{
  "question": "MIT vs Apache 2.0: what is the difference?",
  "slug": "mit-vs-apache-2-0",
  "url": "https://www.rightshold.com/answers/mit-vs-apache-2-0",
  "short_answer": "MIT: commercial use, modification, redistribution: Yes. Apache 2.0: same uses: Yes.",
  "framing": "Both are permissive open-source licenses that allow commercial use, modification and redistribution.",
  "checks": [
    {
      "label": "MIT: commercial use, modification, redistribution",
      "license": "MIT",
      "license_name": "MIT License",
      "intended_use": {
        "commercial_use": true,
        "modification": true,
        "redistribution": true
      },
      "verdict": "permitted",
      "answer": "Yes",
      "findings": [
        "Every use you described is granted by MIT, and nothing you described is prohibited."
      ],
      "duties": [
        "attribution",
        "license_notice"
      ],
      "curation": "curated",
      "official_text": "https://opensource.org/license/mit"
    },
    {
      "label": "Apache 2.0: same uses",
      "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"
    }
  ],
  "compatibility": {
    "licenses": [
      "MIT",
      "Apache-2.0"
    ],
    "verdict": "compatible"
  },
  "compare": [
    {
      "license": "MIT",
      "duties": [
        "attribution",
        "license_notice"
      ],
      "notes": [
        "Provided as is, without warranty."
      ]
    },
    {
      "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)."
      ]
    }
  ],
  "context": [
    "The duties differ: compare the duties and notes listed for each license below."
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "MIT (SPDX)",
      "url": "https://spdx.org/licenses/MIT.html"
    },
    {
      "title": "Apache License 2.0",
      "url": "https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0"
    }
  ],
  "check_it_yourself": {
    "mcp": {
      "tool": "check_license",
      "arguments": {
        "license": "MIT",
        "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"
}