PPM licensing for Custom app table with ACL

[Anirudh29]

Hi Everyone, 

I have created a Custom app and a custom table inside that app. Now , If i write ACL with SPM roles for read and write access for the custom table, do i need to consume 2 licenses? 

Is App engine license still required even after writing ACL or will i be able to access with existing ppm license?

#spm #appengine #servicenow #license #custom

[Suryansh Verma]

@Anirudh29 

Adding an SPM/PPM role to an ACL does not determine licensing. ACLs control technical access, while custom-table and user entitlements are determined by the subscriptions purchased under your ServiceNow contract.

If the custom table is genuinely being used to configure or extend SPM, and your SPM subscription includes available bundled/App Engine Starter custom-table entitlement, it may be possible to map that table to the SPM subscription without purchasing a separate App Engine entitlement. The current Custom Table Guide states that bundled custom tables from a ServiceNow subscription must be used for configuration or extension of the applications included with that subscription.

If the application is actually a standalone custom application and merely uses SPM roles in its ACLs, that does not make it an SPM application and App Engine entitlement may still be required.

Also note that a Direct Task Inherited custom table has additional restrictions under the Custom Table Guide effective 17 October 2025 and cannot be treated as an App Engine Starter custom table.

I would therefore check Subscription Management → Issues to see how the custom application/table is currently mapped and confirm the intended mapping with your ServiceNow account/licensing representative. This is contract-specific, so an ACL should not be used as the basis for determining whether an App Engine licence is required.

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