Pricing
Licensing built around operators, machines, and shows
Current pricing is based on perpetual licenses with 12 months of updates included. Monthly, yearly, and rental subscription options are planned for a later stage. Checkout is not live yet — request a demo, early access, or quote to get started.
CueForge Free / Reader
For learning, demoing, reviewing, and basic playback. Not intended for commercial production.
- Open CueForge show files
- Run basic cue lists
- Audio cue playback basics
- Basic group cues + fades
- Basic Show Mode
- PANIC stop, Show Lock, autosave recovery
- View documentation
Export is disabled or watermarked. Does not include advanced routing, timecode, MIDI/OSC, network control, or multi-output.
CueForge Operator
For small theatres, schools, and solo operators who need a clean, safe cue playback system.
- Full show creation
- Audio, Image, Video, Group cues
- Show Mode + Edit Mode
- Basic preflight checks
- Basic keyboard shortcuts
- Import / export show file
- Local backup / versioned save
Does not include timecode, MIDI/OSC output, network control, or advanced routing.
CueForge Pro
For professional show-control workflows with timecode, MIDI, OSC, routing, and advanced validation.
- Everything in Operator
- Internal timecode clock (external sync planned)
- MIDI output; MIDI input via Control Mapping
- OSC output; OSC input via Control Mapping
- Network cue control (HTTP)
- Advanced routing + preflight
- Control Mapping (MIDI/OSC/HTTP software sources)
Add-ons available: Interact, Animatronics, Player/Install, Advanced Output.
CueForge Studio
For production companies, freelancers, and small teams who share projects across multiple machines.
- Everything in Pro
- 3 named users
- 6 activations
- 2 simultaneous show machines
- Shared templates
- Company show library rights
- Optional company branding
Better for rental companies and freelance collectives than multiple individual licenses.
CueForge Venue
For theatres, cultural centres, schools with multiple rooms, and production venues.
- Everything in Pro
- Site-based license
- Multiple operator accounts
- Redundant machine allowance
- Venue templates + presets
- Shared show library
- Priority support
- License transfer support
Does not include unlimited player installs or theme park deployment.
CueForge Education
Discounted licenses for accredited schools, colleges, and universities.
- Student Operator and Pro licenses
- Classroom Lab packages
- School Theatre Pack options
- Accredited institutions only
Education licenses must not be used for paid commercial production.
Enterprise / Attraction
CustomFor parks, museums, permanent installs, attractions, and large deployments.
- Custom runtime/player deployment
- Attraction logic
- Hardware integration planning
- Dedicated support terms
- Integration planning
Pricing and terms negotiated per project.
Pricing is not yet final
All prices are indicative until checkout is implemented. Final prices, VAT treatment, and renewal terms will be confirmed before public sales begin. Request a quote to discuss your situation.
Compare
License Comparison
Metadata and terms at a glance.
| Attribute | Operator | Pro | Studio | Venue | Education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | €249 | €599 | €999 | from €1,499 | 40% off |
| Seats | 1 operator | 1 user | 3 users | 3–5 users | Custom |
| Activations | 2 machines | 3 machines | 6 machines | 5–10 machines | Custom |
| Simultaneous show machines | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2–3 | Custom |
| Commercial use | Education only | ||||
| Updates included | 12 months | 12 months | 12 months | 12 months | 12 months |
| Support | Standard email | Priority email | Priority | Priority / venue | Standard |
| Offline activation | Manual request | Yes, limited | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Features
Feature Comparison
What is included in each tier. Future features are labelled clearly.
What “Limited” means
“Limited” means the feature is available for learning, review, and basic use, but is not intended for full commercial production. For example, limited Show Mode includes basic run controls and panic/stop-all, without advanced validation, routing, external control, or deployment features. Limited editing means basic/restricted show editing intended for review and learning, not full show authoring.
| Feature | Free | Operator | Pro | Studio | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full show creation | Limited — review only | ||||
| Audio cues | Limited — basic playback | ||||
| Image cues | — | ||||
| Basic video cues | — | ||||
| Group cues | Limited — basic groups | ||||
| Wait / Fade cues | — | ||||
| Show Mode | Limited — basic controls | ||||
| Edit Mode | Limited — review only | ||||
| Show lock | — | ||||
| Panic-safe transport | Limited — stop only | ||||
| NOW RUNNING / NEXT ARMED | — | ||||
| Preflight checks | — | Basic | |||
| Timecode | — | — | Internal clock | Internal clock | Internal clock |
| MIDI output + Control Mapping input | — | — | |||
| OSC output + Control Mapping input | — | — | |||
| Network cue control | — | — | |||
| Advanced routing | — | — | |||
| Advanced preflight | — | — | |||
| Multi-output preparation | — | — | |||
| Controller mapping | — | — | |||
| Automation / macros | — | — | Planned | Planned | Planned |
| Install / player export | — | — | Add-on | Add-on | Add-on |
| Visitor triggers | — | — | Add-on | Add-on | Add-on |
| Animatronics | — | — | Add-on | Add-on | Add-on |
| Hardware controller support | — | — | Implemented — physical validation in progress | Implemented — physical validation in progress | Implemented — physical validation in progress |
Control Mapping receives incoming MIDI, OSC, and HTTP and is verified with software sources; validation with physical hardware controllers is in progress. Outgoing MIDI and OSC cue output is implemented and available in Pro, Studio, and Venue.
Future capabilities
Add-ons and deployment options
Planned extensions for specialised workflows. Not available for purchase yet.
Interact
RoadmapVisitor trigger workflows, alternate storylines, puzzle/state triggers, cooldowns, lockouts, and safe public interaction logic.
Required base: Pro or higher
For interactive theatre, escape-room setups, museums, and experience centres.
Animatronics
RoadmapCharacter/action state authoring, animatronic cue groups, servo/relay/DMX/OSC mapping concepts, safety lockouts, idle loops, and reset states.
Required base: Pro or Venue
For theme parks, animatronics, automated figures, and small dark rides.
Player / Install
PlannedExport show to locked runtime/player. Includes kiosk/locked playback, health reporting, autostart, and recovery concepts.
Required base: Pro or Venue
For fixed installations and locked playback machines. Extra player activations available separately.
Extra Player Activation
PlannedPer additional installed runtime activation beyond the included player license.
Required base: Player / Install users
Runtime activations are counted separately because installation deployments scale differently.
Advanced Output
PlannedExtended output routing and multi-display preparation.
Required base: Pro+
Under review — may be included in Pro by launch.
Hardware Controller Support Pack
Early AccessNamed hardware controller profiles for Control Mapping: Akai APC Mini MKII (nine faders, LED feedback), Allen & Heath SQ, and SoundSwitch Control One.
Required base: Pro+
Profiles are implemented; physical validation is in progress. Test with your own controller before showtime.
Activations
Authoring vs. runtime activations
CueForge is designed for real production environments.
Authoring activations
Machines used to create, edit, and prepare shows. Normal licenses include generous authoring activations because operators need a prep laptop, booth machine, and backup.
- Designer laptop
- Booth Mac / PC
- Rehearsal machine
- Office / prep computer
Runtime / player activations
Locked playback machines in fixed installations. These are counted separately because installation deployments scale differently from authoring workstations.
- Theatre booth playback PC
- Museum media player
- Fountain show controller
- Animatronic show controller
- Headless / DIN rail player
Why this separation? A theatre may need 3 authoring machines (prep, booth, backup) but only 1 runtime player. A museum may need 1 authoring machine and 10 runtime players. Separating the two keeps pricing fair for both use cases.
Education
Professional tools for the next generation
We believe students should learn on the same tools professionals use. CueForge Education offers a 40% discount for accredited schools, colleges, and universities.
Student Operator
1 activation · For individual student learning
Student Pro
1 activation · For advanced student projects
Classroom Lab
10–15 activations · For classroom instruction
School Theatre Pack
Pro + venue-style theatre activations
Education terms
- Accredited institutions only
- 40% discount off standard pricing
- Lab and student licenses available
- Not for paid commercial production
FAQ
Pricing questions
Is pricing final?
No. Prices shown are indicative and may change before general availability. However, any license purchased at the current price remains valid. We will always honor licenses bought at any price point.
Can schools use it?
Yes. CueForge is designed to be accessible for students while remaining powerful enough for professional use. We offer educational discounts and lab licensing for accredited schools and universities. Education licenses are for learning only — not for paid commercial production.
How will licensing work?
Licenses are perpetual — buy once, keep the version you received. Each tier includes a specific number of activation seats and an update period. After the update period expires, you keep the last version you received. Maintenance renewals extend updates and support. Fixed-installation runtime activations are priced separately.
What is the difference between a seat and an activation?
A seat is a licensed user or organization entitlement. An activation is one machine currently running CueForge. For example, an Operator license includes 1 seat and 2 activations — one main machine and one backup/laptop. You can transfer activations between machines by deactivating the old one first.
What is a runtime / player activation?
A runtime or player activation is a locked playback machine used in fixed installations — for example, a museum media PC or a theatre booth computer that only runs shows. These are counted separately from authoring activations because installation deployments scale differently. The Player / Install add-on includes one runtime activation; extras can be purchased separately.
Can I install CueForge on a backup machine?
Yes. Operator includes 2 activations, Pro includes 3, and Studio includes 6 specifically so you can have a main machine plus backup and prep machines. Authoring activations are generous because real production environments need redundancy.
Can a venue use one Pro license everywhere?
Not if multiple operators need to work simultaneously. A Pro license is for one professional user with 3 activations. Venues with multiple rooms or operators should look at CueForge Venue, which is designed for site-based deployment with 3–5 users and 5–10 activations.
Is offline activation possible?
Offline activation is not implemented yet. The activation workflow is planned and its terms are under definition — Early Access builds run without activation. We will publish offline activation terms before public sales begin.
Are add-ons included?
No. Add-ons such as Interact, Animatronics, and Player / Install are separate purchases that sit on top of Pro or higher. They are not included by default. Some add-ons are still on the roadmap and are not yet available.
Are education licenses commercial?
No. Education licenses are for teaching and learning only. They may not be used for paid commercial production. Schools that also run a professional venue should purchase a separate Venue or Pro license for commercial use.
Are VAT and invoices included?
All prices exclude applicable VAT. Invoicing will be available before public sales begin. Final sales, payment, and VAT processes will be completed before checkout goes live.
Will launch pricing be available?
Launch pricing is under consideration for several tiers. Early Access members receive a reduced price. When we announce final launch pricing, existing Early Access licenses remain valid — we do not retroactively change terms.
What happens to planned features?
Features marked as Planned or Roadmap are not guaranteed in the current build. They represent our development direction and may change in scope, timing, or priority. We label them clearly so you know what is available today versus what is coming later.
Will there be monthly, yearly, or rental subscriptions?
Yes, they are planned for a later stage. The current pricing draft focuses on perpetual licenses and site/team licensing. Subscription and rental options will be announced separately when the sales system is ready.
What does "perpetual license" mean?
You pay once and receive the right to use the software version you received. Updates are included for the stated period; after that, you can continue using the last version you received or purchase a maintenance renewal for continued updates.
Can I move my license to another computer?
The intended licensing model is that licenses can be deactivated on one machine and reactivated on another, making it easy to transfer between a shop machine and a show machine. That transfer workflow is not implemented yet — there is no account dashboard at this stage — and it will be completed before public sales begin.
Is there a free trial?
There is no public trial or download yet — CueForge is in private beta. You can request Early Access to evaluate the beta, and a free CueForge Free / Reader tier is planned for general availability.
Can I buy CueForge today?
Not yet. Checkout and payment processing are not implemented. You can request a quote, join Early Access, or contact sales to express interest. We will notify you when sales open.
Venues & Enterprises
Need a custom quote?
Theatres, cultural centres, schools with multiple rooms, parks, museums, and permanent installations have unique requirements. Contact us for a tailored proposal.
Ready to get started?
Join Early Access today and shape the future of CueForge with your feedback.