WordPress.org Plugin Compliance

Ensures WordPress.org compliance for free vs premium code and upselling.

Core Rule: No Locked Code

Golden Rule: All code in WordPress.org plugins must be free and fully functional.

• Every feature works completely without a license key
• No trial periods or usage limits
• No features requiring payment to unlock

Quick Reference

Not Allowed

• Trial periods or time limits
• Usage quotas or artificial limits
• License keys for local features
• Disabled features requiring payment
• Intrusive nag screens

Allowed

• Informational upselling (non-intrusive)
• Separate premium plugin from your site
• Feature detection (not restriction)
• Comparison tables and teasers
• Disabled form previews for premium-only features

Key Patterns

// ❌ WRONG: Feature Restriction
if ( ! $this->is_premium() ) {
    echo 'Premium required';
    return;
}

// ✅ CORRECT: Feature Detection
$this->show_basic_export();
if ( $this->has_premium_addon() ) {
    do_action( 'sh_premium_export_options' );
}

// ❌ WRONG: Artificial Limits
$limit = $this->is_premium() ? 10000 : 100;

// ✅ CORRECT: No Artificial Limits
$limit = apply_filters( 'sh_event_limit', 10000 );

Compliance Checklist

• All features work without license key
• No trial periods or time limits
• No usage quotas
• Upselling is informational, not obstructive
• Free version provides real value

Detailed Information

• examples.md - Detailed code examples
• testing.md - Testing procedures and pre-submission verification

Resources

• WordPress.org Guidelines

The Simple Rule: If it's in the WordPress.org version, it must work completely without payment.