🆚 GNU License vs. MIT License

The GNU General Public Licenses are a family of free, copyleft software licenses created to guarantee users the freedom to run, study, share, and modify software while ensuring those freedoms are preserved when the software is distributed.

They require that anyone who distributes GPL-licensed software or derivative works also provide access to the corresponding source code under the same GPL terms, prohibit adding further restrictions beyond the license, and permit commercial use without extra fees.

The MIT License is a permissive software license that allows reuse, modification, distribution, and commercial use without requiring source code disclosure.

It requires only preservation of the copyright notice and license text, includes an explicit warranty disclaimer, permits sublicensing, and is compatible with both open-source and proprietary software.

Popularity

Determined by the number of sites using each technology.

• 🥈 Second most popular in Germany in the Licenses category.
• 🥈 Second most popular in the United States in the Licenses category.
• 🥈 Second most popular in France in the Licenses category.
• 🥈 Second most popular in the United Kingdom in the Licenses category.
• 🥈 Second most popular in Italy in the Licenses category.

• 🥉 Third most popular in the United States in the Licenses category.

Top sites

Top-ranked sites that use these technologies.

Compare alternatives

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• GNU technology profile
• Free Software Foundation company profile

• MIT technology profile