To make sure I give you the right guide, could you clarify which of these you are looking for?
Libero SoC Silver License: The standard free-of-charge license for designing with smaller or popular FPGA families (like PolarFire, IGLOO2, and SmartFusion2).
Evaluation/Trial License: A temporary, all-access license used to test high-end features or larger devices for 30 days.
Student/Academic Edition: Specialized access for educational purposes.
To obtain a "paper" or digital certificate for a free Microchip Libero Silver License , you must request it through the microchipDIRECT
. While it is technically a digital license, Microchip provides an option to request a paper copy of the Software License Agreement (HPA) through your account if needed for compliance or record-keeping. Microchip Direct How to Obtain the Free License microchip libero license free
The "Silver" license is the standard free tier. It is valid for and must be renewed annually. Microchip Technology Register/Sign In : Go to the microchipDIRECT FPGA Software page and log in with your business or personal account. Request License In the products list, select Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) Under "FPGA Licenses," click Generate Free and Paid Licenses Request Free License Register Your Machine Select either a Node-locked (single PC) or (server-based) license. Enter your (for node-locked) or (for floating). : You can find your DiskID by typing in a Windows Command Prompt on the C: drive. : The license file ( License.dat ) is typically emailed to you within 15 to 45 minutes Microchip Technology Requesting a Paper Copy
If you specifically need a physical or "paper" version of the license agreement for your records: Log in to your account at Microchip MySoftware Click the link for "Apply Paper copy HPA" in your account dashboard. Microchip Direct Comparison of Free License Tiers Evaluation License Silver License (Free) 1 year (Renewable) Key Features Full design suite for evaluation Limited IP & device support Programming/Debug not supported Supports programming & debug End of Life (August 2024) Active standard free tier setting up the environment variables to activate the license file once you receive it?
Libero SoC License Installation Guide - Microchip Technology
Here is the detailed story behind the Microchip (formerly Microsemi) Libero SoC free license — what it is, how it works, its limitations, and the strategic reasoning behind it.
| Vendor | Free Tool | Device Limits | Duration | |--------|-----------|---------------|----------| | Microchip | Libero Silver | IGLOO2/SF2 up to 25K LEs, PolarFire up to 50K? | Perpetual | | Xilinx | Vivado WebPack | Up to 128K LEs (Artix-7, Zynq-7000 limited) | Perpetual | | Intel | Quartus Prime Lite | Up to 250K LEs (Cyclone IV, V, 10) | Perpetual | | Lattice | Radiant Free | Up to 100K LEs (CrossLink, Certus) | Perpetual | To make sure I give you the right
Microchip is more restrictive than Xilinx or Intel for free tools – they don’t support their mid-range parts (PolarFire >50K) for free.
Microchip provides two main free license paths:
| License Type | Duration | Device Support | How to Get | |--------------|----------|----------------|-------------| | Free Silver License | Perpetual | IGLOO2, SmartFusion2, PolarFire (selected low-density) | Automatic on install or via Microchip website | | 30-day Evaluation License | 30 days | All devices (including RTG4, PolarFire SoC) | Request via Microchip Licensing Portal |
The perpetual free license is what most hobbyists and small companies use.
Libero SoC (formerly Microsemi Libero, originally Actel Libero) is Microchip’s proprietary FPGA design suite, combining synthesis, simulation, place & route, timing analysis, and programming. Unlike Xilinx (Vivado) or Intel (Quartus), Microchip has historically been more restrictive with free tiers — partly because their FPGAs include unique hard cores (ARM Cortex-M3 in SmartFusion2, RISC-V in PolarFire SoC). PolarFire (MPF): Limited to the MPF100T device and
A "Microchip Libero license free" does not mean "unlimited." The Silver license imposes device-specific limits. You cannot use the free license for Microchip’s largest or most advanced FPGAs.
Silver License Restrictions:
The Golden Rule: If you buy a Microchip development board like the PolarFire Splash Kit (MPF100) or the IGLOO2 Nano Kit, the Silver license works perfectly. If you buy a high-density board, you will need a Gold license.
Microchip does not "nerf" the toolchain for free users. Here is the feature set included in the no-cost license:
For embedded hardware engineers, students, and startup founders, the journey into Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) often hits a wall before the first line of code is written: the software license cost. High-end EDA (Electronic Design Automation) tools can cost thousands of dollars per year, putting professional FPGA development out of reach for hobbyists and bootstrapped companies.
Enter Microchip Technology’s Libero SoC Design Suite—a powerful, feature-rich environment for designing with Microchip’s FPGA families (IGLOO, Fusion, ProASIC3, SmartFusion, and PolarFire). Unlike many competitors that gate critical features behind paywalls, Microchip offers a robust free license model that allows you to develop, simulate, and even synthesize designs without paying a cent.
But what exactly do you get with a "Microchip Libero license free" option? Where are the limitations? And how do you legally obtain one? This article provides an exhaustive breakdown.