Apache License 2.0
Like MIT, but with an explicit patent grant and contribution terms.
Commercial use
✓ Yes
Modify
✓ Yes
Distribute
✓ Yes
Must open source changes
✗ No
Must attribute
✓ Yes
Patent grant
✓ Yes
What this license means
Apache 2.0 is a permissive license similar to MIT but with two important additions: an explicit patent grant (contributors give you a license to any patents their code implements) and a contribution clause (anyone who submits a change implicitly agrees to these terms). Popular with corporate-backed projects.
When you encounter this license
Use Apache-licensed tools the same way as MIT — freely in any project. The patent grant gives you extra legal protection. If you're choosing between MIT and Apache for your own project, Apache is the safer choice for anything that might touch patents.
Watch out for
You must include the NOTICE file if one exists (many Apache projects have one). If you modify the code, you must state that you changed it. The patent grant terminates if you file a patent lawsuit against the project.
Tools using Apache License 2.0 (146)
Free universal database tool and SQL client
Real-time analytics database management system
Next-generation ORM for Node.js and TypeScript
Data-driven game engine built in Rust
Platform to author, schedule, and monitor workflows
Framework for building data apps fast
Cloud-native vector database for scalable ANN search
Cloud-native API gateway
Unified analytics engine for large-scale data processing
Build and share ML demo apps in Python
AI compute engine for ML workloads at scale
Cloud-native distributed SQL database
Platform to build admin panels and internal tools
Lightning-fast code editor in Rust
Cross-platform API client for REST, GraphQL, gRPC
Connect, secure, control, and observe services
Define and run multi-container applications with Docker
an open source, extensible AI agent that goes beyond code suggestions - install, execute, edit, and test with any LLM
Vulnerability, misconfiguration, and secrets scanner
Web-based file browser and manager
This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For licensing decisions in commercial products, consult a qualified attorney.