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.
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