# Open Source License Generator

> Pick MIT, Apache 2.0, GPL, BSD, MPL, or public-domain. Fill author and year. Get the LICENSE file.

- URL: https://generate.now/license
- Category: config
- Price: free, no account required
- AI-powered: no
- Last updated: 2026-08-27

## What it does

Generate a complete LICENSE file for your open-source project. Choose from the most-used OSI-approved licenses (and a couple of public-domain options), fill in the author and copyright year, and copy or download. Each license includes a short rationale so you can pick with confidence.

## When to use it

- Bootstrap a new repo with a license in 30 seconds
- Re-license a project — generate the canonical text without copy-paste errors
- Get the right author + year format for your jurisdiction
- Decide between MIT and Apache 2.0 with quick guidance

## Examples

### MIT, Jane Doe, 2025

```
MIT License\n\nCopyright (c) 2025 Jane Doe\n\nPermission is hereby granted...
```

The most-used permissive license for small projects.

### Apache-2.0, Acme Corp, 2025

```
Apache License\nVersion 2.0, January 2004...
```

Permissive with explicit patent grant — good for companies.

### GPL-3.0, Jane Doe, 2026

```
GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE
Version 3, 29 June 2007…
```

Strong copyleft — derivative works must also be GPL-licensed.

### CC0-1.0, Acme Corp, 2026

```
CC0 1.0 Universal

Statement of Purpose…
```

As close to public domain as a license can get, for data and assets rather than code.

## Frequently asked questions

### MIT or Apache 2.0?

Both are permissive. MIT is shorter and more famous. Apache 2.0 adds an explicit patent grant and requires changes to attributed files to be marked — preferred for corporate-backed projects and anything that ships in a product with patent risk.

### What's the difference between BSD-2 and BSD-3?

BSD-3 adds a 'no endorsement' clause — you can't use the author's name to promote derivative works without permission. BSD-2 is otherwise identical. For most projects, MIT covers the same ground more concisely.

### When should I pick GPL?

GPL-3.0 is copyleft — derivative works must also be GPL. Pick it when you want to ensure forks stay open. Avoid it if you want your code embedded in commercial closed-source products.

### Is Unlicense the same as CC0?

Both put work in the public domain. CC0 has stronger international legal standing — it's drafted to handle jurisdictions where pure public-domain dedication is hard. Unlicense is shorter and equally common in the dev world.

### Where does the file go and what should it be called?

LICENSE in the repository root, with no file extension. GitHub, npm, pkg.go.dev, and most package registries look for exactly that and will surface the license in the UI when they find it. LICENSE.md works too, though a plain LICENSE is the safer default for tooling that does an exact match.

### Do I need a license header in every source file?

Apache-2.0 recommends one and includes the boilerplate to use; MIT doesn't require it. Headers help when files get copied out of the project and separated from the LICENSE file, which happens more than you'd like. Set the SPDX identifier in your package metadata either way — that's what automated tooling actually reads.

## References

- [SPDX License List](https://spdx.org/licenses/) — Linux Foundation. The canonical identifiers used in package metadata and the license field.
- [OSI Approved Licenses](https://opensource.org/licenses) — Open Source Initiative. Which licenses meet the Open Source Definition, and the approval process behind them.
- [Choose an open source license](https://choosealicense.com) — GitHub. A plain-language comparison of the permissions and conditions of each license.

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