Open WebUI License
LicenseRef-Open-WebUICustom licenceNot an OSI-approved open-source licence
Custom licence (BSD-3 plus a branding clause): the 'Open WebUI' branding may not be removed, with some exceptions. Read the licence.
Verify with a lawyer. This is guidance, not legal advice. Check with a lawyer before deciding.
What the licence means per use case
The verdict applies to the licence family (Custom licence). An individual product can have its own terms; you get the full per-product analysis when you sign in. Confidence: low.
| Use case | Verdict | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| U1 Self-hosted, internal use, unmodified | Conditions apply | Custom licence – read it before use. |
| U2 Self-hosted and modified | Conditions apply | Custom licence – check the terms for modifications. |
| U3 Novro hosts it for you (single-tenant) | Conditions apply | Custom licence – check the terms for hosting. |
| U4 Shared multi-tenant instance | Conditions apply | Custom licence – check the multi-tenant terms. |
| U5 In your cloud, managed by Novro | Conditions apply | Custom licence – check the terms. |
| U6 Redistribution (builds, images, appliances) | Conditions apply | Custom licence – check the redistribution terms. |
| U7 Commercial use | Conditions apply | Custom licence – check the commercial terms. |
| U8 AI acceptable use (AUP, EU AI Act) | Not applicable | Not applicable to this licence type. |
Building on it: what may you do?
Short answers based on the licence, for the version in the catalog.
- B1 Change the code for internal use in your company Yes, with conditions Probably, but read the licence.
- B2 Build your own product or service on top and offer it to customers as SaaS Yes, with conditions Check the terms for hosting and branding.
- B3 Make a closed-source derivative and sell or distribute it Unclear – verify Unclear: custom licence. Verify with a lawyer.
- B4 Use the project's name and trademark No No, not without permission. The licence covers the code, not the name or logo.
This is guidance, not legal advice. Check with a lawyer before deciding.
Common pitfalls
- The “Open WebUI” branding may not be removed or changed, except in the cases the licence lists.
- Older versions were plain BSD-3; check which version you run.
The licence text
Last reviewed:
Products in the catalog under LicenseRef-Open-WebUI
- Open WebUI Own terms for U3
This is guidance, not legal advice. Check with a lawyer before deciding.