Licensing
Understand how systemprompt.io licensing works: the core is BSL-1.1, the template is MIT and fully yours.
On this page
The systemprompt.io core is licensed under the Business Source License 1.1 (BSL-1.1). The template you download and customize is MIT licensed—it's yours. This is an open-core model: you can view, modify, and self-host the code for evaluation purposes, but production use requires a commercial license.
TL;DR:
- The core is BSL-1.1, converts to Apache 2.0 after four years
- The template is MIT licensed—download it, edit it, it's yours
- Production use requires a commercial license — contact ed@systemprompt.io
- We do not accept external contributions
- Don't compete with or redistribute the core
The Business Source License
The BSL-1.1 is a source-available license created by MariaDB. It allows you to use the software freely with one key restriction: you cannot offer systemprompt.io as a competing service.
Key terms from the LICENSE file:
| Term | Value |
|---|---|
| License | Business Source License 1.1 |
| Additional Use Grant | Evaluation use only; production requires a commercial license |
| Change Date | Four years from each version's release |
| Change License | Apache License, Version 2.0 |
After four years, each version automatically converts to Apache 2.0—a permissive open-source license with no restrictions. This means code released today becomes fully open source in 2030.
What You Can Do
The BSL-1.1 permits evaluation and non-production use:
- Evaluate freely — Download, build, and test systemprompt.io on your infrastructure
- Self-host for evaluation — Run on your own infrastructure to assess fit
- Modify the template — The template is MIT licensed, customize it freely
- View all code — Full source transparency, no hidden components
Production Use Requires a License
Production use of systemprompt.io requires a commercial license. If you want to deploy systemprompt.io in a production environment, you must contact us to arrange licensing terms.
Contact ed@systemprompt.io to discuss your requirements.
What You Cannot Do
The license restricts competitive use:
- Compete with systemprompt.io — Don't offer a substantially similar product or service
- Redistribute the core as a service — Don't resell hosting of the core to third parties
- Remove license notices — Keep the BSL-1.1 notice in the core
If your use case falls into a gray area, contact the licensing team (see Links section).
Your Code Ownership
The template is MIT licensed—it's yours. When you download the systemprompt-template, you can modify it however you want. It becomes your code. We never see it.
- MIT licensed — The template is permissively licensed, no restrictions on your use
- Completely private — Your customizations never leave your infrastructure
- No telemetry — We don't collect or transmit your code
- Full ownership — Everything you build on the template is your intellectual property
Only the core (systemprompt-core) is protected under BSL-1.1. Everything wrapping and using the core—your services, agents, business logic, API routes, database schemas—is self-owned.
Commercial Licensing
Production use requires a commercial license. Contact ed@systemprompt.io to discuss:
- Single deployment — License for one production instance
- Volume licensing — Pricing for large or multi-instance deployments
- SLA guarantees — Uptime and support commitments
- Custom terms — Licensing tailored to your compliance needs
- Dedicated support — Direct access to the team
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use systemprompt.io for my SaaS product?
Yes, with a commercial license. You can build and sell products powered by systemprompt.io, but production use requires a license. Contact ed@systemprompt.io to arrange terms. The restriction is on offering systemprompt.io itself as a service—not on building products that use it.
What happens when the license converts to Apache 2.0?
After four years, that version becomes Apache 2.0 licensed with no restrictions. You can fork it, modify it, sell it, or do anything else Apache 2.0 permits.
Do I need to open-source my code?
No. The template is MIT licensed—your code is yours. The BSL-1.1 only applies to the core, not to your customizations or business logic.
Can I contribute to systemprompt.io?
No. systemprompt.io does not accept external contributions at this time.
What if I need different license terms?
Contact the licensing team (see Links section). We offer commercial licenses for use cases that don't fit the standard BSL-1.1 terms.
Contact
| Purpose | Contact |
|---|---|
| Licensing questions | See Links section |
| Enterprise inquiries | See Links section |
| Sales | See Links section |