Question About the Future of KrakenD Open Source and Licensing Model

[Fikih Firmansyah]

Hi KrakenD team and community,

We are currently evaluating KrakenD as a long-term solution for our API gateway needs. So far, we truly appreciate the open source approach provided by the KrakenD Community Edition.

However, we would like to better understand the long-term direction of the project. Will the open source version of KrakenD continue to be maintained and freely available in the future, or is there a possibility that key features may gradually shift toward a paid model?

This information is important for us as we consider strategic decisions related to sustainability and independence of the solutions we adopt.

Thank you in advance for your clarification.

[Albert Lombarte]

Hi,

KrakenD has historically maintained a clear dual-licensing and product tier approach: a free, fully open-source Community Edition designed to provide robust API gateway functionality, alongside Enterprise versions that offer advanced features and professional support. In addition, KrakenD donated its core engine to the Linux Foundation, sending a clear message about our view on open source. A company that aims to shift toward a paid model gradually does not donate its code to a non-profit.

Some additional notes:

• The Community Edition is committed to being maintained as an open-source project, ensuring continued availability and basic feature support. 
• Enhancement and innovation efforts focus on both versions, but some advanced features and enterprise-grade capabilities are offered exclusively in paid editions (see comparison).
• The open source edition is a viable option for long-term adoption, maintaining independence and freedom.
• For organizations requiring more sophisticated features, scalability, security, or enterprise-grade SLAs, the paid editions provide a complementary path.

In summary, KrakenD aims to sustain the Community Edition as a stable and free solution in the long run, supplementing with paid tiers rather than shifting core features out of the open-source base.

Let me know if you have additional questions.

Albert,

CEO of KrakenD

El dia dijous, 26 de juny del 2025 a les 11:21:30 UTC+2, fikihfir...@gmail.com va escriure:

[Fikih Firmansyah]

Hi Albert,

Thank you for your clear and detailed explanation. We truly appreciate KrakenD's commitment to open source and the transparency regarding your licensing model. This information is very helpful for us in making long-term decisions.