A free tool to help you choose the right open source license. Answer a few questions to get a recommendation, compare licenses side by side, and copy ready-to-use license text.
Related tools: Git Command Generator — Changelog Generator
| License | Type | Commercial Use | Modify | Distribute | Patent Grant | Private Use | Copyleft | Attribution | Network Use |
|---|
How to Choose a License
Permissive licenses (MIT, Apache 2.0, BSD) let anyone use your code with minimal restrictions. MIT is the most popular for open-source projects. Apache 2.0 adds an explicit patent grant, making it better suited for larger projects.
Copyleft licenses (GPL v2/v3) require derivative works to be released under the same license. Use these when you want improvements to always remain open.
Weak copyleft (LGPL, MPL 2.0) applies copyleft only at the file or library boundary, letting proprietary software link against your library.
Public domain (Unlicense, CC0) waives all copyright. Maximum freedom for users, but note that CC0 is recommended for data/content, not software.
Quick Reference
| Goal | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Maximum adoption | MIT |
| Patent protection | Apache 2.0 |
| Keep derivatives open | GPL v3 |
| Library, allow proprietary linking | LGPL or MPL 2.0 |
| No restrictions at all | Unlicense |
Related tools: Git Command Generator — Changelog Generator