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Every new nopCommerce store has a small “Powered by nopCommerce” link at the bottom of each page. Most answers online are forum threads from older versions. This one covers what the current licence requires, what the removal key is, and exactly how to hide the link in 4.90 and 5.00, from the source code.
Can you remove “Powered by nopCommerce”?
Yes, with a copyright removal key. Without one, no: the free licence requires the link. Technically it takes a minute, because nopCommerce has a built-in setting that hides it. What you’re paying for is permission.
What the licence says
nopCommerce is released under the nopCommerce Public License 4.0: the GNU AGPL v3 plus one extra term. The “powered by nopCommerce” text must:
- appear on every page, for every visitor;
- stay in the same position;
- link to nopcommerce.com.
The same applies to modified versions of nopCommerce, so a custom theme or a heavily customised store doesn’t change it. Hiding the text with CSS, making it unreadable or moving it out of sight counts the same as deleting it.
Companies that build nopCommerce into a product of their own and don’t want the AGPL terms can buy a commercial licence instead. Our nopCommerce overview explains the licence in more detail.
The copyright removal key
nopCommerce sells the key on its site, and the admin area links to it from the configuration steps on the dashboard. A key covers one store domain, so a multi-store installation with several domains needs one per domain where the link is hidden.
Prices have changed over the years and nopCommerce runs occasional discounts, so check the official key page (opens in a new tab) for the current price and terms rather than a forum post.
How to hide the link
- Buy a copyright removal key for the store’s domain from nopCommerce.
- In the admin area, go to Configuration → Settings → All settings (advanced).
- Search for storeinformationsettings.hidepoweredbynopcommerce.
- Set the value to true and save. For a multi-store installation, choose the store the key covers.
- Click Clear cache in the admin header, then reload the storefront.
The setting isn’t on the normal settings pages, which is why many people can’t find it. It hides the link in two places: the storefront footer and the footer of the admin area. It stays set through upgrades, as all settings do.
Don’t delete the link from the view file instead. The default footer already checks the setting, and an edited core view is overwritten at the next upgrade.
Custom themes
A theme that has its own footer view decides for itself whether to show the link. Well-built themes copy the check from the default footer, so the setting works with them too. If the link is still there after you’ve set the value and cleared the cache, the theme probably prints it without checking. Look for footer-powered-by in the theme’s Views/Shared/Components/Footer/Default.cshtml and wrap it in the same check, or ask the theme vendor.
The reverse also happens: a theme that drops the link without the setting puts the store in breach of the licence. If you’re building a theme, keep the default check in place. Our themes guide covers how theme views override the defaults. Buying a ready-made theme, such as our TechOrbit theme for electronics stores? Check its footer view the same way before launch.
If you keep the link
Most visitors never notice it. You can style the footer around it, as long as the text stays visible, in the same place, and links to nopcommerce.com. For search engines it’s a small matter: the link is marked nofollow on every page except the home page.
Frequently asked questions
Can I remove “Powered by nopCommerce” for free?
Not under the free licence. It requires the “powered by nopCommerce” text, linked to nopcommerce.com, on every page. Removing it is allowed once you buy a copyright removal key, or under a commercial licence.
How do I hide the “Powered by nopCommerce” link?
After buying the key, set the HidePoweredByNopCommerce setting to true in Configuration → Settings → All settings (advanced), then clear the cache. It hides the link in the storefront footer and in the admin area.
Do I enter the key somewhere in nopCommerce?
No. nopCommerce doesn’t check for a key; the setting is a simple switch. The key is the licence permission to use it, so keep the purchase record.
Is the copyright removal key per store?
It covers one store domain. A multi-store installation with several domains needs a key for each domain where the link is hidden. Check the current terms and price on nopCommerce’s site before buying.
Can I hide it with CSS or make it smaller?
Not without a key. The licence says the text must be visible to all users and stay in the same position, so hiding, shrinking or moving it breaks the licence just like deleting it.
Does the key carry over when I upgrade?
The setting stays in the database across upgrades, so the link stays hidden. The key is tied to the domain, not to a version.
Next steps
Buy the key from nopCommerce, flip the setting, and clear the cache. If your theme still shows the link, or you want the footer redesigned around your brand, we can help.