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Jose_Fernandez_del_Valle)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 5:08pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/xojo-lite-license-for-macos-is-dead/88985/18 "2026-10-12T17:08:20Z")
Pascal does support object-oriented programming, but its structure and syntax feel rather dated to me. Class declarations are typically placed in specific sections of the code, following a more traditional programming structure. I find this approach less intuitive and, in some cases, makes the resulting code harder to read and maintain. A while ago, I tried programming with Delphi, but I eventually decided against it, regardless of the licensing cost. I chose Xojo instead because I prefer its approach to development, which I find more intuitive, straightforward, and productive. ---
**Author:** ![ChristopheDV](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@ChristopheDV](https://forum.xojo.com/u/ChristopheDV)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 5:34pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/xojo-lite-license-for-macos-is-dead/88985/19 "2026-10-12T17:34:55Z")
> [@Denis\_DUBOIS](#): > > To answer your questions: Yes, I distribute my free apps. They are signed and notarized and are regularly featured in articles in the French trade press. It is a macOS app (and a very simple to make). Converting this to Swift is a no brainer for AI. Probably in less than 30 minutes it is converted and works and looks 100% the same (I’ll bet you for this). So that’s a free option. FWW Due to the simple app, I also think this is a very good way to learn Swift too. ---
**Author:** ![Javier\_Menendez](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/javier_menendez/32/15692_2.png) [@Javier\_Menendez](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Javier_Menendez)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 7:16pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/xojo-lite-license-for-macos-is-dead/88985/20 "2026-10-12T19:16:49Z")
Please @ChristopheDV Could you stop promoting Swift (or other programming languages) in the Xojo forum? Thank you. [Next page](https://forum.xojo.com/t/xojo-lite-license-for-macos-is-dead/88985.md?page=2)