The CHR version (designed for VMs like VMware or VirtualBox) offers a completely free license that never expires. It includes all professional features but is capped at a 1Mbps upload speed per interface.
For permanent use on custom hardware or VMs, MikroTik offers one-time purchase licenses. These are not subscriptions; they never expire and include free lifetime updates. RouterOS license keys - MikroTik
You can request a 60-day trial for any paid CHR license level (P1, P10, or P-Unlimited) directly from the MikroTik account portal . 2. RouterOS License Levels & Pricing