1 min read
The GNU General Public License (GPL) is an open-source software license that gives users the freedom to use, modify, share, and redistribute software. It’s the license used by WordPress and by most of the plugins and themes built for it.
In simple terms, GPL exists so that software can remain free and accessible, while still allowing developers and communities to build businesses and services around it.
Under the GPL license, you are legally allowed to:
You don’t “own” the software — but you have full rights to use it under GPL terms.
WordPress was built on open-source principles.
Because WordPress itself is licensed under GPL, any software that is derived from or connected to WordPress must also be distributed under GPL. That’s why most plugins and themes are automatically GPL-licensed as well.
This ensures the ecosystem stays:
GPL covers the software itself, but it does not guarantee:
Those services are normally what developers charge for.
If you’d like to read the official GPL license, you can find it here:
GPL gives you the freedom to use and share software — and ensures the WordPress ecosystem remains open, flexible, and community-powered.
Powered by BetterDocs
Skip to content
