What? Did I scare you? Well before you panic. This is not for all. Before I tell whom does it concern, I would like to ask a question. How many of you did knew that Akismet is not free?
My guess is a very few of you. Am I right? Anyways Akismet is not completely free. You all probably know well what Akismet is. It is the anti-Spam plug-in for WordPress. Akismet is free for personal blogs and the API key can freely obtained by registering at WordPress.com. You can use this Personal API key on your self hosted WordPress blog to get protection from Spam.
But the case is different if you personal blog has become more than that. If you have learned the ways of earning huge sum of money from you blog then you blog is no more personal. It is categorized as a commercial blog and the bad thing about this is that Akismet is no more free for you. If you earn more than 500$/month then you should start paying license fees for Akismet.
Currently there are 3 types of Commercial API Key
- Pro-Blogger API Key is for bloggers earning 500$/month. This is a individual key. You just need to pay 5$/month which is almost negligible considering your earnings.
- Enterprise API Key is for blogs which are part of a commercial venture (for example a corporate blog, site, or a blog network). You need to pay 50$/month for this.
- Access API Key is for those who want to use Akismet API as commercial product.
If you are Non-Profit organization you can get some discounts. You can read more about these Commercial API key from Akismet website.
I do not know if Automattic people (Akismet Service Provider) can know if your blog is earning 500$ a month or not but if they know they might not allow you to use Akismet API for free. So if you are earning that much sum of dollars be a good boy or girl and pay them the fees. Read their TOS to know more about Akismet API Key. I currently am not a big earner so I need not worry but if any of you are than either play low (not advised) or pay them some fees.
Anyhow, this article is for informational purpose so that you all know you are using Akismet service quite legally.
Note: I want to thank Rohit – Tech Freak Stuff, BlogrPro, The Bad Blogger and Lax – Tech Zoom In for welcoming me back and being such nice friends to me. I am dedicating this post (first post after the comeback after a month) to these awesome guys.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you very much for your dedication.
Means many people have to pay. I am not sure how people will take care of this.
.-= BlogrPro´s last blog ..How WordPress can be Customized? =-.
Hi Deepak! I feel honored that you are respecting me for welcoming you, when there is absolutely no need to do so!
Anyways, talking about this post, Can you tell us weather blogs who are using Adsense came under the Second or third category? Do we need to pay the fees or we come under the
“Access API Key” category?
.-= Tech-Freak Stuff´s last blog ..Symptoms of Swine Flu in Geeks [Funny] =-.
We won’t come under second or third category. Mostly first category will apply to us. The first one is Pro-blogger API Key. You need to pay 5$/month for it. You only need to pay only if you are earning 500$/month from your one blog (any way be it adsense or ads or reviews). If you are not earning that much there is no need to buy commercial key. You can use the free API Key.
I want to say it once more, only first commercial API key will apply to us. As we are just simple bloggers and not a company.
Rohit you are new to WordPress, so you might be having doubts but I can assure you that you currently do not need to pay for the commercial API key. You can get the free for personal use by registering at WordPress.com and use it. I hope I clarified your doubts.
As in my case, I don’t pay for akismet. But it’s a great antispam tool.
.-= Tyrone | Millionaire Acts´s last blog ..Why do you need to borrow money? =-.
I didn’t know there was pro version of akismet we have to pay for. I use Akismet free version and it’s really a good antispam! By the way, is that you who paid a product from the bad blogger? I saw he made a sale!
.-= Benjamin Cip´s last blog ..What Is The Best Place To Display Your Ads? =-.
Yaa Deepak!
There are many new things coming up for me. If i have any doubts I will contact you. I hope that will be fine!
.-= Tech-Freak Stuff´s last blog ..Symptoms of Swine Flu in Geeks [Funny] =-.
Yes, i know this. I came to know about this, when i wrote the post about how wordpress earning money.
.-= TechZoomIn´s last blog ..20 Free Hot Headers for Your Blog..! =-.
Erm I don’t pay for Akismet by far. When my traffic is growing bigger, then maybe I need the pro version.
.-= Jacob Yap´s last blog ..Envato Birthday Bundle – $300 Of Files For Just $20 =-.
Interesting find. I’m pretty sure that they are just asking for donations. It’s still free but they obviously need to support themselves so they offer a ‘commercial’ plan with extra features and ask for donations from anyone who is profiting and using their plugin.
WordPress(.com) has a similar system of selling extra features: http://en.wordpress.com/products/
.-= Austin´s last blog ..Looking For Suggestions =-.
I was not aware of this. Well, I dont need to worry about it as i haven’t monetized my blog yet.
.-= Ricky´s last blog ..Top 10 All-in-one Online Messenger Services =-.
i dont knew this pro version upto now
thank you for posting about it
I wish I am earning $500 a month. but I am not. It is my first time to know we need to pay a fee for it.
.-= Sherry´s last blog ..Artwark giveaway =-.