The pricing model
Baryon has three clear use boundaries: public engine access for study, Baryon Pro for desktop performance use, and a commercial license for anything that ships, hosts, embeds, or deploys to a client. Keeping those boundaries explicit keeps the source license honest and the commercial path predictable.
Personal and non-commercial engine use
The engine is source-available for personal, educational, research, and other non-commercial use under PolyForm Strict. This path is for studying the runtime, modifying it privately, and contributing improvements back.
Desktop product path
The desktop app is free to download and explore in Listener Mode. Every install includes a 10-day Baryon Pro trial that unlocks Performer Mode, Display, Syphon or Spout program output, OSC/MIDI control, and commercial live-performance rights — started from inside the app, no account required. When the trial ends, rent-to-own or a Founder License keeps those tools and rights active.
Rent-to-own is twelve $25 monthly payments and ends in permanent ownership after $300 of non-refunded payments. Every installment is credited, and the exact remaining balance can be paid off early. Payments can be paused and resumed without losing ownership credit or registered devices. While paused, Pro runtime access continues through the paid-through date plus Baryon’s signed operational buffer; ownership progress remains saved after access ends. Once the balance is paid, Baryon automatically requests cancellation of future plan payments; permanent ownership settles after the qualifying payment’s 14-day refund window. The latest build covered by the plan remains usable forever, and later annual update renewal is optional.
The Founder License is the early-supporter lane, separate from the trial and subscription paths: a perpetual Baryon Pro desktop license plus founder perks, for people who want to back Baryon early and own their license outright. A perpetual license keeps Performer Mode on every build included in its update window without recurring internet check-ins. Annual update renewal remains $100 and adds another year of eligible feature releases; critical hotfixes remain eligible with the feature release they repair.
The newest Baryon build always remains available to download and run in Listener Mode. If a perpetual license does not include that build, Performer Mode stays locked and Baryon offers both update renewal and the newest eligible archived installer.
Commercial license path
A separate commercial license is required when Baryon becomes part of something you ship, sell, host, embed, or install for a client — distributed products, hosted services, OEM embedding, fixed installations, and similar deployments.
How to choose
- Public source path — you are studying the runtime or experimenting privately.
- Trial path — use Baryon Pro in your own rig, including paid shows, during the active 10-day trial.
- Founder License path — you want to support Baryon early and own a perpetual Baryon Pro desktop license for your performance work.
- Commercial license path — Baryon becomes part of a distributed, hosted, or deployed product.