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# SOAP2 Licensing & Editions — User Guide
This page explains the different SOAP2 editions, what each one unlocks, and what
to expect at startup depending on your licence status.
---
## Editions at a glance
SOAP2 is distributed in five editions. Your active edition is shown in square
brackets in the message log every time the application starts — for example
**`[Free Trial]`** or **`[Regular]`**.
Edition | Who it is for | Expiry | Full features | Premium features ¹ | Volatility Surface | GEX/VEX | Watchlist
-----------------|-----------------------------------------------|--------|---------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------|-------------------
**Free Trial** | Early-access / trial users | Yes ² | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | Unlimited
**Freeware** | Beginners & small IB accounts (free) | No | Core only | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | SPY, IWM, QQQ only
**Regular** | Traders with a few years' experience (paid) | No | ✔ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | Unlimited
**Premium** | Paid premium / enterprise licence | No | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | Unlimited
**WhiteLabel** | Mentors & group leaders (20+ users) ³ | No | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | Unlimited
¹ Premium features are the [Rewind](./rewind_user_guide.md.html) (historical playback) feature, the premium VIX/rate history recorder, HSkew & VSkew (incl. historical comparison), the [Sticky-Strike](./stickyskew_regime_user_guide.md.html)/Sticky-Delta and [Dispersion](./dispersion_regime_user_guide.md.html)/correlation regime tools, and the Financial Advisor tools (aliases, allocation groups, and allocation profiles).
² Whether this build has an expiry date depends on how it was built.
The exact date (if any) is printed in the SOAP2 message log on first startup — see **Startup messages** below.
After expiry, non-developer users must register (see **Registration** below) to keep using SOAP2.
³ The Premium features, Volatility Surface, and [GEX/VEX](./gexvex_user_guide.md.html) columns above describe the WhiteLabel **holder's**
own installation, which includes all three by default. Group members are separate SOAP2 installations,
registered individually under their own edition (Freeware/Regular/Premium) — see **WhiteLabel groups** below.
---
## What "full features" and "premium features" mean
!!! NOTE
Feature gating is being rolled out gradually. During the Free Trial, every
feature is active regardless of the eventual edition you register for.
**Full features** (Regular and above, plus the Free Trial) include the complete
options-chain analysis suite, trade log, historical data charting, and automated
watchlist management.
**Premium features** (Free Trial, Premium, and the WhiteLabel holder's own install)
unlock the **Rewind** (historical playback) feature, the premium VIX/interest-rate
history recorder, **HSkew & VSkew** (skew charts, including historical comparison),
the **Sticky-Strike/Sticky-Delta** and **Dispersion/correlation** regime tools (under the
[Data Chart](./datachart_indicators_user_guide.md.html) toolbar dropdown), and the **Financial Advisor** tools (aliases, allocation
groups, and allocation profiles, under Settings → Accounts → Financial Advisor).
**Volatility Surface** is available during the Free Trial, and on Premium and
WhiteLabel editions. It is not included in Freeware or Regular.
**GEX/VEX** is available during the Free Trial, and on Premium and WhiteLabel
editions. It is not included in Freeware or Regular — once the Free Trial period
ends, Freeware and Regular users lose access to it (in addition to the existing
SPX/RUT-only restriction).
**Freeware** provides the core symbol viewer and basic chain display with the
watchlist limited to **SPY, IWM, and QQQ**. Other symbols already on the watchlist
(e.g. from an earlier Regular/Premium/trial session) are hidden, not deleted — they
reappear automatically if you upgrade. More symbols may be added to the Freeware
watchlist over time.
---
## Startup messages
When SOAP2 starts, the first line in the message log tells you your current status.
If this build has a trial expiry date:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SOAP2 is starting up. Test period ends on: Tuesday, 1 December 2026 [Free Trial]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If no expiry date was set by the developer, the line reads simply:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SOAP2 is starting up. [Free Trial]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If a test override is active (set by your developer / system administrator for
evaluation purposes), you will see an additional note, for example:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SOAP2 is starting up. Test period ends on: Tuesday, 1 December 2026 [Regular – test override active]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The **test override** flag means the system is simulating a specific edition and
is not the edition that would normally apply to your installation. It has no
effect on data integrity or trade execution.
---
## Trial expiry
Once the Free Trial ends (test period ends **December 1st, 2026**), SOAP2 opens the
**Registration** dialog on startup instead of the main window. Developers are
always exempt. See **Registration** below for what's required.
From **October 1st, 2026**, registration is required even during the Free Trial: an unregistered user is asked to register at startup and SOAP2 does not start until they have (an internet connection is needed to register; Freeware registration is free).
---
## Developer / administrator mode
If your machine has a valid **developer key** installed, SOAP2 will start in
Developer mode regardless of the edition or expiry date. The startup log will
show:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Launching SOAP in Developer Mode
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Developer keys are machine-bound and cannot be transferred to another computer.
If you believe you should have developer access but are not seeing this message,
contact your system administrator or the SOAP2 author.
---
## Registration
Non-developer users must register once the Free Trial ends. Registration is a
one-time step and is required before the application can be used.
In the dialog, choose the edition you want: **Freeware** (free, watchlist limited
to SPY/IWM/QQQ), **Regular** or **Premium** (paid), or **WhiteLabel**. Registering
sends your details to the SOAP2 servers directly — no [SMTP](./emailsetup.md.html) setup or email account
of your own is required, only your email address.
**If you've purchased Regular or Premium**, paste the license key you were emailed
into the **License key** field before clicking Register — this verifies and
activates the license on your machine. If you don't have a key yet, click
**Don't have a key? Buy one** right there in the dialog to open checkout in your
browser (payment is handled by Paddle, our merchant of record); once purchased,
your key arrives by email and you can paste it in. A paid edition (Regular,
Premium) always needs a license key, and it is only granted once the SOAP2 servers have
verified that key: if the key field is empty, or the key is refused, nothing is registered
and you can enter a valid key or choose Freeware instead. The edition you end up with is the
one the key grants, whichever one was selected in the list.
**WhiteLabel** billing is still arranged directly with the author (see the
website's **Editions & pricing** section) — it isn't part of the self-serve
checkout, since it's aimed at mentors/group leaders managing 20+ users, not a
single self-service purchase.
---
## License validation at startup
Each time SOAP2 starts it checks your license key again with the SOAP2 licensing server (a few
seconds at most, while the splash screen is showing). Free and trial installs without a license
key skip this.
- **The server confirms your license:** nothing to do. If your edition was changed on the
server (an upgrade or downgrade), the new edition applies at this start.
- **The server says the license is no longer valid** (cancelled and ended, refunded, expired,
or its seats are used on other computers): SOAP2 tells you and continues as **Freeware**.
Enter a valid key from the **Register** menu to restore your edition.
- **The server cannot be reached** (for example you are offline): SOAP2 keeps your edition and
tries again at the next start. Your saved license keeps working for up to 7 days beyond its
normal 30-day validity while you are offline; after that, connect to the internet once to
renew it.
Each edition includes everything in the editions below it: Premium has everything Regular has,
and so on up the ladder.
---
## Managing your subscription
If you bought Regular or Premium as a subscription, open **SOAP > Subscription...** (or the
**Subscription...** button in **About SOAP2**) to see and change it. The window asks the SOAP2
licensing server, so it needs an internet connection; offline it shows the last known state,
labelled with its date, and the change buttons are hidden.
It shows your plan and billing period (monthly or annual), the date it renews or ends, any change
you have already scheduled, and how many **plan switches** you have used. A licence that is not a
subscription (for example a complimentary licence) simply says there is nothing to manage.
| Button | When it is offered | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| **Upgrade to Premium** | You are on Regular | Takes effect **immediately**. The unused part of your current period is credited and the Premium price for the rest of the period is charged to your saved payment method now. |
| **Downgrade to Regular** | You are on Premium | Scheduled for the **end of the period you have already paid for**. You keep Premium until then. No refund is due for the current period. |
| **Cancel subscription** | A subscription is running | The subscription ends at the end of the paid period; you keep your edition until then and no further payment is taken. No refund. |
| **Undo pending change** | A downgrade or cancellation is scheduled | Cancels it; you stay on your plan and it renews as normal. |
Every button asks you to confirm first, and the question states the effective date and the
no-refund rule. Only one change can be pending at a time, and the monthly / annual choice is not
changed from this window.
**Plan switches.** An upgrade or a downgrade uses one switch. The number allowed and the period
they are counted over are shown in the window (they are set on the server, not in the app). The
limit follows your account, so cancelling and buying again does not reset it. **Cancelling, and
undoing a pending change, do not use a switch** (undoing a scheduled downgrade gives its switch
back). When you have used them all, Upgrade and Downgrade are hidden and the window shows the date
the next switch is available; Cancel stays available.
**If a payment is declined.** An upgrade only takes hold once its payment succeeds. If your card
is declined, SOAP2 says so and your plan stays as it was; update your payment method with your
bank or card issuer and try again. If your bank asks you to confirm the payment, do so, then
click **Refresh**.
**When the new edition applies.** An upgrade applies at once. A scheduled downgrade or
cancellation applies at the end of the period; at startup SOAP2 writes one line in the Message
Log while one is pending, so it never comes as a surprise (see
[License validation at startup](#license-validation-at-startup)).
---
## WhiteLabel groups
WhiteLabel is aimed at mentors and group leaders managing **20 or more individual
users** — a coach running a trading group, for example, not a reseller.
- **The holder** runs their own SOAP2 install under the WhiteLabel edition, with a
custom branded header (e.g. `SOAP for xyz`) and Premium features included by default
(Rewind, the premium VIX/rate history recorder, Volatility Surface, and the Financial
Advisor tools).
- **Group members** are not WhiteLabel installs themselves — each registers
individually (Freeware, Regular, or Premium, whichever fits them) through their own
copy of SOAP2, the same self-serve flow described above. This is **not** a reseller
agreement: registration stays centralised with the author, not the group holder.
- Group members registering under a WhiteLabel holder get a **15% discount** on their
own paid subscription. Since online checkout isn't live yet, mention the group
when you contact the author to arrange billing.
Group trade-info sharing between the holder and members (a more closed, group-only
work environment) is planned for a future release and not available yet.
---
## Support
How you get help depends on your edition:
| Edition | Support channel | Response time |
|---|---|---|
| Freeware, Regular, Free Trial | The SOAP2 community Slack, or **Send Feedback** in the app | On a best effort basis, less than 2-3 business days |
| Premium, WhiteLabel | A dedicated Premium Slack workspace: a private channel for you plus a Premium community channel | One business day |
**Sending a message.** Use **Help > SOAP > Send Feedback** (or the *Feedback* toolbar button).
The dialog tells you which support level applies to your installation. Add a reply email if
you want an answer by email. Please attach `MessageLog.txt` (in your SOAP2 Data directory)
when reporting a problem.
**Premium invitation.** Your invitation to the Premium Slack workspace is included with your
Premium licence. Once your licence is activated, the Send Feedback dialog also shows a link
to the workspace. Members of the Premium workspace can see each other's names and email
addresses, so please keep your Slack profile to what you are comfortable sharing.
Premium support is tied to an activated Premium (or WhiteLabel) licence. The Free Trial
unlocks Premium features for evaluation but uses community support.
---
## Frequently asked questions
**Q — The trial expiry message appeared but my date looks correct. What happened?**
The expiry date is set at the time your copy of SOAP2 was built. If you
received a new build from the author after the old expiry, make sure you are
running the *new* executable, not the old one.
**Q — I see `[Regular – test override active]` but I have not purchased a Regular licence.**
A test override file was placed in your SOAP Settings folder, probably by the
author during a support session. It does not grant a permanent licence. Remove
the file `BetaEditionOverride.cfg` from your SOAP Settings folder to return to
normal behaviour, or ask the author to clear it.
**Q — Where is my SOAP Settings folder?**
On a standard installation: `%APPDATA%\SOAP_Data\Settings\`
On a developer installation: `\SOAP_Data\Settings\`
**Q — How do I know which edition I am on?**
Check the first line of the SOAP2 message log after startup. The active edition
is printed in square brackets as described above.
**Q — I am using a WhiteLabel licence. What changes?**
The application header is customised for your group, for example `SOAP for xyz`,
and Premium features are included on your own install. See **WhiteLabel groups**
above for how your group members register and their discount. Trade-info sharing
with group members is reserved for a future release.
---
Go back to the main [SOAP2 Help Guide](index.md.html).
# SOAP2 Licensing & Editions — User Guide
This page explains the different SOAP2 editions, what each one unlocks, and what
to expect at startup depending on your licence status.
---
## Editions at a glance
SOAP2 is distributed in five editions. Your active edition is shown in square
brackets in the message log every time the application starts — for example
**`[Free Trial]`** or **`[Regular]`**.
Edition | Who it is for | Expiry | Full features | Premium features ¹ | Volatility Surface | GEX/VEX | Watchlist
-----------------|-----------------------------------------------|--------|---------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------|-------------------
**Free Trial** | Early-access / trial users | Yes ² | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | Unlimited
**Freeware** | Beginners & small IB accounts (free) | No | Core only | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | SPY, IWM, QQQ only
**Regular** | Traders with a few years' experience (paid) | No | ✔ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | Unlimited
**Premium** | Paid premium / enterprise licence | No | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | Unlimited
**WhiteLabel** | Mentors & group leaders (20+ users) ³ | No | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | Unlimited
¹ Premium features are the [Rewind](./rewind_user_guide.md.html) (historical playback) feature, the premium VIX/rate history recorder, HSkew & VSkew (incl. historical comparison), the [Sticky-Strike](./stickyskew_regime_user_guide.md.html)/Sticky-Delta and [Dispersion](./dispersion_regime_user_guide.md.html)/correlation regime tools, and the Financial Advisor tools (aliases, allocation groups, and allocation profiles).
² Whether this build has an expiry date depends on how it was built.
The exact date (if any) is printed in the SOAP2 message log on first startup — see **Startup messages** below.
After expiry, non-developer users must register (see **Registration** below) to keep using SOAP2.
³ The Premium features, Volatility Surface, and [GEX/VEX](./gexvex_user_guide.md.html) columns above describe the WhiteLabel **holder's**
own installation, which includes all three by default. Group members are separate SOAP2 installations,
registered individually under their own edition (Freeware/Regular/Premium) — see **WhiteLabel groups** below.
---
## What "full features" and "premium features" mean
!!! NOTE
Feature gating is being rolled out gradually. During the Free Trial, every
feature is active regardless of the eventual edition you register for.
**Full features** (Regular and above, plus the Free Trial) include the complete
options-chain analysis suite, trade log, historical data charting, and automated
watchlist management.
**Premium features** (Free Trial, Premium, and the WhiteLabel holder's own install)
unlock the **Rewind** (historical playback) feature, the premium VIX/interest-rate
history recorder, **HSkew & VSkew** (skew charts, including historical comparison),
the **Sticky-Strike/Sticky-Delta** and **Dispersion/correlation** regime tools (under the
[Data Chart](./datachart_indicators_user_guide.md.html) toolbar dropdown), and the **Financial Advisor** tools (aliases, allocation
groups, and allocation profiles, under Settings → Accounts → Financial Advisor).
**Volatility Surface** is available during the Free Trial, and on Premium and
WhiteLabel editions. It is not included in Freeware or Regular.
**GEX/VEX** is available during the Free Trial, and on Premium and WhiteLabel
editions. It is not included in Freeware or Regular — once the Free Trial period
ends, Freeware and Regular users lose access to it (in addition to the existing
SPX/RUT-only restriction).
**Freeware** provides the core symbol viewer and basic chain display with the
watchlist limited to **SPY, IWM, and QQQ**. Other symbols already on the watchlist
(e.g. from an earlier Regular/Premium/trial session) are hidden, not deleted — they
reappear automatically if you upgrade. More symbols may be added to the Freeware
watchlist over time.
---
## Startup messages
When SOAP2 starts, the first line in the message log tells you your current status.
If this build has a trial expiry date:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SOAP2 is starting up. Test period ends on: Tuesday, 1 December 2026 [Free Trial]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If no expiry date was set by the developer, the line reads simply:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SOAP2 is starting up. [Free Trial]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If a test override is active (set by your developer / system administrator for
evaluation purposes), you will see an additional note, for example:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SOAP2 is starting up. Test period ends on: Tuesday, 1 December 2026 [Regular – test override active]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The **test override** flag means the system is simulating a specific edition and
is not the edition that would normally apply to your installation. It has no
effect on data integrity or trade execution.
---
## Trial expiry
Once the Free Trial ends (test period ends **December 1st, 2026**), SOAP2 opens the
**Registration** dialog on startup instead of the main window. Developers are
always exempt. See **Registration** below for what's required.
From **October 1st, 2026**, registration is required even during the Free Trial: an unregistered user is asked to register at startup and SOAP2 does not start until they have (an internet connection is needed to register; Freeware registration is free).
---
## Developer / administrator mode
If your machine has a valid **developer key** installed, SOAP2 will start in
Developer mode regardless of the edition or expiry date. The startup log will
show:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Launching SOAP in Developer Mode
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Developer keys are machine-bound and cannot be transferred to another computer.
If you believe you should have developer access but are not seeing this message,
contact your system administrator or the SOAP2 author.
---
## Registration
Non-developer users must register once the Free Trial ends. Registration is a
one-time step and is required before the application can be used.
In the dialog, choose the edition you want: **Freeware** (free, watchlist limited
to SPY/IWM/QQQ), **Regular** or **Premium** (paid), or **WhiteLabel**. Registering
sends your details to the SOAP2 servers directly — no [SMTP](./emailsetup.md.html) setup or email account
of your own is required, only your email address.
**If you've purchased Regular or Premium**, paste the license key you were emailed
into the **License key** field before clicking Register — this verifies and
activates the license on your machine. If you don't have a key yet, click
**Don't have a key? Buy one** right there in the dialog to open checkout in your
browser (payment is handled by Paddle, our merchant of record); once purchased,
your key arrives by email and you can paste it in. A paid edition (Regular,
Premium) always needs a license key, and it is only granted once the SOAP2 servers have
verified that key: if the key field is empty, or the key is refused, nothing is registered
and you can enter a valid key or choose Freeware instead. The edition you end up with is the
one the key grants, whichever one was selected in the list.
**WhiteLabel** billing is still arranged directly with the author (see the
website's **Editions & pricing** section) — it isn't part of the self-serve
checkout, since it's aimed at mentors/group leaders managing 20+ users, not a
single self-service purchase.
---
## License validation at startup
Each time SOAP2 starts it checks your license key again with the SOAP2 licensing server (a few
seconds at most, while the splash screen is showing). Free and trial installs without a license
key skip this.
- **The server confirms your license:** nothing to do. If your edition was changed on the
server (an upgrade or downgrade), the new edition applies at this start.
- **The server says the license is no longer valid** (cancelled and ended, refunded, expired,
or its seats are used on other computers): SOAP2 tells you and continues as **Freeware**.
Enter a valid key from the **Register** menu to restore your edition.
- **The server cannot be reached** (for example you are offline): SOAP2 keeps your edition and
tries again at the next start. Your saved license keeps working for up to 7 days beyond its
normal 30-day validity while you are offline; after that, connect to the internet once to
renew it.
Each edition includes everything in the editions below it: Premium has everything Regular has,
and so on up the ladder.
---
## Managing your subscription
If you bought Regular or Premium as a subscription, open **SOAP > Subscription...** (or the
**Subscription...** button in **About SOAP2**) to see and change it. The window asks the SOAP2
licensing server, so it needs an internet connection; offline it shows the last known state,
labelled with its date, and the change buttons are hidden.
It shows your plan and billing period (monthly or annual), the date it renews or ends, any change
you have already scheduled, and how many **plan switches** you have used. A licence that is not a
subscription (for example a complimentary licence) simply says there is nothing to manage.
| Button | When it is offered | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| **Upgrade to Premium** | You are on Regular | Takes effect **immediately**. The unused part of your current period is credited and the Premium price for the rest of the period is charged to your saved payment method now. |
| **Downgrade to Regular** | You are on Premium | Scheduled for the **end of the period you have already paid for**. You keep Premium until then. No refund is due for the current period. |
| **Cancel subscription** | A subscription is running | The subscription ends at the end of the paid period; you keep your edition until then and no further payment is taken. No refund. |
| **Undo pending change** | A downgrade or cancellation is scheduled | Cancels it; you stay on your plan and it renews as normal. |
Every button asks you to confirm first, and the question states the effective date and the
no-refund rule. Only one change can be pending at a time, and the monthly / annual choice is not
changed from this window.
**Plan switches.** An upgrade or a downgrade uses one switch. The number allowed and the period
they are counted over are shown in the window (they are set on the server, not in the app). The
limit follows your account, so cancelling and buying again does not reset it. **Cancelling, and
undoing a pending change, do not use a switch** (undoing a scheduled downgrade gives its switch
back). When you have used them all, Upgrade and Downgrade are hidden and the window shows the date
the next switch is available; Cancel stays available.
**If a payment is declined.** An upgrade only takes hold once its payment succeeds. If your card
is declined, SOAP2 says so and your plan stays as it was; update your payment method with your
bank or card issuer and try again. If your bank asks you to confirm the payment, do so, then
click **Refresh**.
**When the new edition applies.** An upgrade applies at once. A scheduled downgrade or
cancellation applies at the end of the period; at startup SOAP2 writes one line in the Message
Log while one is pending, so it never comes as a surprise (see
[License validation at startup](#license-validation-at-startup)).
---
## WhiteLabel groups
WhiteLabel is aimed at mentors and group leaders managing **20 or more individual
users** — a coach running a trading group, for example, not a reseller.
- **The holder** runs their own SOAP2 install under the WhiteLabel edition, with a
custom branded header (e.g. `SOAP for xyz`) and Premium features included by default
(Rewind, the premium VIX/rate history recorder, Volatility Surface, and the Financial
Advisor tools).
- **Group members** are not WhiteLabel installs themselves — each registers
individually (Freeware, Regular, or Premium, whichever fits them) through their own
copy of SOAP2, the same self-serve flow described above. This is **not** a reseller
agreement: registration stays centralised with the author, not the group holder.
- Group members registering under a WhiteLabel holder get a **15% discount** on their
own paid subscription. Since online checkout isn't live yet, mention the group
when you contact the author to arrange billing.
Group trade-info sharing between the holder and members (a more closed, group-only
work environment) is planned for a future release and not available yet.
---
## Support
How you get help depends on your edition:
| Edition | Support channel | Response time |
|---|---|---|
| Freeware, Regular, Free Trial | The SOAP2 community Slack, or **Send Feedback** in the app | On a best effort basis, less than 2-3 business days |
| Premium, WhiteLabel | A dedicated Premium Slack workspace: a private channel for you plus a Premium community channel | One business day |
**Sending a message.** Use **Help > SOAP > Send Feedback** (or the *Feedback* toolbar button).
The dialog tells you which support level applies to your installation. Add a reply email if
you want an answer by email. Please attach `MessageLog.txt` (in your SOAP2 Data directory)
when reporting a problem.
**Premium invitation.** Your invitation to the Premium Slack workspace is included with your
Premium licence. Once your licence is activated, the Send Feedback dialog also shows a link
to the workspace. Members of the Premium workspace can see each other's names and email
addresses, so please keep your Slack profile to what you are comfortable sharing.
Premium support is tied to an activated Premium (or WhiteLabel) licence. The Free Trial
unlocks Premium features for evaluation but uses community support.
---
## Frequently asked questions
**Q — The trial expiry message appeared but my date looks correct. What happened?**
The expiry date is set at the time your copy of SOAP2 was built. If you
received a new build from the author after the old expiry, make sure you are
running the *new* executable, not the old one.
**Q — I see `[Regular – test override active]` but I have not purchased a Regular licence.**
A test override file was placed in your SOAP Settings folder, probably by the
author during a support session. It does not grant a permanent licence. Remove
the file `BetaEditionOverride.cfg` from your SOAP Settings folder to return to
normal behaviour, or ask the author to clear it.
**Q — Where is my SOAP Settings folder?**
On a standard installation: `%APPDATA%\SOAP_Data\Settings\`
On a developer installation: `