Choosing the Right License for Your GitHub Repository
- Shannon
- Dec 15, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 13
Why You Should License Your GitHub Repository
When you publish code on GitHub without a license, you automatically retain full copyright. That means others can read your code, but they cannot legally copy it, modify it, or redistribute it.
In short:
Public does not automatically mean open source.
No license means no permission for reuse.
GitHub is explicit about this. For a repository to be considered open source, it must include a license that grants others the right to use, modify, and distribute the software. If your goal is collaboration, reuse, or learning, a license is not optional. It is required.
Official GitHub guidance:
Understanding Common Open Source Licenses
Choosing a license really comes down to one question:
How much freedom do you want to give others, and what obligations do you want to require in return?
Before diving into the details, here is a quick comparison for readers who want the short answer first.
Quick Comparison of Common Open Source Licenses
License | Can be used in proprietary software | Requires source code to stay open | Patent protection | Typical use cases |
MIT | Yes | No | No | Libraries, samples, tooling, demos |
Apache 2.0 | Yes | No | Yes | Enterprise friendly open source projects |
GPL v3 | No | Yes | Yes | Strong open source enforcement |
LGPL v3 | Yes, when linked | Library changes only | Yes | Shared libraries |
BSD 2 Clause | Yes | No | No | Academic and infrastructure projects |
BSD 3 Clause | Yes | No | No | Projects needing attribution protection |
Unlicense | Yes | No | No | Experiments and learning projects |
If that table already answered your question, you can stop here and go add a license. If not, the sections below explain what each option actually means.
MIT License
What it allows
Anyone can use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, and sell your code.
Code can be used in both open source and proprietary software.
What it requires
The original copyright notice and license text must be included.
What it does not do
It does not require derivative works to be open source.
It provides no warranty or liability protection beyond the disclaimer.
When to use it
Libraries, samples, tooling, and demos.
When you want maximum adoption with minimal friction.
Official license text:
GitHub Overview:
Apache License 2.0
What it allows
Everything the MIT license allows.
Explicit permission to use related patents.
What it requires
Preservation of copyright and license notices.
Disclosure of significant changes.
What it adds
Explicit patent protection.
When to use it
Enterprise-friendly open source projects.
Projects where patent rights could matter.
Official license text:
GitHub Overview:
GNU General Public License (GPL)
What it allows
Use, modification, and distribution of the code.
What it requires
Any derivative work must also be licensed under the GPL.
Source code must be made available when distributing binaries.
What it enforces
Strong copyleft, meaning openness is preserved downstream.
When to use it
When you want to ensure improvements remain open source.
Community-driven projects focused on software freedom.
Official license text:
GitHub Overview:
GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL)
What it allows
Linking the library into proprietary software.
Modifying and redistributing the library itself.
What it requires
Changes to the library itself must remain open source.
When to use it
Shared libraries that you want widely adopted.
A middle ground between MIT and GPL.
Official license text:
GitHub Overview:
BSD Licenses (2 Clause and 3 Clause)
What they allow
Similar freedoms to MIT.
Use in proprietary and open source projects.
What they require
Retention of copyright notices.
The 3 Clause version prevents endorsement using the author’s name.
When to use them
Academic, research, or infrastructure projects.
Situations where attribution clarity matters.
Official license texts:
GitHub overview:
The Unlicense
What it allows
Nearly unrestricted use.
Treats the code as public domain.
What it requires
Almost nothing.
When to use it
Experiments, demos, and learning projects.
When you truly do not care how the code is reused.
Official license text:
GitHub Overview:
A Simple Decision Guide for Choosing a License
If licensing still feels fuzzy, this quick decision flow usually gets people to the right answer.
Do you want others to use your code in proprietary software?
No → Choose GPL.
Yes → Continue.
Do you care about patent protection?
Yes → Choose Apache License 2.0.
No → Continue.
Is this a library meant to be embedded in other software?
Yes → Choose LGPL.
No → Continue.
Do you want the simplest and most permissive option?
Yes → Choose MIT.
No, I want attribution controls → Choose BSD 3 Clause.
Do you truly not care how the code is used?
Yes → Choose the Unlicense.
Where to Put Your License
Licenses are typically stored in the root of the repository and named:
`LICENSE`
`LICENSE.txt`
GitHub automatically detects recognized licenses and displays them prominently on the repository page.
It is also a good idea to reference the license in your README:
```markdown
This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.
```
How to Add a License on GitHub
Adding a license through GitHub is straightforward:
Open your repository on GitHub.
Select Add file, then Create new file.
Name the file LICENSE.
Choose a license template from GitHub’s selector.
Commit the change.
Documentation:
Final Thoughts
Licensing is not a legal ceremony. It is about clarity on how and when to use code (especially code you've developed and want to reshare, like me!).
A license tells the world how you want your code to be used, shared, and extended. GitHub makes the mechanics easy, but the intent still comes from you. Spending a few minutes choosing the right license makes your project clearer, safer, and far more usable by others.
So, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and pick a license that fits your project!
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