In this article, we explain the difference between paid and free updates. Battery is used in the examples below, but this info applies to all NI product updates.
Paid Product Updates
We only require an update fee when new major versions of NI products are released.
For example, registered users of Battery 3 (or earlier versions) must pay the Update price to download and use Battery 4. This is because the Update version is an entirely separate product consisting of new software and a new library.
To purchase a product update, log into the NI Website with your Native ID and check the product's main page. Update pricing is found by clicking BUY NOW on the right side of the product banner. In this example, we see the Battery 4 product page.
Free Software Updates
Software
NI software updates are free when they are released as incremental or maintenance updates (e.g. Battery 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, etc.). These free updates are available to registered users when new features or improvements to the software are released.
Native Access detects if an earlier version of the software is installed (e.g Battery 4.0.0), and then automatically shows the latest update to download in the Available Updates section.
Please see this article for more details on installing NI software updates.
Hardware
New NI Hardware drivers and firmware updates are also available for free on the Drivers and Other Files section of our Support website.
Please see this article for more details on installing NI hardware drivers.