Relicensed

Elasticsearch license history

Database·Last verified 2026-11-06·Confidence: High

Changed from Apache-2.0 to SSPL-1.0 / Elastic-2.0 starting with 7.11.0 on 2021-01-14.

Changed from SSPL-1.0 / Elastic-2.0 to SSPL-1.0 / Elastic-2.0 / AGPL-3.0-only starting with 8.16.0 on 2024-08-29.

Versions before 7.11.0 remain under Apache-2.0.

Self-hosting
Allowed
Offering as a managed service (SaaS)
Allowed under AGPL terms (source disclosure required)
Commercial impact: Restricted

This is our summary of the license text and may contain errors or omissions. Check the original sources before you decide. Disclaimer and corrections → · Spot an error? Report it

What changed

Elasticsearch moved from Apache-2.0 to a dual SSPL-1.0/Elastic License 2.0 starting with 7.11.0, announced on 2021-01-14. Starting with 8.16.0, AGPL-3.0-only was added as a third option, announced on 2024-08-29. Apache-2.0 code in releases before 7.11.0 remains under Apache-2.0.

License timeline

2024-08-29

From 8.16.0

SSPL-1.0Source-available or Elastic-2.0Source-available→SSPL-1.0Source-available or Elastic-2.0Source-available or AGPL-3.0-onlyCopyleft
Restricted
Self-hosting: Allowed
Offering as a managed service (SaaS): Allowed under AGPL terms (source disclosure required)

Elastic added AGPL-3.0-only as a third option. 8.15.0 is still dual SSPL-1.0/Elastic-2.0; 8.16.0 is the first release whose license file lists AGPL-3.0-only.

Sources

Verified 2026-11-06·Confidence: High
2021-01-14

From 7.11.0

Apache-2.0Permissive→SSPL-1.0Source-available or Elastic-2.0Source-available
Restricted
Self-hosting: Allowed
Offering as a managed service (SaaS): Restricted

Elastic moved Elasticsearch and Kibana from Apache-2.0 to a dual SSPL-1.0/Elastic License 2.0 license. AWS forked 7.10.2 as OpenSearch.

Sources

Verified 2026-11-06·Confidence: High

Originally released under Apache-2.0

For reference only. Not legal advice. How a license applies depends on your use; the license text and your counsel decide. Methodology and disclaimer →

Forks and alternatives

OpenSearch

Fork

Apache-2.0

Apache Solr

Alternative

Apache-2.0

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More Database projects

Dragonfly

BUSL-1.1 → Dragonfly-Enterprise-Source-Available-License · 2.1.0

Restricted

Redis

RSALv2 / SSPL-1.0 → RSALv2 / SSPL-1.0 / AGPL-3.0-only · 8.0.0

Restricted

ScyllaDB

AGPL-3.0-only → ScyllaDB-Source-Available-License · 2025.1

Restricted

CockroachDB

BUSL-1.1 → CockroachDB-Software-License · 24.3.0

Restricted

ArangoDB

Apache-2.0 → BUSL-1.1 · 3.12.0

Restricted

Couchbase

Apache-2.0 → BUSL-1.1 · 7.0.0

Restricted

Also switched to SSPL-1.0

Redis

RSALv2 / SSPL-1.0 → RSALv2 / SSPL-1.0 / AGPL-3.0-only · 8.0.0

Restricted

Graylog

GPL-3.0-only → SSPL-1.0 · 4.0.0

Restricted

Kibana

Apache-2.0 → SSPL-1.0 / Elastic-2.0 · 7.11.0

Restricted

MongoDB

AGPL-3.0-only → SSPL-1.0 · 4.0.4

Restricted

Related guides

Source-Available vs Open Source: The Difference

What separates source-available licenses such as SSPL-1.0, BUSL-1.1, RSALv2 and Elastic-2.0 from OSI-approved open source licenses.

Commercial Use Under BUSL, SSPL, RSALv2 and ELv2

What BUSL-1.1, SSPL-1.0, RSALv2 and Elastic License 2.0 restrict for self-hosting, managed services and embedding in products.

How to Stay on the Last Version Before a License Change

What the version boundary means, how to pin a release before a license change, and what to check about security patches.