I’ve been seeing a lot of the same questions being asked often and I’ve been looking at the phrases people search for to get here. I’m starting a new series to cover these topics because clearly, they’re the important ones. I don’t want people to stop asking the simple questions, I just want the answer to be easy to find.
REAPER FAQ is a series of Q & A and quick tip articles answering some of the most frequent asked questions and searches.
REAPER says I need to authorize, what do I do?
REAPER is not free. There are two licenses you can purchase, the $60 Discounted or $225 Full license. The program functionality is the same, see below for details.
Purchase license
Fair Pricing
There is only one version of REAPER. We offer two licenses, depending on how you use it.
$225: full commercial license.
$60: discounted license.You may use the discounted license if any of the following is true:
* You are an individual, using REAPER only for personal use.
* You are an individual or business, using REAPER for commercial use, and the yearly gross revenue does not exceed USD $20,000.
* You are an educational or non-profit organization.
HOW do I authorize?
After purchase you will receive an email with instructions, a code and a file to download. You can use either the code (just copy the text), or the file. SAVE this email.
Can I authorize REAPER on multiple computers?
YES. Your license allows you to install as a single user on multiple systems. The one license lets you install on Mac and PCs for your laptop and desktop and work computer etc.
What if I don’t want to pay for REAPER?
REAPER will continue to function without restriction in Evaluation Mode, but you will feel bad. If you want to see the development of REAPER continue, purchase a license, otherwise you should uninstall.
Comments
90 responses to “REAPER FAQ – Licenses and Authorization”
QUOTE: “SAVE this email.”
Add: ‘in several different places’
I want to download Reaper to another computer, I have a license but I’m not sure where to go to put the license number in.
you can copy the code from the email, then open reaper it will find it in the clipboard. Or you take the license file “reaper-license.rk” and put it in the reaper resources folder.
How long does a reaper license last?
it does not expire
Looks like the license lifespan has changed. When did this happen. I feel a bit wierd about being concerned or even asking like i am cheap skate.
This is the first I’m hearing of this.
I failed to relize the license doesnt expire. If im understanding correctly, the license allows upgrades up to versions.
Why is version 6 now asking for the license fee again then? I reinstalled in on a new laptop and it told me the license key was only valid for a previous version. I purchased it about 4 years ago. My friend had a similar experience.
Is the liscense a one time fee or is it yearly?
one time payment that gets you free updates for 2 full versions. Buying to day last you several years until version 7 is released.
Version 3 to 5 was about 6 years between with free updates every few weeks.
I have one computer with license for version 5.4 and version 4.7 on my other comp I updated the machine with 4.7 and it says my activation code is invalid. How can it work on one machine and not the other
Copy your v5 code to the other system.
I have lost it and have tried to log in to my account. The password I thought I used didn’t work. Submitted a change of password. Never received an email back from Reaper to continue. I have only had two email accounts in the last 15 years, tried them both, no response from Reaper
I had to sign up a new account to get on the forum
I forund the code, Thanks
where were you able to locate code. I am having the same problem. Ty
I play guitar and want to learn how to record but have no idea ? is this program beginner friendly?
thanks in advance
Very! I’ve found it to be the most intuitive DAW out there. I’ve got 15 years experience in studios and have used them all. Reaper is the only program for me now.
The tutorials on the Reaper webpage produced by Kenny Gioia are incredible.
I am a register user with REAPER. the program asking me for a evaulation license. I can’t locate the license. Please help. thank you
If you can’t find it in your email send a message to support[at]cockos[dot]com
hi i downloaded and purchased a license,i imported license fine on 1 computer,downloaded again for second pc,this time it wont accept license key,ive emailed cockos support twicw and am bieng ignored,,
help..
How many users can use Reaper simultaneously with a commercial license? Thank You
single-user.
Is discounted liscence $60 or is it $64 i tried to pay for it and i wasnt able
It may sound dumb, but is $20,000 twenty thousands dollars or twenty dollars? I believe it is 20 thousands, but in some places ‘,’ is decimal separator .
thousands
i made the purchase, but never received an email. Who should I contact?
send a message to support[at]cockos[dot]com
My VU meter shows the inserted media file is playing but I get no audio sound. How do I fix that?
I ordered a license ($60.00) back on 8/5/ 2016 and I have lost the email with the license. My order number is: ********. Can you please resend the email?
Thank you
-edited by admin-
Hi Megan. You have to email support[at]cockos[dot]com.
What is the limited time of disconnted licence
What is the limited time of disconnted licence can I use it to for 6month or 1year for one payment because I am a student and belong to poor family plss tell me sirr
I would like to purchase the license – but on the current computer that I use there is already one version that’s been installed previously. It says it is a commercial license, but I suspect that it hasn’t been purchased – only inserted from who knows where. Reaper works normally currently – but can I purchase one of the licenses from your official website and just replace the existing key – would this mess up the projects? Thank you
To clear the license info you can delete “reaper-license.rk” from the reaper folder.
Projects will not be changed in any way.
What hardware do you need to record guitars and synthesizer?
Whats the difference between free reaper and paid reaper?
No license banner warning.
“There is only one version of REAPER. We offer two licenses, depending on how you use it.”
Does it mean, no mater I am qualified as “commercial” or “discounted”, the features are all the same?
exactly the same.
I literally was going to move my Reaper catalogue to a new computer went to the store came home and the transformer across the street took out me and my neighbors power No air no nothing checked my computer and it says that my memory is being dumped Does Reaper keep licensed buyers data on file
Hello, I don’t know why but when I want to record one track I record all the others tracks. Can someone helpme please
Oreste….turn off loopback function of your interface.
“A new REAPER 6 license includes unlimited free updates through REAPER version 7.99” Why is nobody asking what happens when the version ceiling is hit?? Is it another 60/225?? how much to keep the updates going?? LOL this is very clever marketing imho.. if there is more payment due after that then its not just 60 bucks.. technically you are licenced for life but i dont know about you but i like my software updated.. it shouldnt be an option… im sure it still works but i like to be updated call me crazy… so how much will it be after we hit v7.99 ??? confused and frustrated! please clarify.. thx
You are literally worrying about nothing. All the features of Reaper literally work whether you pay for a license or not, and you can download the latest version of Reaper and use it whether you have a current license or not so how on earth can you think the developer is trying to trick you or be ‘frustrated’ that your software won’t be ‘updated’? Your $60 license is good for 2 whole versions (probably at least 3-4 years) so that’s at most $15-$20 a year to keep your license current. If you don’t Reaper is worth $15-$20 a year then you are (as you say) ‘crazy’ – but feel free to look for a different DAW that is a better value (good luck with that). If you are earning more than $20K a year from your music/production so have a $225 commercial license and don’t think Reaper – the DAW that helped you earn that $20K+ a year – is worth $50-$60 a year, again, you are crazy. But if you think that’s unreasonable, please go look for another DAW as inexpensive as Reaper with as many features as Reaper that you can upgrade forever without any additional cost. Good luck!
If we leave aside Joe V’s editorial comments, he’s asking a simple question: if my $60 license is good through v. 7.99, what happens when it goes to v. 8.00? I assume at that point I can’t update without paying another fee. What is that fee? Will it be another $60, or something less or more, or we don’t know yet? It’s just a question, not a complaint.
you have it right. at 8.0 you can buy a new license or stay on 7.X if you prefer. I don’t know if there will be a price increase but it’s been $60 for as long as I’ve been using Reaper (since v3.)
Hi. I purchased a license for my old macbook a time ago. Now it’s broken and I want to install reaper at my new laptop. Unfortuallly the license key is gone too. How can I find out my license key?
there should be a copy of the license in your email from when you originally purchased it
If you ever backed up your old macbook you’ll see reaper-license.rk in the reaper folder
if those two fail then you can email Cockos for another key
This didnt work for me as when I reinstalled the program from the website it said my old licence key was invalid for this version. I purchases about 4 years ago.
My business revenue exceeds $20,000, but I want to use the Reaper internally only (to test VST plugins). I do not plan to use it commercially, i.e. sell any products or plugins related to it. Do I qualify for the discounted licence?
I have been evaluating Reaper for about 30 days, and I just purchased a personal license for $60. I have the license key in my e-mail. The problem is I cannot see how to apply it. When I go into the program and click on it takes me into my files, where I don’t see anything related to Reaper. If I click the purchase I am back where I was before, as if purchasing for the first time.
I too paid for a license on April 3, but have not received the license number.
Is my Allen and Heath Zed 22FX mixer compatible with Reaper as an interface?
it can be used for recording the mix and aux sends, or playing back from reaper, not full multitrack.
I trialled Reaper and now want to buy, but I want a fresh version with the original screen preset settings, because while learning I’ve moved everything about and can’t get transport, mixer etc. back where I want them on the screen. However, when I try to buy I keep get offered the previous one even though I’ve deleted all trace of it on my PC. Can I but a brand new version please?
open the start menu, scroll to Reaper (x64) folder. Run the option to reset configuration to factory defaults.
Reaper installs to this folder
C:\Program Files\REAPER (x64)
After first launch, Reaper creates this folder for your configuration
C:\Users\*YOUR USER NAME*\AppData\Roaming\REAPER
If I buy a license and reaper goes beyond version 6.99, I will have to buy another key. Are there any discounts on the second key or is it 60$ again? Asking out of curiosity (pricing seems fair)
buying now would cover you until the last update to version 7.
Hi, how do you stop your renders from sounding completely different to what Reaper is playing you in the DAW? I’ve been looking it up everywhere but haven’t been able to find a solid answer… I haven’t purchased my license yet but the process to get what you hear in your daw onto a WAV file seems ridiculously complicated and if buying won’t solve the problem I need to find another way to make music…
Hello
it happened to me once, I solved this problem by making renders “online” in real time and not at full speed.
You may have solved the problem since you asked, but it might help someone else, who knows…
After the latest download,I have lost the window that shows my VST,VST1,2,3,Instruments etc.I am also having trouble directing the folders of my virtual instruments to be read by Reaper.Is this common?I can`t figure it out.I am willing to pay the 60.00 but not if I can`t use it of course.
I purchased a license yesterday but I never got the key. Ive sent emails and received NO response. Im not sure what to do.
I have just purchased a new laptop and want to move my reaper install 5.x (everything tied to reaper as well) from my old machine. I also will upgrade to 6.13 or latest. I am wondering, should I upgrade my current reaper setup, then try to move things, install the new upgrade to the new PC and move things over without upgrading the old PC…
Also, I use customized layouts based on the WT imperial (which verson is something I cannot remember and do not know how to look up) .
Anyway, anyone do a full move with/upgrade of all Reaper elements and the DAW itself?
Thanks
you can easily transfer your license and settings to the new computer by copying this folder:
C:\Users\*username*\AppData\Roaming\REAPER
OK, so transfer everything then upgrade the license to 6.13 on the new machine?
Thanks
If I Buy the 60$ personal Can I Use the Recording to make a real album. Can i use it to be a professional musician?
Hi, I purchased the license 10 years ago and I now want to use it on a different computer but I cant find the code.
At the time I used an email I cant no longer access to….
is there any chance I can recover it?
thanks!
Youtube is littered with people using old computers, and I also have 2 C64s, a Commodore 128D, 2 old P3s for older software etc. In short, I’m one of those who like to use computers for an extended time, just like any good instrument. Thus I try to avoid software which uses online activation. Does the commercial Reaper Daw license use online activation, or?
Hi, does the ‘discount purchase’ version have any extras not available on the ‘evaluation’ program?
There are no extra features to unlock etc. The demo is the full program.
When I install reaper after the evaluation will this delete files I’ve save already on the new downloaded version? If that makes any sense?
nothing will deleted!
I already sent email with a question so i am going to ask again. If i buy licence does it extends to all future versions or just until next major version. I’ve seen that other daws offer free lifetime upgrades with any purchase, they do cost bit more than reaper. I can understand if for 60 usd you need to buy next major version. Doing the same thing for 225 usd would be asking to much because users of commercial licence would expect free lifetime updates.
its not lifetime. its 2 full versions. Buying license today authorizes version 6 (and earlier) up to 7.999. That’s many years, and plenty of time to do commercial work to save up $225.
So that’s how it works. Not bad at all. You intentionaly slowed down development of major version so people can enjoy using reaper for several years so in meanwhile they have more enough time to save up money for newer version. It’s fair. Besides i don’t have to buy new licence and i can use old one with old version as it won’t expire i am guessing and buy new one any time.
i bought reaper years ago.I dont have a licence key or any email anymore. do I have to buy it again ?
Hi, i purchased the reaper license but i still get the message “Upgrade license for long projects”, what does this mean? how do i solve it?
That’s not a reaper message I recognize. Are there plugins in the project or was the project created by conversion software?
If I purchase the license, how about the files(recording) in my evaluation copy?
Is it still there?
Thanks.
I need to buy again. I downloaded new upgrade, and I see monitor moving but no sound! Is this because I have not paid? Is there a problem if my email address has changed? Will I lose any projects? They are important to me.
Do i need to buy licence for every major version or i get them for free with licence. I am considering buying commercial licence but won’t pay 225 usd for it you i am going to need to pay again for major version at some point. For 60 usd to pay for new version again from time to time i can understand and it’s fair but not for commecial licence. Only reason why i want commercial licence is that i get to do what i want without restrictions.
Hi !
I speak English a little bit.
For example, I have bought 32 bit Reaper for my Windows 32 bit, then I buy a new Windows 64 bit for my PC. Will my license be valid ?
Hello, I’m worry…
Yesterday (11.01. 2022) I have sent a ‘dollar transfer’ (‘Swift’) to Reaper from Belarus. Can I hope to get a license key with mail or by electronic letter ?
I don’t intend to make more than $20,000 per year on music, but if I were to buy the discounted license and unexpectedly made more than that, what would happen then?
I have a question, if I purchase a license with a discount, can I opt for a commercial license? Do you pay the difference or the total?
Hello, I have to transfer my License, because I have to sell my reaper. What have I to do for this? Have I pay for the transfer? Pleas can help me anywhere? Thanks and musician greetings Peter Bengelmann
HI Guys, bought discounted license and never got the email with the license Key, already sent an email to support@cockos.com