License contradictions

[xabinapal]

I’m trying to understand the ZeroTier license model. Specially after all the buzzing about HashiCorp’s transition to BSL, the same license used here.

I have no legal knowledge, but I think the info provided in the Pricing website (https://www.zerotier.com/pricing/) contradicts with what is specified in this repository. This is confusing and can keep users from using ZeroTier.

In the website it’s said that “hosting a network controller for commercial purposes” requires a license. Also, “commercial use” is defined explicitly as “any use of the ZeroTier platform and/or associated software as part of (or in support of) a revenue-generating organization”.

Based on that, if an organization is hosting a controller in any way, even for internal activities not related to a commercial product (such as an IT team to access remote servers), a license is required.

But the LICENSE.txt in this repository says the opposite: “Note that this does not apply to the use of ZeroTier behind the scenes to operate a service not related to ZeroTier network administration”.

Also, in #1023, the founder states that this kind of usage is allowed by the license.

Who should we trust?

[BiatuAutMiahn]

I'm baffled by this too. Also I scheduled a meeting, then got ghosted. Sat in that call for 2 hours. (to rule out a potential time zone) Emailed them twice and still no response. Just needed to know if we can use this to remote manage our workstations with or without a license and the pricing model.

[joseph-henry]

Sorry about the confusion guys, we're going to look into getting a better answer for you.

And, @BiatuAutMiahn I tried searching for any contact you might have had with the email you have listed but didn't see any history. Do you know who you were in contact with?

[BiatuAutMiahn]

Sorry about the confusion guys, we're going to look into getting a better answer for you.

And, @BiatuAutMiahn I tried searching for any contact you might have had with the email you have listed but didn't see any history. Do you know who you were in contact with?

Lizzy F. sent an email on 1/8 with a scheduling link with a Steve N. I also received an email from Steve asking about requirements, which I responded while waiting in the meeting after an hour on 1/11. After that I have nothing until 2/6 where Lizzy reached back out to schedule with herself.

[joseph-henry]

Ok thanks, @BiatuAutMiahn we tried looking you up again internally with the email on your public profile but we can't find a scheduling entry. If you can send an email to me at joseph@zerotier.com I'll make sure it gets to the right person. So sorry about the mixup here.

[xabinapal]

@joseph-henry are there any news regarding this? I've noticed the pricing page has changed, removing the FAQ entirely.

Also, unrelated, but on https://www.zerotier.com/community/ it announces a "ZeroTier Open Source Edition", while the LICENSE.txt file explicly declares that the license is not open source.

[BiatuAutMiahn]

afaik as long as you self host it's free. Never really got a straight answer.

[xabinapal]

Just an update for anyone who lands here, since this thread never got an official resolution and the licensing situation has changed with the latest 1.16.0 release.

The agent and core of ZeroTier are now under the Mozilla Public License, which is open source and allows commercial use. The controller, however, has moved to a custom, source-available license that is not open source.

That license defines "Commercial Use" as "any use of the Software by or for the benefit of a for-profit company." In practical terms, a company that self-hosts a controller for internal purposes now falls under "Commercial Use" and requires a commercial license.

Theoretically, you can still operate your own roots and generate a world definition with the open components. The result is a somewhat ironic situation: it remains possible to run your own root nodes, but you cannot make practical use of that world without a controller. In short, self-hosting is no longer free for companies, even for purely internal use.

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My two cents: there is no public pricing for the commercial license now required to self-host a controller. This lack of transparency makes it hard for users to assess whether they can realistically stay with ZeroTier, and after an entire year without releases, having the main change be a licensing shift risks discouraging adoption rather than building traction.

[Nucleoprotein]

Its even more weird situation with Mikrotik devices as there is ZeroTier package there with controller included, it seems its still 1.14. Its very unclear how its licensed and if we can use it. We wanted to use it internally to manage devices over our sites but it seems safer will be to stay on Wireguard.

[jpsutton]

This is the final source tree commit before the license terms were changed:

https://github.com/zerotier/ZeroTierOne/tree/c668990b4d76d242e4948fcd341f82a68f746e64

If my understanding of the license terms at that point are correct, all the code in the repo will fall under the Apache license on Jan 1, 2026.