
The most widely trusted PHP source code protection and licensing tool
ionCube is a PHP Encoder that protects PHP source code from theft, reverse engineering, and unauthorized use through multi-layered bytecode encoding and obfuscation. Trusted by developers since 2002, it adds licensing controls (time, domain, IP, and MAC restrictions) plus an optional online licensing portal, making it ideal for distributing commercial PHP applications and plugins securely.
Compiles PHP source into encrypted bytecode that runs via the ionCube Loader, preventing source code from being read or altered.
Combines encryption with optional obfuscation to safeguard intellectual property at multiple levels.
Power-user feature allowing a theoretically unlimited number of custom algorithmic encryption keys for the highest level of protection.
Generate license files that restrict where and for how long scripts run, with IP, domain, time, and (Cerberus) MAC address restrictions.
Optional cloud portal to create, edit, and distribute product licenses, set up projects, manage users, and offer trial/paid variants.
Encode as many projects for as many deployment machines as you need with no per-project limits.
Encodes PHP 5, 7 and 8 syntax (up to PHP 8.4), with Loader runtime support letting encoded files run on newer PHP releases including 8.5.
Developers of WHMCS, WordPress, PrestaShop and similar plugins encode their code to prevent copying and unauthorized resale.
Software vendors apply domain, IP, time or MAC restrictions to enforce per-customer licensing and offer trial versions.
Agencies and product companies deploy encoded PHP on customer infrastructure so business logic and source stay protected.
Teams integrate encoding into automated build and release workflows using the CI editions with on-demand license activation.
CI editions add license activation/deactivation and reallocation for integrating encoding into continuous integration pipelines.
Command-line support across all platforms plus a graphical interface on Windows and macOS, with an optional Special Edition GUI.
Encoder available for Windows, macOS, Linux and FreeBSD; encoded files run on 10+ platforms via the free Loader.
Smaller projects use the ionCube Online Encoder to quickly protect scripts without buying a full desktop license.

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