Thrive Themes, renowned for its premium WordPress themes and powerful visual editor plugin, have also produced many other innovative plugins in the past years. Thrive Quiz Builder is the most recent one, Thrive Ovation, all-around testimonial plugin was another one from 2016. Each plugin can be purchased separately, but they're all offered for free as part of the Thrive Themes membership.
Thrive Themes Membership (Thrive Suite) Benefits
For just $228 per year, what you receive is;
- All the existing premium WordPress themes and plugins
- Any new themes/plugins that may be released during the year
- Free updates (to new versions, security updates and any fixes)
- No licence restriction (all can be used on as many of your own websites)
- Unlimited access to support
- Often you get to use their brand new plugin before the official release.
- Price lockdown - the membership fee will not increase for existing members.
Especially the last one is great. There'll probably be a fee increase sometime in the future, but as long as you continue your membership, you'll be paying $228 every year - at least indefinitely.
Hidden Extra To Pay?
Unfortunately "yes" to European residents. It's the killer VAT.
Thrive operates its business within Europe and, if you live in an EU (European Union) country, you have to pay VAT (Value Added Tax) on top of the $228.
This is by the EU VAT law on digital service supply came into force a couple of years ago, and it applies to a private consumer like you & me, and the VAT rate applies to the place of download. I live in the UK, so UK VAT of 20% is automatically charged upon purchase. If you live in Germany, that will be 19%. If you live in Ireland 23% will be added.
So this is not Thrive's fault - we just have to live by the rule.
If you live outside the EU - no problem, there's no hidden extra. VAT always applies to the place of supply (where you download your Thrive themes/plugins), European VAT will not be charged to those who live outside Europe.
By the way if you are a VAT-registered company in operation within the EU and would like to buy a Thrive product or become an annual member, you should not be charged with VAT ("Zero rated". Strictly speaking they're charging VAT but 0%.) You may have to contact Thrive so that they can manually issue an invoice with 0% VAT and charge you without it. You need to submit your own VAT number to Thrive in exchange.
A Little Savings After Brexit
I receive a few digital services from other EU companies and, while they all advertise their fees in US dollars, when it comes to the payment screen, they're all 20% higher which I have to bite.
As a UK citizen, we hear many speculations about the UK-EU trading deals that may worsen after we leave the EU in 2 years time. But as a consumer it will be a good news when the UK 'joins the rest of the world' as far as VAT is concerned!
Well, 2 years is a long time and we never know what's going to happen with taxation affairs. But one thing for sure is Thrive will not charge more than $228 per year for my annual membership.
Thrive Themes Membership - Join Now
Thrive Themes membership will give you much more benefits that you can expect - you have an anytime-access to all their existing products PLUS you'll be the first one to try out their new products for free.
Click to access from below - scroll right down the page to become an annual member.
Hey, I’m from the UK also. Kind of makes sense but doesn’t sound fair. Why can’t it be vat inclusive? Love the Quiz builder, also love Thrive Content Builder.
Hi Martin, thanks for your comment. I haven’t spoken to Thrive about it and can’t speak for them (!) but I guess it wouldn’t be too difficult to make VAT inclusive technically…obviously their taking (net revenue) will be reduced by that! I’m glad to hear you like Thrive Quiz Builder as well as Thrive Content Builder. Their products make things easy and fun for bloggers, fast and are always focused on conversions, I look forward to enjoying the next plugin. As I mentioned in the post, I’d recommend anyone to get Thrive Themes membership rather than to buy one product. Thanks Martin, I appreciate your input.
Hi Ray,
I’m from Birmingham and I felt cheated when I found out about the vat. It was never advised during the payment process and the vat was added at the last minute when I entered my credit card detail. But like you say it’s a tax and not extra money that Thrive is taking (or is it?) maybe they’re not aware of it.
I love all the Thrive products and feel it’s unfair we pay more than the users in the rest of the world. I can’t wait til the Brexit.
John Joe
Hi John Joe, thanks for your thoughts. Yes 20% is quite hefty, it’s a shock if you’re not prepared. Mind you there are many countries with higher VAT rates. Hungary is like 27%. By the way Thrive are aware of it, they collect the VAT that you pay, and pass it to the UK authority via a special VAT Return (we call it “MOSS Return” over here in the UK – mini one stop shop) I haven’t spoken to Thrive about it, but that’s how it works. Yes we hope we’ll be paying just the net total in 2 years time! Thanks for stopping by.