{
  "question": "Apache 2.0 vs GPL 3.0: what is the difference?",
  "slug": "apache-2-0-vs-gpl-3-0",
  "url": "https://www.rightshold.com/answers/apache-2-0-vs-gpl-3-0",
  "short_answer": "Apache 2.0: commercial use, modification, redistribution: Yes. GPL 3.0: the same uses: Yes.",
  "framing": "Apache 2.0: Use, reproduce, modify, sublicense and distribute for any purpose, with an express patent license; keep notices, include the license and mark changed files. GPL 3.0: Run, study, change and share the software, including commercially. If you convey it or a work based on it, you must do so under the GPL with the corresponding source.",
  "checks": [
    {
      "label": "Apache 2.0: commercial use, modification, redistribution",
      "license": "Apache-2.0",
      "license_name": "Apache License 2.0",
      "intended_use": {
        "commercial_use": true,
        "modification": true,
        "redistribution": true
      },
      "verdict": "permitted",
      "answer": "Yes",
      "findings": [
        "Every use you described is granted by Apache 2.0, and nothing you described is prohibited."
      ],
      "duties": [
        "attribution",
        "license_notice",
        "state_changes"
      ],
      "curation": "curated",
      "official_text": "https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0"
    },
    {
      "label": "GPL 3.0: the same uses",
      "license": "GPL-3.0-only",
      "license_name": "GNU General Public License v3.0",
      "intended_use": {
        "commercial_use": true,
        "modification": true,
        "redistribution": true
      },
      "verdict": "permitted",
      "answer": "Yes",
      "findings": [
        "Every use you described is granted by GPL 3.0, and nothing you described is prohibited."
      ],
      "duties": [
        "attribution",
        "license_notice",
        "state_changes",
        "share_alike",
        "source_disclosure"
      ],
      "curation": "curated",
      "official_text": "https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html"
    }
  ],
  "compatibility": {
    "licenses": [
      "Apache-2.0",
      "GPL-3.0-only"
    ],
    "verdict": "compatible"
  },
  "compare": [
    {
      "license": "Apache-2.0",
      "duties": [
        "attribution",
        "license_notice",
        "state_changes"
      ],
      "notes": [
        "Includes an express patent license that ends for anyone who sues over patents in the work (section 3).",
        "Does not grant rights to the licensor's trademarks (section 6)."
      ]
    },
    {
      "license": "GPL-3.0-only",
      "duties": [
        "attribution",
        "license_notice",
        "state_changes",
        "share_alike",
        "source_disclosure"
      ],
      "notes": [
        "Sublicensing is not allowed; every recipient receives a license from the original licensors (sections 2 and 10).",
        "Running the software, including as a network service, does not by itself trigger the duty to share source; conveying copies does."
      ]
    }
  ],
  "context": [
    "The duties differ: compare the duties and notes listed for each license below."
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "Apache License 2.0: official text",
      "url": "https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0"
    },
    {
      "title": "Apache-2.0 on the SPDX License List",
      "url": "https://spdx.org/licenses/Apache-2.0.html"
    },
    {
      "title": "GNU General Public License v3.0: official text",
      "url": "https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html"
    },
    {
      "title": "GPL-3.0-only on the SPDX License List",
      "url": "https://spdx.org/licenses/GPL-3.0-only.html"
    }
  ],
  "check_it_yourself": {
    "mcp": {
      "tool": "check_license",
      "arguments": {
        "license": "Apache-2.0",
        "intended_use": {
          "commercial_use": true,
          "modification": true,
          "redistribution": true
        }
      }
    },
    "rest": "POST https://www.rightshold.com/v1/licenses/check"
  },
  "computed_from": "Rightshold license profiles at render time; not legal advice",
  "updated": "2026-10-19"
}