SPDX License Compatibility Checker

Look up ~25 common SPDX licenses (MIT, Apache-2.0, GPL-3.0-only, LGPL, BSD, MPL-2.0, AGPL, and more) to see their category, key obligations, and a plain-English summary; check whether two licenses are generally compatible and why — e.g. can a GPL-3.0 dependency be used in an MIT project.

This is a simplified heuristic based on publicly documented SPDX/choosealicense.com/FSF license summaries — it is for informational/development-workflow purposes only and is not legal advice. Real license compatibility can depend on jurisdiction, exact usage (static vs dynamic linking, network use, distribution vs internal use), and specific license text. Always have real legal review before making licensing decisions for a real project.

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Choose an SPDX identifier above to see its category, obligations, and a plain-English summary.

License categories and obligations are hand-authored from publicly documented SPDX license texts and choosealicense.com/FSF-style summaries. The compatibility checker models a handful of well-known real-world rules (e.g. GPLv2-only vs GPLv3-only incompatibility, Apache-2.0 vs GPL-2.0-only, CDDL/EPL vs GPL) plus a simplified permissive/weak-copyleft/strong-copyleft/public-domain hierarchy for everything else — treat it as a starting point for a conversation with legal counsel, not a substitute for one.

SPDX License Compatibility Checker

Look up ~25 common SPDX licenses (MIT, Apache-2.0, GPL-3.0-only, LGPL, BSD, MPL-2.0, AGPL, and more) to see their category, key obligations, and a plain-English summary; check whether two licenses are generally compatible and why — e.g. can a GPL-3.0 dependency be used in an MIT project.

Common uses

  • Look up what MIT license requires
  • Check if a GPL-3.0 dependency is compatible with an MIT project
  • See if Apache-2.0 and GPL-2.0-only can be combined

Also searched as

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  • copyleft vs permissive licenses
  • spdx identifier lookup
  • mpl 2.0 license summary
  • compare open source licenses

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a GPL-3.0 dependency in an MIT project?

The Compatibility Check tab explains the direction and reasoning. Generally the combined work must be distributed under GPL terms.

What does the MIT license require?

Look it up in the License Lookup tab for its category, key obligations and a plain-English summary.

Which licenses does it cover?

About 25 common SPDX licenses including MIT, Apache-2.0, GPL, LGPL, BSD, MPL-2.0 and AGPL.

Is this legal advice?

No. Results are general guidance, so consult a lawyer for important licensing decisions.

Is my data uploaded to a server?

No. This tool runs entirely in your browser — your input is processed locally on your device and is never uploaded or stored on a server.