Foxit is discontinuing active development of its Perpetual License product line. While existing perpetual customers will still receive security and bug‑fix updates, Foxit will no longer add new features or functional enhancements to perpetual versions going forward. This aligns with the company’s updated N‑1 Support Policy for perpetual versions, effective August 13, 2025. These changes affect all organizations using Foxit PDF Editor or related Foxit PDF tools under perpetual licensing.
Summary (TL;DR)
- Foxit is ending feature development for all Perpetual License products. Existing perpetual versions will continue to receive security patches and bug fixes only (limited to supported versions).
- Foxit has moved to an N‑1 support policy: only the current major version (v14) and the previous version (v13) receive support. Older versions (v12, v11 and below) are out of support and receive no patches.
- The Foxit Subscription replaces perpetual development and includes full offline usage, terminal‑server compatibility, all new features, and continuous updates.
- Organizations using perpetual licenses should plan for a transition strategy to avoid unsupported environments and feature stagnation.
What has changed?
1. No new features for Perpetual Licenses
Foxit is discontinuing active development for perpetual versions. Organizations using perpetual licenses will see no functional enhancements going forward. Only security updates and fixes will continue (for supported versions).
2. New N‑1 Support Policy
Effective August 13, 2025, Foxit now supports only:
- N (current version): v14
- N‑1 (previous version): v13
Versions v12, v11 and below no longer receive:
- security patches
- bug fixes
- technical support
- troubleshooting or assistance
3. Upgrade requirements
Depending on your version and Maintenance & Support (M&S) entitlement, upgrading may require:
- a free upgrade to v13 or v14 (if you had an active M&S before January 1, 2025), or
- purchasing an upgrade license, or
- purchasing a new license – if you are far behind (v11 / v12 without active M&S).
Legacy versions continue working, but security and compatibility risks increase over time.
4. Understand the implications
Older perpetual versions still work, but:
- Security risks increase over time.
- Compatibility with new OS releases becomes uncertain.
- No patches, bug fixes, or support are available for v12/v11 or older.
Foxit Subscription: The Future Product Path
Foxit is positioning its subscription model as the long‑term standard. It includes:
- Full offline usage, including terminal‑server environments
- All updates and new features
- Security patches & maintenance included
- Lower price point than major competitors’ PDF subscriptions
The subscription is recommended if you need continuous feature development, modern PDF capabilities, and long‑term security.
Background: Change in Foxit’s long‑term product direction
For many years, Foxit highlighted that it continued to offer perpetual licenses while Adobe moved fully to subscription. The decision to stop feature development for perpetual versions therefore marks a noticeable shift in Foxit’s product strategy – even though perpetual licenses remain available for existing customers with security updates only.
What should I do now?
- Check your Foxit version (v14 & v13 are supported; v12 and below are not).
- If you’re on an unsupported version, plan an upgrade or replacement to avoid security risks.
- Review upcoming renewals, as perpetual licenses will no longer include new features.
- Decide whether missing new features could impact your team, especially around OS compatibility, security requirements, or daily workflows.
- Consider switching to the Foxit Subscription if you need ongoing improvements, new features, or long‑term support.
More information
Perpetual Maintenance & Support Policy (M&S) – Frequently Asked Questions: https://kb.foxit.com/s/articles/Maintenance-Support-M-S-FAQ
Foxit’s Perpetual License Support Policy: https://www.foxit.com/blog/foxits-perpetual-license-support-policy-what-you-need-to-know/.
Need help with optimizing your Foxit licensing?
SCHNEIDER IT MANAGEMENT supports you with:
- migration planning from perpetual to subscription
- version assessment and upgrade eligibility
- cost and licensing optimization
- procurement under the best commercial conditions
Get in touch with our Foxit experts for tailored advice and renewal planning.