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VERDICT

Should I use CodeCanyon?

Discover 38,596 Plugins, Code and Script for Bootstrap, Javascript, PHP, Wordpress, HTML5 and more. - codecanyon.net

Depends. Good fit for developers who can vet, install, and maintain bought code and want a cheap one-time purchase instead of custom development. Bad fit for non-technical buyers or production-critical apps: you own the security patching, support depends on individual authors, and complaints about review moderation are common.

Confidence

Medium. Based on 14 public sources: Reddit threads, Trustpilot, G2, CVE databases, Envato official docs, and author community posts. Review snippets were truncated in sources.

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Feature depth
  • Support quality
  • Security posture

Pricing

varies by item

Per-item purchase

ModelPer-item purchase
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed
Free tierNo
Extended licensehigher per-item fee

Best for

  • Developers needing code shortcuts
  • WordPress owners adding features cheaply
  • Freelancers prototyping client projects
  • Small PHP/Bootstrap builds

Not for

  • Non-developers expecting a finished, working product
  • Teams needing audited, vendor-supported software
  • Production apps with compliance or security requirements
  • Buyers unwilling to maintain and patch code themselves

Gotchas - check before you buy

high

Buyer reviews reported removed quietly, so ratings may not reflect quality.

high

Bought scripts carry real vulnerabilities (Perfex CRM XSS, others) — patch yourself.

medium

Author support is paid, time-limited, and expires — renewals cost extra.

medium

Standard vs extended license matters: SaaS or paid apps need the pricier license.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Massive catalog (38,594 items) saves weeks versus building from scratch.
  • One-time per-item pricing, no subscription lock-in.
  • Standard and extended licenses are clearly documented upfront.

Cons

  • Support quality varies wildly by author; Trustpilot feedback is largely negative.
  • Sellers report quiet removal of low-rated reviews, inflating ratings.
  • Scripts sold on the marketplace have documented CVEs; vetting is on you.
  • Raw PHP scripts require developer skills to install and maintain.
  • Authors report a ~70% sales drop, signaling declining marketplace activity.

Sources & method

Analyzed 9/25/2026 - 9 sources - No known vulnerabilities found in CodeCanyon itself; several CVEs affect scripts sold on the marketplace.

official x2review x4security x2news x1
  • CVE-2025-2974 — Perfex CRM (sold on CodeCanyon), Cross-site scripting flaw in Perfex CRM, a script purchased via CodeCanyon.
  • CVE-2026-7782 — Perfex CRM (sold on CodeCanyon), Vulnerability disclosed in CodeCanyon-distributed Perfex CRM up to a 2026 version.
  • CVE-2026-19966 — TimeCamp Integration (sold on CodeCanyon), Vulnerability identified in a CodeCanyon-sold TimeCamp integration addon.

Key stats

  • Value for money: 4/5

    Rating

  • varies by item

    Starting price

  • 9

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 4/5. One-time prices far cheaper than custom development.
  • Ease of use: 2/5. Buying is easy; setup needs developer skills.
  • Feature depth: 5/5. 38,594 items across PHP, WordPress, JS, mobile.
  • Support quality: 2/5. Author support costs extra, expires; complaints common.
  • Security posture: 2/5. CVEs in sold scripts; vetting is the buyer's job.
  • 38,594 items Catalog size plugins, scripts & templates
  • Per-item purchase Pricing model one-time license + fixed buyer fees
  • ~70% drop Author sales trend decline reported by sellers
  • Multiple Sold-script CVEs Perfex CRM & addons, 2025–2026

Pricing

Per-item purchase

varies by item

  • One-time license fee plus fixed buyer fee
  • Optional paid author support extension

Extended license

higher per-item fee

  • Required for SaaS or paid end products
  • Same code, broader usage rights

Security

No known vulnerabilities found in CodeCanyon itself; several CVEs affect scripts sold on the marketplace.

  • CVE-2025-2974 — Perfex CRM (sold on CodeCanyon)Cross-site scripting flaw in Perfex CRM, a script purchased via CodeCanyon.⁵
  • CVE-2026-7782 — Perfex CRM (sold on CodeCanyon)Vulnerability disclosed in CodeCanyon-distributed Perfex CRM up to a 2026 version.⁶
  • CVE-2026-19966 — TimeCamp Integration (sold on CodeCanyon)Vulnerability identified in a CodeCanyon-sold TimeCamp integration addon.

What users say

Feedback is mixed: buyers like the cheap catalog, but recurring complaints cover support, review moderation, and uneven script quality.

“What's the catch with codecanyon?”
Reddit, r/SaaS
“Has the quality of WordPress plugin marketplaces declined?”
Reddit, r/Wordpress
“Is CodeCanyon still worth it in 2026? My experience as a developer”
Reddit, r/AppDevelopers

Alternatives

Compare CodeCanyon with each alternative.

  • Envato Elements

    Subscription download service from the same parent company.

  • SellMyCode

    Alternative marketplace for buying and selling code.

    CodeCanyon vs SellMyCode

  • WordPress.org plugin directory

    Guess: free community-reviewed plugins cover many common needs.

  • Open-source libraries on GitHub

    Guess: free, auditable code when licensing cost is the blocker.

Full analysis

Based on 14 public sources: Reddit threads, Trustpilot, G2, CVE databases, Envato official docs, and author community posts. Review snippets were truncated in sources.

Huge cheap code marketplace. Fine for devs buying shortcuts; risky if you can't vet code — you own security and upkeep.

Methodology

Based on 14 public sources: Reddit threads, Trustpilot, G2, CVE databases, Envato official docs, and author community posts. Review snippets were truncated in sources.

Sources

  1. What's the catch with codecanyon? — Reddit r/SaaSreddit.com
    review
  2. Envato Market: CodeCanyon Reviews — Trustpilottrustpilot.com
    review
  3. CodeCanyon quietly removed our low-rated review — Redditreddit.com
    review
  4. CodeCanyon's Decline: 70% Sales Drop — LinkedInlinkedin.com
    news
  5. CVE-2025-2974: Perfex CRM XSS — SentinelOnesentinelone.com
    security
  6. CVE-2026-7782 — CVE Recordcve.org
    security
  7. Fixed Buyer Fees on Envato Market — Envato Helphelp.author.envato.com
    official
  8. Licenses overview — CodeCanyoncodecanyon.net
    official
  9. CodeCanyon scripts installation & maintenance — VPS1vps1.dev
    review

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