Why some plugins require subscription and some requires to be activated only by servicenow support person?

[Arul6]

I came across the Servicenow wiki where i found that some of the plugins are not available by default. Either it requires subscriptions or it needs to be activated through servicenow support person. Why is so ? Can you somebody explain the Servicenow Licensing model. Is it based on the Cost - Per Instance/Per Year or Cost Per Plugins activated.

Thanks,

Arul

[codechaser · Accepted solution]

Plugins may be added to the base platform in one of the following ways.

• Activated by default in the base ServiceNow system
• Activated by an admin user (not by default)
• Requested from ServiceNow before activating. This may be the case when a plugin is new, is appropriate for only certain deployments, and/or can only be activated by ServiceNow personnel.
• Plugins that are associated with a for-fee subscription to an application or suite can be activated only after your organization has purchased the subscription. See View the applications and plugins that are included with a subscription.

All plugins in the base ServiceNow system (System Definition-> Plugins) should be free, OOB.  There are additional modules that cost extra, however such as Discovery and HR Automation.  You would need to talk to your SN Sales Rep about those.  Keep in mind, also once you add a plugin, it can't be disabled or deactivated.

https://docs.servicenow.com/bundle/jakarta-platform-administration/page/administer/plugins/concept/c...

[Arul6]

So you mean that when the organization bought the instance it will be blank instance and whatever application suite it has paid the subscription will get it loaded in the instance.

[codechaser]

Yes and no.  The way it was explained to me, each instance starts-out with the same number of default plugins.  There are many others you can have activated, some for an additional fee.  I was also informed many of the plugins that cost extra OOB can be activated in sub-prod instances, free-of-charge.  Keep-in mind once these hit PROD, however - you will be charged.  When you see a cost may be involved, upon activation - always safe to talk to your sales rep, before activating.