In short
Software licence or license? In UK English, licence with a c is the noun and license with an s is the verb: you buy a software licence, and a vendor licenses its software to you. US English uses license for both. Licensing, licensed, licensee and licensor are normally spelt with an s in both.
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The short answer
In British English the two spellings do different jobs:
- Licence (noun): the thing you hold. *We have 50 software licences.* *The licence renews in March.*
- License (verb): the act of granting or obtaining permission. *The vendor licenses the software per user.* *We need to license the new starters.*
It follows the same pattern as *practice* and *practise*, or *advice* and *advise*: the noun takes a c and the verb takes an s. American English uses *license* for both, which is where most of the confusion comes from.
A quick test: if you can put *a* or *the* in front of it, it is the noun, so in UK English it is *licence*.
Examples you will see in software buying
| Phrase | Part of speech | UK spelling | US spelling |
|---|---|---|---|
| a software licence | Noun | licence | license |
| licence renewal, licence key, licence agreement | Noun used as a modifier | licence | license |
| we license it per user | Verb | license | license |
| licensed per device | Verb (past participle) | licensed | licensed |
| software licensing | Verb form used as a noun | licensing | licensing |
| licensee, licensor | Nouns for the parties | licensee, licensor | licensee, licensor |
Notice that *licensing*, *licensed*, *licensee* and *licensor* normally keep the s in both forms of English (some British dictionaries record *licenced* as a less common variant). Only the noun *licence* changes. That is why this site is called Software Licensing UK but talks about buying a software licence.
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Why vendors write license
Many of the largest software vendors are American, or write their documentation in American English, so you will see *license* throughout their material: end user license agreements, license keys, license portals and product names. Some vendors based outside the US do the same.
When you quote a vendor's own product name, document title or button label, keep their spelling: it is a name, and searching their support site for the UK spelling may not find it. In your own UK writing, such as policies, procurement documents, board papers and emails, use *licence* for the noun. Both spellings are widely understood, so consistency matters more than anything else.
In contracts and procurement
UK legislation uses the British spelling for the noun: the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, for example, refers to a *licence* granted by a copyright owner. A contract that mixes the two spellings is still read for its substance, but it is worth agreeing one style for documents you write yourself, particularly policies and tender specifications that will be read alongside vendors' American-English terms.
When you read a software licence agreement, what matters is the substance: what you are allowed to use, how it is counted, how long it lasts and how it renews. Our guides to software licensing models and what software licensing is explain those in plain English.
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How we use it on this site
Throughout Software Licensing UK we write *licence* for the noun and *license* or *licensing* for the verb, except when we quote a vendor's own product or document name. So you will read about an antivirus licence, a renewal of your licence and software that is licensed per user, alongside vendor document names such as an end user license agreement.
Whatever spelling your vendors use, we can help with the licences themselves: choosing editions, counting users and devices, and renewing on time. Contact us and ask for a quote or a review of your current licences.
How Forever Systems supplies your software licences
Forever Systems Ltd supplies business software subscriptions to UK organisations from one account, with one monthly invoice and a UK team who know the products.
- The right edition first time: we check what you need before you buy, so you are not paying for features you will never use
- Monthly or annual terms where the vendor offers them, and help timing renewals and commitments
- Licence changes handled for you: add or remove users, upgrade editions and true-up without starting a new contract
- Deployment and support from engineers who run these products every day, not just a reseller account
- Consolidated billing and renewal reminders so nothing lapses unexpectedly
We work with businesses, schools, charities and public sector organisations of all sizes.
Frequently asked questions
Is it licence or license in the UK?
Both, used differently. In UK English, licence is the noun (a software licence, a licence fee) and license is the verb (to license software). Licensing and licensed are normally spelt with an s.
Is it software licence or software license?
In UK English, software licence, because it is a noun. Software license is the US spelling. Both are widely understood.
Why do so many software vendors write license?
Many large software vendors write in American English, which uses license for both the noun and the verb. Keep their spelling when you quote a product or document name, and use licence in your own UK writing.
Is licensing spelt with a c or an s?
With an s, in both UK and US English. In British English it is the noun licence that takes a c.
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