Dual Licensing
Sustainable open source for everyone.
Free License
For non-commercial, personal, and open-source use.
- ✅ Personal blogs & hobby projects
- ✅ Student & educational use
- ✅ Non-profit organizations (501c3)
- ✅ Open source contributions
- ❌ No revenue generation
- ❌ No client work
Commercial License
For businesses, agencies, and revenue-generating sites.
- ✅ Corporate websites
- ✅ Client projects (freelance/agency)
- ✅ SaaS & Products
- ✅ Sites with Ads/Affiliate links
- ✅ Priority Support
- ✅ Legal protection
Frequently Asked Questions
Is VelvetCMS Open Source?
VelvetCMS is source-available. The code is public, and you can modify it, but commercial use requires a license. This ensures we can sustain development full-time without relying on donations.
I'm building a site for a friend for free. Do I need a license?
Yes. If the site is for a business entity or commercial purpose, a license is required regardless of whether you were paid for the development.
Can I try it before buying?
Absolutely! You have a 90-day evaluation period to build and test your application locally before needing a commercial license.