GNU AGPL 3.0
Network copyleft. Free to run. If you modify it and users reach it over a network, you must offer them your modified source.
Verify with a lawyer. This is guidance, not legal advice. Check with a lawyer before deciding.
What the licence means per use case
The verdict applies to the licence family (Network copyleft (AGPL)). An individual product can have its own terms; you get the full per-product analysis when you sign in. Confidence: high.
| Use case | Verdict | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| U1 Self-hosted, internal use, unmodified | Allowed | Free to run internally, unmodified. |
| U2 Self-hosted and modified | Conditions apply | If you modify it and users (employees too) reach it over a network, offer them your modified source. |
| U3 Novro hosts it for you (single-tenant) | Allowed | Unmodified is OK. Modified: the source must be offered to users. |
| U4 Shared multi-tenant instance | Conditions apply | As above; changes must be offered to all users. |
| U5 In your cloud, managed by Novro | Allowed | As GPL plus the network clause. |
| U6 Redistribution (builds, images, appliances) | Conditions apply | The whole work's source must be provided. |
| U7 Commercial use | Allowed | Commercial use is allowed. |
| U8 AI acceptable use (AUP, EU AI Act) | Not applicable | Not applicable to this licence type. |
Building on it: what may you do?
Short answers based on the licence, for the version in the catalog.
- B1 Change the code for internal use in your company Yes, with conditions Yes, but if staff or others reach it over a network they must be able to get your modified source.
- B2 Build your own product or service on top and offer it to customers as SaaS Yes, with conditions Yes, but you must share your changes with the users (AGPL).
- B3 Make a closed-source derivative and sell or distribute it No No. The derivative must carry the same licence and the source must be offered.
- B4 Use the project's name and trademark No No, not without permission. The licence covers the code, not the name or logo.
This is guidance, not legal advice. Check with a lawyer before deciding.
Common pitfalls
- The network clause: if you modify the code and users (including your own staff) reach it over a network, you must offer them the modified source.
- Adding plugins or integrations can count as modification; keep your changes in a fork you could publish.
- The licence covers the code, not the trademark. Don't use the project's name or logo in a way that suggests an official product.
- Open core: at least one product under this licence has parts under a different, commercial licence (often an ee/ or enterprise folder). Check that the features you need are not in that part.
The licence text
- Read the official licence text
- SPDX register: AGPL-3.0
- More about the family: Network copyleft (AGPL)
Last reviewed:
Products in the catalog under AGPL-3.0
- Bigcapital
- Kimai
- Twenty Open core
- EspoCRM
- SuiteCRM
- Frappe CRM
- Documenso
- DocuSeal
- listmonk
- Plausible CE
- Postiz
- Formbricks Open core
- Zammad
- Frappe Helpdesk
- Plane Open core
- Leantime
- Vikunja
- Docmost Open core
- Wiki.js
- AppFlowy
- Nextcloud
- Mattermost Open core
- Element / Synapse (Matrix)
- Metabase Open core
- Grafana Open core
- Windmill Open core
- ToolJet
- Zitadel
- Vaultwarden
- Relaticle
- Lago
- OpenChatCut
- Plasmic
- Webstudio
- Maxun
- Papermark Open core
- Comp AI
- Bitwarden Open core
- LibreTranslate
- Khoj
- Cherry Studio
- Text Generation WebUI
- KoboldCpp
- VoiceStudio
- ChatTTS
- Lowcoder
- Firecrawl
- Skyvern
- Automa Open core
- Automatisch Open core
- Stalwart Mail Server
- SnappyMail
- PeerTube
- MediaCMS
- OvenMediaEngine
- Element
- MiroTalk P2P
- MiroTalk SFU
- Nextcloud Talk
- Forem
- HumHub
- Loomio
- Fider
- FreeScout
- Libredesk
- OpenStatus
- ChartDB
- APITable
- OpenReplay Open core
- Aptabase
- Databuddy
- Elasticsearch Open core
- Immich
- PhotoPrism
- Ente
- Cap
- Silex
- MonkeyCode
- Requestly Open core
- Coder Open core
- RStudio
- Unleash
- Ever Traduora
- Karakeep
- Linkwarden
- BentoPDF
- Papra
- Docspell
- Filestash
- ownCloud Server (classic)
- Pydio Cells
- Sync-in
- Twake Drive
- Joplin Open core
- SiYuan
- Logseq
- Trilium Notes
- Standard Notes
- Overleaf
- CryptPad
- ONLYOFFICE Docs
- ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors
- WBO
- HedgeDoc
- Documize
- Flexprice Open core
- Meteroid
- Carbon Open core
- HomeBox
- Shelf Open core
- InvoiceShelf
- Firefly III
- Sure
- Ghostfolio
- Solidtime
- Ever Gauzy Open core
- MintHCM
- Open edX
- Canvas LMS
- Frappe Learning
- LearnHouse Open core
- ClassroomIO
- Zerobyte
- privacyIDEA
- Snipe-IT
- Grafana Loki
- OpenObserve Open core
- Zabbix
- Uptrace
- Passbolt
- AliasVault
- RustDesk
- NetBird
- wg-easy
- Pangolin Open core
- Teleport
- TruffleHog
- MISP
- CISO Assistant Open core
- SecureDrop
- GlobaLeaks
- BillionMail
- Plunk
- Keila
- Pretix
- HeyForm
- OpnForm Open core
- Dub Open core
- Laudspeaker Open core
- BrightBean Studio
- Rybbit
- OpenPanel
- Swetrix Open core
- Kan
- Worklenz Open core
- ZenTao
- Monica
- IDURAR ERP CRM
- OpenSign Open core
- Rallly
This is guidance, not legal advice. Check with a lawyer before deciding.