Data methodology
How software licensing records are researched and maintained
Purpose and scope
IsItFree? is an independent directory that summarizes software licensing and availability. It helps visitors identify whether a product is open source, has a free or community edition, is limited to personal use, or requires a paid license. It is not a certification service and does not provide legal advice.
Sources and evidence
We prioritize information published by the software vendor or project maintainers, including license files, official terms of service, pricing pages, product documentation, and official project repositories. Each record can include an official product URL and a separate evidence URL. When a direct licensing source is not available, the listing should be treated as less certain and checked against the publisher's current terms.
Third-party articles, directories, and search results may help discover software, but they are not a substitute for the publisher's own license or terms.
How classifications work
- Open Source: the project is presented as open source; visitors should review the specific license text and version.
- Free for Home: free use is limited by the publisher's personal, private, or non-commercial conditions.
- Community Version: a free community edition or self-hosted version exists, while other editions or services may be paid.
- License Required: the relevant product or edition generally requires a paid license or subscription.
- License for Commercial: commercial or organizational use may have separate paid licensing conditions, even where a limited free option exists.
These labels are directory categories, not legal conclusions. A product may offer multiple editions, trials, usage limits, or different terms for individuals, education, and organizations.
AI-assisted summaries
Some explanatory page content and discovery workflows use AI assistance. The page-generation process is instructed to treat existing notes as hints rather than unquestionable facts, avoid inventing pricing or permissions, and direct readers to official documentation when evidence is insufficient. AI summaries can still be wrong, incomplete, or outdated. They are not the source of legal permission; the vendor's current license and terms are authoritative.
Updates and verification dates
Last updated records when the directory entry was last changed. Last verified records the verification date stored for that entry. These dates are separate: changing a description does not necessarily mean the publisher's terms were rechecked, and an automated update does not mean every listing was freshly verified.
Automated workflows may refresh records and generate detail pages. The date shown on an individual listing is the latest date recorded for that entry; it is not a guarantee that the publisher has made no subsequent changes.
Corrections and feedback
If you find an incorrect category, outdated license, broken evidence link, or missing restriction, please report it through the project's GitHub issue tracker. Include the product name and an official source link where possible. Do not submit passwords, private keys, or confidential information.
License comparison tool
The License Comparator provides a high-level educational comparison of common open-source license families and proprietary terms. It is a general reference, not a determination of the license governing any particular software listing. Check the exact license file and publisher terms for each project.
Important limitations
Software licenses and pricing can change without notice. Always read the current license, terms, and plan restrictions from the publisher before installing software for business use, redistributing it, modifying it, or relying on it for compliance. IsItFree? is an independent informational directory and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the listed vendors.