Commercial License
BentoPDF is dual-licensed under AGPL-3.0 (for open-source projects) and a Commercial License (for proprietary/closed-source applications).
Full Details
For complete licensing information, delivery details, AGPL component notices, and invoicing, visit our Licensing Page.
Get a Commercial License
Get Lifetime License for $79. A one-time purchase that includes all future updates forever.
When Do You Need a Commercial License?
| Use Case | License Required |
|---|---|
| Open-source project with public source code | AGPL-3.0 (Free) |
| Internal company tool (not distributed) | AGPL-3.0 (Free) |
| Proprietary/closed-source application | Commercial License |
| SaaS product without source code disclosure | Commercial License |
| Redistributing without AGPL compliance | Commercial License |
Delivery & Licensing Model
- No license key is required or provided. BentoPDF intentionally does not use license keys to streamline deployment and reduce operational friction for users.
- Upon purchase, users receive a ZIP archive containing the complete BentoPDF source code and binaries.
- The source code provided is identical to the code published in our public open-source repository.
GitHub Repository: github.com/alam00000/bentopdf
Important Notice on Third-Party Components
AGPL Components — Pre-configured via CDN
BentoPDF does not bundle AGPL-licensed processing libraries in its source code. These components are loaded at runtime from CDN URLs that are pre-configured by default — all features work out of the box with zero setup.
| Component | License | Status |
|---|---|---|
| PyMuPDF | AGPL-3.0 | Pre-configured via CDN |
| Ghostscript | AGPL-3.0 | Pre-configured via CDN |
| CoherentPDF | AGPL-3.0 | Pre-configured via CDN |
WASM module URLs are configured via environment variables at build time (.env.production). The defaults point to jsDelivr CDN. For custom deployments (air-gapped, self-hosted), you can override via environment variables, Docker build args, or per-user via Advanced Settings in the UI.
See Self-Hosting > WASM Configuration for details.
This approach ensures:
- BentoPDF's core code remains under its dual-license (AGPL-3.0 / Commercial)
- WASM binaries are loaded at runtime, not included in the source
- Clear compliance boundaries for commercial users
Commercial License & AGPL Features
The commercial license covers BentoPDF's own code. If you configure and use AGPL components (PyMuPDF, Ghostscript, CoherentPDF), you must still comply with their respective AGPL-3.0 license terms, which may require source code disclosure if you distribute modified versions.
Invoicing
- Payments are handled by Polar, which automatically emails an invoice after purchase.
- Polar handles VAT invoices for businesses in applicable regions. Select "I'm purchasing as a business" at checkout and enter your billing address and Tax/VAT number.
Questions? Contact contact@bentopdf.com with your purchase details.
What's Included
| Feature | Included |
|---|---|
| Full source code | ✅ |
| All 50+ PDF tools | ✅ |
| Self-hosting rights | ✅ |
| Lifetime updates | ✅ |
| Remove branding (Simple Mode) | ✅ |
| Hyper Compress (bundled) | ✅ |
| Commercial support | ✅ (via email) |
| Priority feature requests | ✅ |
Bundled Components
Building on BentoPDF? Hyper Compress is included. The BentoPDF commercial license includes Hyper Compress as a bundled component, so you don't need a separate Hyper Compress license to use it inside BentoPDF.
You may use a bundled component only through BentoPDF's own tools, as part of the BentoPDF application you deploy, including your branded or modified version of BentoPDF. You may not:
- call it from your own code through an API, SDK, command line, or headless or server process;
- separate, repackage or sublicense it, or use it in other software;
- offer a product or service whose main purpose is what the bundled component does, such as a compression-only app or website;
- modify the bundled component itself.
Any other use requires a separate Hyper Compress license, from $99/year. Kura is not a bundled component and is always licensed separately, with commercial licenses from $99/year.
FAQ
Do I need a license key to use BentoPDF?
No. BentoPDF does not use license keys. The commercial license grants you legal rights to use the software in proprietary applications.
Can I use BentoPDF in my SaaS product?
Yes, with a commercial license. Without it, you must comply with AGPL-3.0, which requires you to make your full source code available to users.
Does the commercial license cover Hyper Compress or Kura?
Hyper Compress, yes, when you use it through BentoPDF. It is included as a bundled component. Using the engine on its own, or inside other software, needs a separate Hyper Compress license, from $99/year. Kura is not included and is licensed separately, from $99/year.
What about the AGPL components?
Components like CoherentPDF are licensed under AGPL v3 and remain under that license. The commercial license covers BentoPDF's own code but does not override third-party AGPL obligations.
How do I get an invoice?
Polar emails your invoice automatically after purchase. For a VAT invoice, select "I'm purchasing as a business" at checkout. If you need anything else, email contact@bentopdf.com with your purchase details.