Overview

VIESUS licensing models — on-premise GUID and Activation Key, plus credit-based Cloud API. How each works and how to choose.

VIESUS has two deployment models — on-premise and cloud — covering three distinct licensing mechanisms.

License type	Deployment	Best for	Details
GUID	On-premise	Deployments across multiple machines, containers, VMs, or cloud	GUID licensing
Activation Key	On-premise	Trials and fixed on-premise machines	Activation Key licensing
API Key + credits	Cloud	API-based integrations, no on-premise install	See below

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On-premise licensing — GUID

A unique GUID is delivered with the software package and passed at runtime to unlock the library. The GUID has no machine binding — the same GUID works on any number of systems simultaneously, including VMs, containers, and cloud instances.

Used for: servers, Docker, Kubernetes, cloud infrastructure, anything that scales or moves between hosts.

A GUID license is arranged with Viesus AG — discuss with [e-mail] when arranging your license.

See GUID for the full mechanism, key properties, and how to pass the GUID in each VIESUS interface.

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On-premise licensing — Activation Key

An Activation Key is bound to the target machine's hardware. After installation you generate a request file from the target machine and exchange it with Viesus AG for an activation file, which unlocks the library on that machine.

Used for: trials, dedicated workstations, fixed on-premise production machines.

See Activation Key for the step-by-step activation flow on Windows and Linux, including screenshots.

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Choosing between GUID and Activation Key

Scenario	Use
Servers, VMs, Docker containers, cloud instances	GUID
Deployments that may scale or move	GUID
Single fixed workstation or production server	Activation Key
Trial or evaluation	Activation Key

Use a GUID when you need to run across multiple machines, in containers, or on cloud infrastructure where the activation hardware would change. Use an Activation Key for trials and fixed on-premise machines.

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Cloud licensing

The VIESUS Cloud API uses a different model: API key authentication with credit-based billing. No library to install, no GUID, no expiry to manage.

How it works:

1. Create an account at viesus.cloud.
2. Generate an API key in the dashboard at https://www.viesus.cloud/app/api-keys.
3. Pass the key as x-api-key on every API request.
4. Credits are consumed per enhancement.

Credit model:

Feature	Credits per image
Color Enhancement	1
Restoration	1
Background Handling	4
AI Upscaling	4

When multiple features are active, only the highest-cost feature is charged. See Cloud: Credits for PDF formulas and subscription tier details.

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Contact

On-premise licensing, renewals, or technical questions: [e-mail]

VIESUS Cloud accounts: viesus.cloud

Software downloads: transfer.viesus.com