perpetual licence

[beanus]

if I upgrade to version 2026 will I loose my perpetual licence status and end having to pay more to update every year?

[Pat Stanford]

If you have an active Service Select plan you can update to VW2026 you can update and your perpetual version will be VW2026.

 

If you have let your Service Select plan lapse, then you have whatever version was active when it lapsed. The only way to update to 2026 would be to purchase a subscription.

 

 

[beanus]

Hi Paul, I have version 2025 and been using Vectorworks since version 12 and have the service select plan. On the customer portal it looks as if I upgrade to 2026 I will loose the perpetual license and end up paying more yearly is this correct

[E|FA]

When you log in to your Service Select account (https://customers.vectorworks.net/dashboard) does it show that your account is active?

 

 

 

If so, you should be able to download a 2026 perpetual license and ignore the Convert Now message at the top of the page. The message seems to imply that a single click will permanently remove you from Service Select, so don't do it.

 

 

They're really aggressive about pushing Service Select subscribers to convert the licenses.  

Edited December 12, 2025 by E|FA

[beanus]

happy new year to one and all!

when I log in my account shows as active I'm just worried that if I upgrade to version 2026 I'll loose my perpetual license. Are there many improvements from 2025 to 2026?

[E|FA]

Don't click on the Switch & Save "Covert Now" button.  I'm pretty sure that will convert your Service Select "perpetual" license into a subscription.  Instead, use the "Download Now" button below (see attached screenshots) that will take you to a download screen for VW 2026 as well as previous versions that you may have access to (based on when you started Service Select).  I understand your concern - and unless a VW employee happens to respond to this thread, you might want to call customer service or your sales rep (if you get marketing emails from them like I do) to be 100% sure.

 

 

 

4 hours ago, beanus said:

Are there many improvements from 2025 to 2026?

 

Yes, but...   Walls are handled differently, so you'll need to take time to change settings, Styles, Viewports, etc,  There are numerous threads on the forum dealing with the issue.  There are a few ongoing bugs that have affected people (search the forum).  My advice is not to switch any active projects to a new version.  I have both VW 2024 & 2026 installed on my Mac.  I am still working with VW 2024 as my primary version, while testing and setting up VW 2026 for upcoming new work.

 

https://app-help.vectorworks.net/2026/eng/VW2026_Guide/LandingPage/New_features.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWJUEJEkRNk

 

 

[beanus]

thanks everyone for your advice!