Yes, Java is free for most people, including businesses, if you use the right version. Oracle says Oracle JDK 25 and later is available under its No-Fee Terms and Conditions licence, which permits free use for all users, even commercial and production use, and Oracle OpenJDK builds are open source under the GPL version 2 with the Classpath Exception.
The reason this question is so confusing is that Java's licensing has changed several times, and a lot of the advice online is from a different era. Some older Java versions are free only for personal and development use. Here's what Oracle's own Java FAQ says, as of October 2026, in plain English.
The three ways to get Java from Oracle
| Version | Licence | Free for business? |
|---|---|---|
| Oracle OpenJDK | GNU GPL v2 with the Classpath Exception | Yes, open source |
| Oracle JDK 25 and later | Oracle No-Fee Terms and Conditions (NFTC) | Yes, including commercial and production use |
| Oracle JDK 21, 17, 11 and 8 | OTN License Agreement for Java SE, or via My Oracle Support for customers | Free only for personal use, development, testing and similar limited uses |
What the no-fee licence allows
Oracle's FAQ describes the NFTC as a licence that, subject to its conditions, permits free use for all users, even commercial and production use. It's been in use since September 2021. For a small business running the latest long-term support version, that's the key point: you can install current Oracle JDK on your servers and laptops without a subscription.
The no-fee licence does have conditions. Oracle's licence page, for example, says you mustn't cause or permit reverse engineering, disassembly or decompilation of the programs, except where the law allows it. Normal use, development and deployment aren't affected by that.
The time limit most people miss
Here's the detail that catches companies out. The free NFTC period for each long-term support version doesn't last forever. Oracle says Oracle JDK 25 updates are planned to be available under the NFTC until September 2028, one year after the release of JDK 29 LTS in September 2027.
After that, Oracle intends to switch subsequent JDK 25 updates to the OTN licence, the same licence it uses for Java 8, 11, 17 and 21 updates now. So if you stay on JDK 25 after September 2028 and keep installing Oracle's updates, those updates won't be free for production use any more. You'd either move to the next LTS release, switch to OpenJDK builds or pay for support.
What the OTN licence allows
The OTN licence is the one behind most "Java isn't free" warnings. Oracle's FAQ says it permits personal use, development, testing, prototyping, demonstrating and some other limited uses at no cost. Running business applications in production on those versions sits outside those uses, which is why Oracle offers them to paying customers through My Oracle Support.
A quick licence check for small businesses
| Question | If the answer is yes |
|---|---|
| Are you on Oracle JDK 25 or later? | Free under the NFTC, including production, until its free update period ends |
| Are you using an OpenJDK build? | Free under the GPL with the Classpath Exception |
| Are you running Oracle JDK 8, 11, 17 or 21 in production? | Check your update source; the OTN licence only covers limited uses at no cost |
| Do you only use Java on your own machine to learn or test? | Free under the OTN licence's personal, development and testing uses |
Most home users never need to think about this at all. If you only installed Java to run one desktop program, you're using it personally, which is free under every licence on this page. The licence questions really matter for businesses running Java applications on servers or across staff computers.
How to use Java for free without licence worries
- Check which Java version you're running and where it came from. The licence depends on both.
- For new projects, use the latest Oracle JDK release under the NFTC, or an Oracle OpenJDK build under the GPL.
- If you're on Oracle JDK 21, 17, 11 or 8 in production, check whether you're receiving updates under the OTN licence, and plan a move to a current release or OpenJDK.
- Put the end of the free update period for your version in your diary, so a licence change never surprises you.
- Keep a simple record of which machines run which Java build.
If you're learning to code, my guide to free coding courses is a good starting point, and IntelliJ IDEA, the editor many Java developers use, has its own free story, covered in whether IntelliJ is free. For a wider comparison of tools, see the best code editors.
My verdict
Java is free if you're on a current Oracle JDK release or an OpenJDK build, including for business and production use. It isn't free for production on older Oracle JDK versions receiving updates under the OTN licence. Most of the scary stories come from companies running old versions without checking. Stay current, or choose OpenJDK, and you won't pay a thing.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Java free for commercial use?
Yes, on current releases. Oracle says Oracle JDK 25 and later is available under the No-Fee Terms and Conditions licence, which permits free use for all users, even commercial and production use.
Is OpenJDK free?
Yes. Oracle's FAQ says Oracle OpenJDK releases are under the open source GNU General Public License v2 with the Classpath Exception.
Is Java 8 free?
For personal use, development and testing, yes. Oracle lists Oracle JDK 8 under the OTN License Agreement, which permits those limited uses at no cost. Running business applications in production isn't among those uses.
How long will Oracle JDK 25 stay free?
Oracle says JDK 25 updates are planned under the no-fee licence until September 2028. After that, Oracle intends to use the OTN licence for later JDK 25 updates.
Do I need Java on my home computer?
Only if a program you use asks for it. If you install Java just to run a desktop program for yourself, that's personal use, which is free under every Oracle licence covered on this page.
What happens to Oracle JDK 25 after September 2028?
Oracle says it intends to use the OTN licence for JDK 25 updates after the free period ends. Production users would then move to a newer release, switch to OpenJDK or pay for support.
Why do people say Java isn't free?
Because older Oracle JDK versions receiving updates under the OTN licence aren't free for production use. Current Oracle JDK releases and OpenJDK builds are free.
