Pricing FAQ

I have MT 3.x or MT 4.x. Why should I upgrade to 4.2 now?
There's never been a better time to upgrade your Movable Type installation. Movable Type Pro offers you these benefits:

• Speed: Some common tasks like search are up to 100 times faster.
• Security :Movable Type 4.2 is our most thoroughly tested and secure release to date.
• Spam Blocking: Movable Type 4.2 has TypePad AntiSpam built in.
• Simplified Templates: It's easier than ever to get up and running.
• Professional Template Set: This new set gives you a beautiful design for your site and blog.
• Built in Community Features: You can build a social network around your website.

What's the difference between Movable Type, Movable Type Pro, and Movable Type Enterprise?
Movable Type is our open source product and the foundation of the Movable Type platform, designed for developers and open source devotees. Movable Type contains the professional blogging and content management features that Movable Type has always been known for.

Movable Type Pro is designed for bloggers, design and development firms, and small and medium-sized businesses, and has all of the features of Movable Type plus social networking features, custom fields for extending your content management system, and new Professional Templates that help you get up and running with a beautiful website quickly.

Movable Type Enterprise is designed for large companies that require compatibility with the Oracle or SQL Server databases and LDAP-type directory service support. It contains all of the features of Movable Type plus these enterprise grade features and priority support. See our pricing comparison chart for more information.

I have a Personal version of Movable Type 4.0 or 4.1. How can I get Movable Type Pro?
If you are an individual using Movable Type, you can go to the Download page and update your software to the Blogger license. This license includes social networking features, unlimited authors, unlimited profiles, and other new features in Movable Type 4.2.

I have MT 4.1. How can I get Movable Type Pro?
If you previously licensed Movable Type Commercial 4.0 or 4.1, you are entitled to a free update that includes the social networking features that help you build a community around your website. It's easy to update to Movable Type Pro. You will find two versions of Movable Type in your account: Movable Type Pro and a 4.2 version of your current Movable Type software. You can choose to download either one at any time. We encourage you to download Pro, with the social features, so that you can begin to experience community around your blog. Please go here for more detailed instructions.

I have MT 3.x. How can I get Movable Type Pro?
If you previously purchased Movable Type 3, you can upgrade to Movable Type Pro at a discounted price. Just go to the Download page and click on "Upgrade" at the bottom of the "Business License" column.

I bought a license for 10 users last year, but with MT Pro you only give me the option of a license for 5 users or 20 users. How can I reconcile this? Do I have to pay more for 10 more users than I need?
If you currently have a 4.0 or 4.1 license for 10 users, you will receive a 20 user license at no additional charge when you update to Movable Type Pro.

What's a profile?
A profile is an online identity that includes a photograph, personal bio information, links and other details about you. It enables visitors to learn more about each other and to make connections and build trust. You may choose to limit commenting to people who have created a profile.

What happens if I use up all 5000 of my profiles? Can I get more?
Yes, please contact our Sales team, and we will be happy to set you up with more profiles.

What is Six Apart Services?
Six Apart services is the consulting, design and development group inside Six Apart that provides customers with the services they need to be successful in the social media arena. If your company needs expert assistance with the vision and implementation of your social publishing web site, Six Apart Services can help you. Please contact us here.

What is Support, and how is it different from Services?
Six Apart's Support offering is made up of an online ticket support system provided by our experienced technical support staff members. One year of support is included in Business, Higher Education and Nonprofit and Enterprise licenses, and is available optionally for the Blogger license. Annual maintenance and support renewals are separately available for all customers. You can expect a response to your support ticket within 48 hours, but typical responses are often as quick as a few hours. Movable Type Enterprise customers receive priority support.

Six Apart Services are provided by a Services team, often on the customer's premises, on a carefully scoped project basis, while Support is provided continually through our online system.

What is an author?
An "author" is anyone with a unique login to Movable Type, for example, anyone with permission to change content or modify settings. Licenses are based on active users who have logged into the system in the past 90 days. Site visitors, readers and commenters are not considered users for the purposes of licensing.

Which MT license is right for me?
MT4 is available under several different licenses:

Open Source License
An open source license of Movable Type is available for developers. For more information visit movabletype.org

Blogger License
If you are a person who blogs, then the Blogger license is for you - whether you are sharing memories, launching passionate discussions or building the next one-woman publishing empire. Whether you blog for fun or to make a fortune, any individual or sole proprietor qualifies for the free Blogger license. Pre-school-12 Education users may use this license as well. Download It Today

Business License
For use by a company, a corporation, a partnership or any other form of organization that is using the software for a commercial endeavor. Purchase Today.

Nonprofit and Higher Education License
For use by (i) an organization that qualifies for tax-exempt status under Internal Revenue Code Sections 501, 521 or 527, (ii) a non-governmental organization chartered outside of the United States which qualifies for tax-exempt status under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is chartered, (iii) an elected board responsible for overseeing the management of local K-12 public education institutions, (iv) a public library or (v) an accredited post-secondary education institution. Purchase Today.

Enterprise License
Use for commercial purposes with more than 20 users. To learn more or to order, please contact our sales team.

What kind of support do I get with a license?
One year of support is included in Business, Higher Education & Nonprofit and Enterprise licenses, and is available optionally for the Blogger license. Annual support renewals are separately available for all customers. Technical support from Six Apart is managed via an online ticket support system by our experienced technical support staff members. You can expect a response to your support ticket within 48 hours, but typical responses are often as quick as a few hours. Movable Type Enterprise customers receive priority support. Please see our Support FAQ for more information.

Can I get help with installations, upgrades, and professional services?
Yes. Installation and upgrade services are separately available for all customers. Enterprise Priority Support is available for Movable Type Enterprise customers through our client support team.

Six Apart Services can help you deploy a site that is beautiful, engaging and functional with its design, development and customization services. Six Apart Services offers social media training, creative services, custom development, and hosting expertise to help you make the most of your interactive site. For more information, please visit the Six Apart Services page

Can I start with 5 users now and add users later?
Yes. If you have a Business license, you can purchase an upgrade package from 5 to 20 users on our website. If you need licenses and support for more than 20 users, contact us for enterprise licensing. Likewise, if you are a Nonprofit or an Education licensee and need a user upgrade, contact our sales team.

How is Movable Type Pro priced?
Movable Type Pro pricing includes a one-time license fee and an annual support fee. Business licenses are available in bundles for 5 and 20 users, and come with the first year annual support for one and two contacts respectively. Current Business pricing is available here.

How are Business, Higher Education & Non-profit, and Enterprise upgrades from Movable Type 3 priced?
Business upgrades from MT 3.x are priced at a discount to the full price. Because Higher Education & Nonprofit licenses are already deeply discounted, upgrades are not discounted.

What is considered a full time paid employee?
A full-time employee is a paid staff member who is working on average 35 or more hours a week and being paid at least minimum wage as defined by the employment rules of the governing state. A full-time equivalent is any number of part time employees who in aggregate work an average of 35 hour or more and are paid at least minimum wage as defined by employment rules of the governing state.

What organizations are considered nonprofit?
(i) An organization that qualifies for tax-exempt status under Internal Revenue Code Sections 501, 521 or 527, (ii) a non-governmental organization chartered outside of the United States which qualifies for tax-exempt status under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is chartered, (iii) an elected board responsible for overseeing the management of local K-12 public education institutions or (iv) a public library

I'm a teacher or student who wants to use Movable Type in my classroom or for a special project -- how does that work?
Use of Movable Type in pre-school-12 classrooms is now free, regardless of number of students or number of blogs deployed. Please sign up for the Blogger license here.

Can I offer weblogs for Alumni?
The Higher Education license is designed for use only by current students, faculty, and administration. Alumni organizations require a custom license: Get in touch and we'll be glad to work with you.

I'm a Movable Type developer working with a client -- is that okay?
Better than okay - that's great! Just remember that each of your clients needs their own Movable Type license appropriate for its use. If Movable Type is a regular part of your development business, we encourage you to join the Movable Type Reseller Program. And you should definitely join our Professional Network, which is comprised of talented developers and software administrators and offers excellent resources for your development work.

I want to resell Movable Type, is that okay?
You can apply to be a reseller of Movable Type by contacting us here.

What if I'm purchasing on behalf of a public library?
We love libraries! Use of Movable Type by public library and educational administrators qualifies for a nonprofit license. The pricing for nonprofit licenses is based on the number of users (as described above).

I live outside the United States. Do you have international pricing?
Individuals or businesses purchasing Movable Type from outside the U.S. may pay for it in dollars from the Download page. Japanese customers may pay in Yen from the Movable Type Japan site.