# Sponsorship > Explains why some wallboxes need a sponsor token, how to get one via GitHub Sponsors or direct payment, and how to test everything first with the trial token. We at evcc believe in open source software. Our goal is to enable local, cloud-free, privacy-friendly and manufacturer-independent charging of electric vehicles. The list of supported devices is growing steadily. We value an enjoyable user experience while also offering a high degree of flexibility for advanced users. To ensure the ongoing development, we need your support, either financially or through active contribution. ## Community Funding 🤘💚 The code of evcc is open source and available on GitHub. However, for many commercial EV chargers, we require a sponsor token. Open-hardware chargers, products with a good community karma and manufacturers who actively support evcc development are supported without a token. The same applies to simple switch-sockets and plugins. We want the project to be funded by the community. This ensures that the project develops according to the needs of its users and is not influenced by large companies or investors. ## Sponsor Tokens There are two ways to get a sponsor token. Direct payment comes with a proper EU invoice, downloadable afterwards. Before you become a sponsor, use the [test token](#trial) to verify that all your devices work. ## 🩷 GitHub Sponsors The full amount lands with the project, without payment or processing fees. * **[Monthly $4](https://github.com/sponsors/evcc-io?frequency=recurring)**: A small monthly contribution. Gives us planning security, and you can change or stop it any time. * **[One-time $150](https://github.com/sponsors/evcc-io?frequency=one-time)**: A lifetime sponsor token with unlimited validity. Your token can be viewed at [sponsor.evcc.io](https://sponsor.evcc.io). ## 💚 Direct via Creem.io No account needed, pay by credit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, with more payment options on the way. * **[Yearly €50](https://sponsor.evcc.io)**: Auto-renewing subscription, cancel anytime. * **[One-time €150](https://sponsor.evcc.io)**: A lifetime sponsor token with unlimited validity. * **[Volume discounts](https://sponsor.evcc.io/business)**: Token bundles for electricians and installers. Your token is delivered by email. As a small thank you, you’ll receive **digital supporter confetti 🎉** inside evcc and can order a cool set of **evcc stickers ☀️** which we’ll ship to you. ## Contributor Tokens You want to contribute to the development? We’d love that! Look at the [list of open issues](https://github.com/evcc-io/evcc/issues) or [contact us](mailto:info@evcc.io) with concrete ideas on how you’d like to contribute. Significant contributions to the [documentation](https://github.com/evcc-io/docs) or [translations](https://github.com/evcc-io/evcc/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md#adding-or-modifying-translations) also qualify for a contributor token. [Here](https://github.com/evcc-io/evcc/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md) you’ll find more information on how to get started. As a contributor, we’ll issue you an unlimited contributor token. [Send us a short email](mailto:info@evcc.io) with your GitHub username. ## Trial Token You want to test evcc and check if all your devices are supported? For that, you can use our test token. It has a limited validity, but will be regularly renewed. **trial token, valid until 2026-10-17** ```text eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpc3MiOiJldmNjLmlvIiwic3ViIjoidHJpYWwiLCJleHAiOjE3OTIyNTY0MDAsImlhdCI6MTc5MTM5MjQwMCwic3BlIjp0cnVlLCJzcmMiOiJtYSJ9.o8o7rC9pXaQ6dGd4wW_omo0eYDJn2D1SUe-Mj_K92jw ``` If everything works, you can later exchange it for a real sponsor token. ## Frequently Asked Questions #### I am now a GitHub Sponsor, how do I get my token? At [sponsor.evcc.io](https://sponsor.evcc.io) you can view your token(s). It may take a while (sometimes hours) until we receive the sponsor information from GitHub. So please be patient and check back later. In the meantime, you can also work with the test token. If your token does not appear after a while, [contact us](mailto:info@evcc.io). Also make sure that you have selected one of the predefined levels when sponsoring. If you’ve entered a lower custom amount (e.g. $4 one-time), no token will be created. #### I have a business and want to use evcc commercially. Can I do that? Yes, that’s no problem. Sponsor token bundles are available directly at [sponsor.evcc.io/business](https://sponsor.evcc.io/business), with volume discounts for electricians and installers. The tokens are intended for hardware installations you set up for your customers. Reselling tokens on their own is not allowed. If you want to deliver installations under your own brand, have a look at the [white label options](/en/reference/white-label). For custom requirements, [write us an email](mailto:info@evcc.io) and we’ll get back to you. #### Where do I enter my token? Enter the sponsor token via the web interface under **Configuration** → **Sponsorship**. After entering the token, a restart of evcc is required. **Note:** If a token is already present in `evcc.yaml`, the UI input is locked. Remove the entry from `evcc.yaml` to manage the token via the web interface. #### Can I use my token on multiple installations? Yes, you can use your token on up to three instances in the same home, e.g. for testing or special setups. See our [terms of service](https://evcc.io/terms) for details. #### I lost my token. How do I get a new one? As a GitHub sponsor, you can view your token(s) at [sponsor.evcc.io](https://sponsor.evcc.io). If you sponsored directly via Creem, you received your token by email with the subject “Your evcc sponsor token”. If you can’t find that email any more, [contact us](mailto:info@evcc.io) and we’ll issue your token again. #### Can I sell my token or buy a “used” one? The tokens are personalized and contain your GitHub username or email address. Please do not sell them to third parties. Please do not buy used tokens from third parties via online platforms. If you want to support the project, please do so directly. #### I need a longer test time. If your test token expires and you’re not sure if evcc works as expected for you, you can enter a new test token. We update the test token regularly. #### My token is not working. What’s wrong? There could be several reasons: * **Monthly or yearly sponsoring expired:** Check your sponsor status at GitHub or in the Creem portal, and at [sponsor.evcc.io](https://sponsor.evcc.io). * **Formatting error:** Check if you have correctly entered the token in `evcc.yaml`. * **Duplicate configuration:** If you entered the token both in the web interface and in `evcc.yaml`, only the token from `evcc.yaml` is used. Remove the entry from the file if you want to manage the token via the web interface. * **Token expired:** The token itself has an expiration date. If this has passed, you can issue a new one at [sponsor.evcc.io](https://sponsor.evcc.io) and replace the current one. You will receive a warning in the web interface in good time when this is necessary. If the above does not help, [contact us](mailto:info@evcc.io) and we’ll check it out. #### My sponsor badge on GitHub is no longer displayed. We cannot influence the display of the sponsor badge on your GitHub profile. GitHub currently only displays the badge for the first month of sponsoring, even for larger one-time sponsorings. However, this has no influence on your sponsor status for evcc.