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)
Browser automation framework
TypeScript ORM for SQL databases
Rust-based platform for the Web
Kubernetes CLI for managing clusters in style
Lightweight Kubernetes
Distributed event streaming platform
High performance Node.js image processing
Scalable datastore for metrics and real-time analytics
Distributed storage for S3 and file systems
Tool for managing OCI containers and pods
The official Python library for the OpenAI API
High-performance vector database and search engine
The Kubernetes package manager
API docs from OpenAPI specs
Trusted cloud native container registry
Cloud-native high-performance proxy
SSO multi-factor portal for web apps
Data infrastructure for AI
Realtime database with push queries
Multi-type data labeling and annotation
This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For licensing decisions in commercial products, consult a qualified attorney.