Licenses
Documenso uses a dual licensing model with an open-source AGPL-3.0 license (Community Edition) and a commercial license (Enterprise Edition).
Dual Licensing Overview
| Aspect | Community Edition | Enterprise Edition |
|---|---|---|
| License | AGPL-3.0 | Commercial |
| Cost | Free | Paid |
| Source code disclosure | Required for network use | Not required |
| Proprietary modifications | Not permitted | Permitted |
| Support | Community | Dedicated |
| Use case | Open-source projects, internal tools with AGPL compliance | Commercial products, SaaS offerings, proprietary integrations |
Community Edition (AGPL-3.0)
The Community Edition is licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License version 3 (AGPL-3.0). This is a copyleft license that preserves software freedom.
What AGPL-3.0 Allows
- Use Documenso for any purpose, including commercial use
- Access, study, and modify the source code
- Distribute copies of the original or modified software
- Self-host Documenso on your own infrastructure
What AGPL-3.0 Requires
The AGPL-3.0 has specific requirements that apply when you modify or distribute Documenso:
Source Code Disclosure: If you modify Documenso and make it available over a network, you must provide access to the complete source code of your modified version under AGPL-3.0.
Attribution: You must keep all copyright notices intact and include a copy of the AGPL-3.0 license with any distribution.
Same License: Derivative works must be licensed under AGPL-3.0.
The "network clause" is the distinguishing feature of AGPL-3.0. Unlike GPL-3.0, AGPL-3.0 treats network access as distribution. If users interact with your modified Documenso instance over a network, you must provide them access to the source code.
When to Use Community Edition
The Community Edition is appropriate when you:
- Are building an open-source project
- Can comply with AGPL-3.0 requirements
- Use Documenso internally without modifications
- Want to contribute to the open-source ecosystem
- Do not need to keep modifications proprietary
See Community Edition for complete details.
Enterprise Edition (Commercial License)
The Enterprise Edition provides a commercial license that removes the AGPL-3.0 requirements. This allows organisations to use, modify, and integrate Documenso without source code disclosure obligations.
What the Enterprise License Provides
No Source Code Disclosure: Keep your modifications private. You are not required to share changes with users or the public.
Proprietary Integration: Integrate Documenso into proprietary products and services without licensing conflicts.
Commercial Support: Access to dedicated support channels and SLAs.
Additional Features: Enterprise-specific features not available in the Community Edition.
When to Use Enterprise Edition
The Enterprise Edition is appropriate when you:
- Build commercial products that incorporate Documenso
- Offer document signing as part of a SaaS platform
- Cannot or prefer not to open-source your modifications
- Need to comply with corporate policies that prohibit AGPL software
- Require dedicated support and SLAs
If you modify Documenso and provide network access to users (internal or external) without complying with AGPL-3.0 source disclosure requirements, you need an Enterprise license.
See Enterprise Edition for complete details and pricing.
Choosing the Right License
Use this decision tree to determine which license fits your needs:
License FAQ
Related
- Licenses - Detailed AGPL-3.0 license explanation
- Community Edition - Open-source edition details
- Enterprise Edition - Commercial license details
- Full AGPL-3.0 License Text - Complete license terms
- GitHub Repository - Source code and LICENSE file