Monetizing Custom Visuals

[srinipratapa]

As a custom visual publisher to the office store, we can choose to offer visuals for free or make them available for purchase. The 'for sale' options are limited at the moment and not entirely clear. There is a one-time fee option and a subscription option. 

Are each of these applied on a per-user basis or are they for the org on behalf of which the user is making the purchase. Is there a way to enforce licensing for each method?

Is there a way to allow users to try the visual before having them purchase it? It seems like we may have to make two separate version one for free; another 'pro' version for purchase?

If there are multiple visuals that we'd like to bundle together for purchase, is that possible to do?

[tzvikei]

Hi @srinipratapa

Custom visuals currently support only free offering. if you try to select any paid option, it will be rejected in the validation process.

You can submit free visuals to the store, with limited functionality, and link from the store listing to your own web site to purchase premium visuals. currently the platform does not have support for licensing enforcement, so you'll have to create one yourself (license key or alike).

You can take a look at how ZoomCharts is implementing this method in their visuals. look for their charts in the store.

Thanks,

Tzvi Keisar
Senior Program Manager
Power BI Custom Visuals

[srinipratapa]

Thanks @tzvikei. So just to be clear, whatever licensing model we choose to pursue, there really isn't any api support from powerbi right? For instance, if we decide on a per-user model, the way we tie licenses to each named user (or via floating license) is on us (via some license server perhaps)?

[v-viig]

Yes, you're correct. Power BI Csutom Visuals API doesn't provide any API for licensing.

Ignat Vilesov,

Software Engineer

Microsoft Power BI Custom Visuals

pbicvsupport@microsoft.com

[Anonymous]

Hey @v-viig,

is this still the case? You are not supporting any licensing with your API?

regards

lschroth

[v-viig]

Currently it is not supported but monetizing custom visuals is on the way.

Ignat Vilesov,

Software Engineer

Microsoft Power BI Custom Visuals

pbicvsupport@microsoft.com

[Anonymous]

"on the way" sounds pretty good, can you say anything about when it will be released?

[tzvikei]

Sometime next year, no clear dates yet, unfortunately.

[KennethWang]

Dear PowerBI Team,

Just a quick follow up on Custom Visuals monetization. Do we have an update on this or is this still in the backlog without a scheduled ETA?

I hope there's enough interest from third-party developers. The platforms have been pretty flexible and robust with a few tricks here and there. We really enjoyed extending the possibilities with some of our proprietary visuals for our customers and would also like to offer this to the general public.

Thanks.

Regards,

Kenneth

[v-evelk]

Hello,

I am afraid that ETA is still undefined.

You should write to us to pbicvsupport@microsoft.com with this question to obtain more details.

Kind Regards,

Evgenii Elkin,
Software Engineer
Microsoft Power BI Custom Visuals
pbicvsupport@microsoft.com

[v-viig]

Hello @srinipratapa

As far as I know, App Source (Office Store) doesn't support paid custom visuals at least for now.

This feature is in backlog.

I think that you should prepare two versions of your custom visual (paid and free).

Licensing for paid version should be implemented by you due to fact that there's no support from API's side.

Please note that it'd be good to contact pbicvsupport@microsoft.com to find out more about current status of paid custom visuals.

Ignat Vilesov,

Software Engineer

Microsoft Power BI Custom Visuals

pbicvsupport@microsoft.com

[srinipratapa]

Thanks. While submitting the visual to the office store, there are definitely options to make it available for a free (one-time and subscription). I'm not sure if you are implying these options are not currently supported. Any event, I'll write to support as you suggested.