Open Source License Generator
Use this free Open Source License Generator to quickly get accurate results in seconds, free and instantly offline with no signup required ever, trusted by professionals in Austin, Chicago, Miami, Denver, Seattle, and New York for reliable daily use without accounts, subscriptions, limits, or delays on any device for everyday personal and business workflows daily.
Generate MIT, Apache-2.0 and GPL-3.0 license files instantly. Free open source license generator with your name and year.
Calculator Inputs
About OSS License
Use this free Open Source License Generator to quickly get accurate results in seconds, free and instantly offline with no signup required ever, trusted by professionals in Austin, Chicago, Miami, Denver, Seattle, and New York for reliable daily use without accounts, subscriptions, limits, or delays on any device for everyday personal and business workflows daily.
Three Licenses, One Purpose: MIT (permissive, ~200 words) lets anyone do anything with attribution. Apache-2.0 (permissive + patent grant, ~300 words) adds explicit patent protection — critical for corporate adoption. GPL-3.0 (copyleft, ~350 words) requires derivatives stay open. All three are OSI-approved and GitHub-recognized.
Year Format Matters: Enter a single year (2026) or a range (2024–2026). The tool validates 4-digit format and injects it into the copyright line. For active projects, update the end year annually — stale dates weaken enforcement claims.
Apache & GPL Need Full Text: Unlike MIT, these licenses legally require the full canonical text in your LICENSE file. The generator outputs the required header + a prominent note with the official URL (apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0 or gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0). Copy both the output and the linked full text.
Holder Identity: Use the legal entity that owns the copyright — your name, your LLC, or your employer. For company work, confirm ownership via employment agreement. Misattribution complicates enforcement and can invalidate the license grant.
No Legal Advice, Zero Network: This tool formats OSI-approved text with your inputs. It does not evaluate your project, advise on license compatibility, or replace counsel. Generation runs entirely client-side — no server sees your holder name or year.
Where it is used
An open-source maintainer in Austin publishing a new npm package; a startup founder in Chicago adding Apache-2.0 for patent protection; a researcher in Miami releasing GPL-3.0 code; a freelancer in Denver delivering MIT-licensed components; a team lead in Seattle fixing GitHub "no license" alerts; a contributor in New York adding a license to a PR.
How to use the OSS License
- License — enter the value.
- Copyright Holder — enter the value (e.g. Jane Doe).
- Year — enter the value (e.g. 2026).
- Calculate — press the Calculate button to see the result instantly above.
Formula
Canonical license texts with holder + year interpolated.
Examples
MIT License
Apache-2.0 License
GPL-3.0 License
Frequently Asked Questions
- MIT vs Apache-2.0 vs GPL-3.0 — which should I choose?
- MIT: maximum adoption, minimal friction. Apache-2.0: same plus patent protection (preferred by companies). GPL-3.0: requires derivatives to stay open (ideological or strategic choice).
- Do I really need the full Apache/GPL text in my repo?
- Yes. Both licenses legally require it. The generator output includes the mandatory header and a note with the exact URL to fetch the complete canonical text. Include both.
- Can I use a year range like 2024–2026?
- Yes — the tool accepts YYYY or YYYY–YYYY. For active projects, extend the end year each year you make substantial changes.
- What if my employer owns the copyright?
- Use the employer's legal name as the holder. If unsure, check your employment agreement — many default to employer ownership for work done on company time/equipment.
- Can I change the license after publishing?
- Only with consent of ALL copyright holders (every contributor). Without a CLA/CLA, relicensing is practically impossible. Add contributor agreements early if relicensing is plausible.
- Does this work for proprietary/dual-licensing?
- No — this tool only generates the three standard OSI licenses. Dual-licensing (e.g., GPL + commercial) requires custom legal drafting beyond template scope.