FAQ · 42 answers · updated weekly

Everything we wish customers knew before buying.

The 42 questions our NYC studio answers every week. Pre-purchase, licensing, AICE math, hosting, smart sites, refunds. If yours isn't here, the live chat in the sidebar reaches a real engineer in under 2 hours.

42 answers· 8 categories· Live chat · 2-hour response· NYC team
01 · 6 questions

Pre-purchase questions.

What you need to know before you buy a Metropolitanhost template — how we differ from ThemeForest, why we publish AICE costs, and how to pick the right framework variant.

Three big differences:

  • Built in-house. Every template is coded by our 12-person NYC studio — no third-party authors. The dev who shipped it answers your tickets.
  • 7 framework variants per template. One purchase covers HTML5, React, Vue.js, Angular, WordPress, PHP, and Smart Site versions.
  • Published AICE math. Every product page shows what it costs to rebuild that template from scratch in Claude / GPT-4 / Gemini / Cursor / Lovable.

Yes. The Multi-site license covers unlimited client projects per template ($79–$149). Includes commercial use, white-label deployment, and the right to charge clients for builds using the template.

Each download includes 7 framework folders, each containing full hand-written source code (HTML, CSS, JS, PHP), asset library (WebP/AVIF imagery, custom icons, brand variables), README.md install guide, CHANGELOG.md, and Stylelint + Prettier configs.

One purchase covers all 7. Most common defaults: HTML5 for fastest deploy, WordPress for non-technical clients, React/Vue/Angular when integrating with existing JS app, PHP for legacy LAMP hosting, Smart Site when client wants drag-drop editing. Switch between variants any time after purchase.

Sample copy is included. The demo on the product page is the default install. Replace at your pace. Want us to swap your real copy in? The Content Fill add-on ($199) covers 6–10 pages.

Yes. Every product detail page includes a code-snippet view showing the production hero block.

02 · 8 questions

Templates & licensing.

Updates, customization, license tiers, and what you actually own after purchase.

Quarterly minimum cadence + immediate security patches. Every release includes performance improvements, framework version bumps, and compatibility patches. Free for the lifetime of the template — no recurring charges.

Yes — source is yours forever. CSS variable system makes global swaps (colors, fonts, spacing) trivial. BEM class system means you can extend without breaking.

Free. All 7 framework variants are included in every license. Switch any time.

Public roadmap on GitHub. Every template lists shipped versions, in-progress work, and the next 3 planned features.

No — licenses prohibit resale or redistribution as a template product. Use on your own (or client) sites is fully covered.

Upgrade any time — pay only the price difference. No new license key, no re-download required.

Yes. 10+ templates: 25% off. 25+: 35% off. Contact us for a quote.

30 days, no questions, full refund. Even if you've customized the template — if it doesn't hit 90+ PageSpeed in default config or doesn't fit your project, we refund.

03 · 5 questions

AICE methodology.

How we calculate the AI rebuild cost on every product page — and why you should trust the numbers.

AI Content Estimation. The cost to rebuild a template from scratch using AI tools (Claude, GPT-4, Gemini, Cursor, Lovable). Published on every product page.

We measure tokens consumed to rebuild every page in each AI tool, multiplied by published per-token pricing. Reproducible methodology — full breakdown on the AICE blog.

Transparency. Most marketplaces compete on price. We compete on the math — buying $79 ready-built vs $2,400 to rebuild via AI is a 30× difference.

Audited quarterly. Costs update when AI providers change pricing.

Yes — every template ships with the rebuild prompts in the README. Run them yourself.

04 · 4 questions

Smart Sites.

No-code drag-drop editor variant. Live editing, hosting included, 24-hour launch.

A no-code variant of every template. Drag-drop editor, live editing, headless CMS. Hosting + domain included on Multi-site tier.

Yes — 1-day migration service. We move your content + media, you get the no-code editor.

Yes — point your DNS at our hosting, no domain transfer required.

Hosting, SSL, CDN, daily backups, 99.9% SLA, drag-drop editor, content versioning, role-based access, white-label option.

05 · 6 questions

Hosting + launch.

Managed launch service tiers. NYC infrastructure. 24-hour setup.

Yes — 6 hosting tiers across cPanel + Business hosting. NYC infrastructure, 99.9% uptime SLA, daily backups, 30-day retention.

Order → we install your template → 24-hour setup with cPanel + DNS + SSL → handed over with login credentials. Same NYC team handles installs as builds the templates.

Yes — every template runs on any standard PHP/WordPress hosting. WPEngine, Kinsta, SiteGround, anything. Hosting is optional.

Email through GoDaddy, Google Workspace, or Microsoft 365. Domains: bring your own or buy through us.

Yes — every hosting tier includes daily off-site backups with 30-day retention. One-click restore.

15 edge points worldwide. Average TTFB under 200ms globally.

06 · 5 questions

After-purchase support.

Live chat, WhatsApp, video calls — same NYC team that built the template.

The dev who built it. Direct chat, no first-line filter, no offshore queue. NYC studio, business hours ET.

Same business day. Live chat in under 2 hours during business hours.

Live chat, WhatsApp, email, video call, screen-share. Whichever works for you.

No — first 30 days free, included with every license. Continued: $39/mo via the 6-month support add-on.

English + Spanish on the NYC team. Other languages via translation tooling.

07 · 4 questions

Refunds & guarantees.

30-day money-back, PageSpeed guarantee, full transparency.

30-day money-back. Two paths: (1) PageSpeed below 90 in default install — automatic refund. (2) Template doesn't fit your project — discretionary, usually approved within 24 hours.

Yes — refund process requires deleting all downloaded files. Honor system; we don't monitor.

Stripe / PayPal: 5–10 business days back to your card. Manual bank wires: 7–14 business days.

Yes — full bundle refund within 30 days. Partial refunds (3 of 5 templates) not supported.

08 · 4 questions

Affiliates & press.

30% commission, 60-day cookie, real-time dashboard.

Apply → get an affiliate link → promote any template, bundle, or service. 30% commission on every sale, 60-day cookie window. Real-time dashboard, Net-30 payout via PayPal or bank transfer.

Designers, developers, agencies, content creators with web-development audiences. Application required; usually approved within 48 hours.

Yes — download brand assets, screenshots, founder bios, and key stats from the press page.

Sure. Email info@metropolitanhost.com. Founder + lead designer available.

Still have questions?

The 42 answers above cover ~85% of what we get asked. The other 15% is best handled live — pick whichever channel fits.