exocad licenses: perpetual vs Flex, which fits your lab
exocad licenses compared: a perpetual license with an optional upgrade contract, or the Flex subscription. Costs over time, modules, updates and fit.
exocad DentalCAD is the same software whichever license you choose. What changes is how you pay, how you receive updates and how easily you can change the modules you use. The choice rarely makes a difference in the first year and often does by the third. This post compares the two exocad licenses, perpetual and Flex, and the questions I ask labs before they decide.
Prices vary by country and reseller, so the comparison covers how the models work and leaves out numbers. Check the current terms with an authorized reseller and on the exocad license page.
Perpetual license
A perpetual license is bought once and stays valid indefinitely. Updates come through a separate, optional upgrade contract. While the contract is active you receive new releases and features. If you cancel it, the software keeps working on the version you have, and the running costs go down.
This model suits labs with a stable team and case mix, workstations that will be used for years, and owners who prefer to hold the software as an asset. It does require someone to keep track of the upgrade contract and budget for it.
The downsides are the higher initial investment and the risk of falling behind. Without an upgrade contract, new features, new scanner and implant integrations and fixes do not reach the lab.
exocad Flex subscription
Flex is a subscription. You pay for a period of access, and the software runs while the subscription is active. Regular upgrades are included, modules can be activated or deactivated within the Flex model, and the entry cost is lower.
Flex fits a lab that is starting with digital work, a lab whose case mix changes from year to year (implants this year, dentures the next), and owners who want the latest release without managing a separate contract or who prefer an operating expense to an investment.
The downsides are the total cost over many years, which can exceed a perpetual license, and the fact that the software stops when the payments stop. There is no version you keep.
Perpetual vs Flex side by side
| Perpetual | Flex | |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | Permanent license | Access while subscribed |
| Entry cost | Higher | Lower |
| Updates | With optional upgrade contract | Included |
| If you stop paying | Keeps working on the current version | Stops working |
| Changing modules | Buy additional modules | Activate or deactivate within Flex |
| Suits | Stable, long-term production | Starting out, changing needs |
Questions to answer before choosing
Start with how long the seat will be used. Three years or more of steady production points toward perpetual. An uncertain future or fast growth points toward Flex.
Then list the modules you really use every week. Take them from last month’s cases instead of the brochure. Paying for modules nobody uses is the most common waste I find in lab setups.
Finally, decide whether you will stay current. Scanner formats, implant libraries and features change quickly. If a perpetual license would end up without an upgrade contract, include the cost of working several versions behind.
Larger labs often mix the two: perpetual licenses on the core production seats, and a Flex seat that covers peaks or less frequent indications.
The rest of the budget
The license is only part of the cost. The workstation has to run exocad smoothly (see the hardware guide). Implant and tooth libraries need to be installed and maintained (how to install them). Training time counts too, because a module nobody has learned brings no return.
If you are unsure which modules your production needs, a short review of recent cases usually answers the question before you sign.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I cancel the exocad upgrade contract?
The perpetual license keeps working on the version you have. You stop receiving new releases and features until you renew the contract or buy an upgrade.
Is exocad Flex cheaper than a perpetual license?
It is cheaper to start with. Over many years of steady use, a perpetual license can cost less in total, because Flex keeps charging for as long as you use the software.
Can I add modules later?
Yes, with both models. With Flex, modules can be activated or deactivated within the subscription, which suits labs whose case mix changes.
Where do I buy an exocad license?
Through an authorized exocad reseller. Resellers set the final price and support terms, so compare offers and ask what installation and training are included.