The short answer: OpenJDK is the open source Java project. Oracle JDK is Oracle’s build of it, sold under Oracle’s licences. The code is largely the same. The differences are the license, who supports it and what you pay. OpenJDK builds carry no Oracle fee, while Oracle JDK needs a subscription for production use in many cases.
What are the differences between Oracle JDK and OpenJDK?
| Point | OpenJDK | Oracle JDK |
|---|---|---|
| Who builds it | The OpenJDK community: Oracle, IBM, Red Hat, Microsoft and many others | Oracle, from the OpenJDK code |
| Release | Gets releases first | Follows OpenJDK |
| Support | Third parties | Oracle |
| License | GPL v2 with Classpath exception | NFTC, OTN for Java and other Oracle commercial agreements |
OpenJDK is the source. Oracle JDK is Oracle’s version of it. Several vendors publish their own OpenJDK builds with their own support terms.
Which Oracle JDK versions are free?
Oracle JDK is under different terms by version:
- JDK 25: free under the Oracle No-Fee Terms and Conditions (NFTC) until September 2028. The NFTC has existed since September 2021, when it came with JDK 17.
- JDK 21: updates 21.0.12 and earlier are under the NFTC. From 21.0.13, after September 2026, the Oracle Technology Network (OTN) license applies.
- JDK 17: updates from 17.0.13, after September 2024, are under the OTN license.
- JDK 11: all releases are under the OTN license. JDK 8: update 8u211 (April 2019) and later are under the OTN license.
The OTN license allows personal use, development, testing, prototyping and demonstrating. Production use needs a subscription. Oracle’s price is per employee, as set out in our Java license cost article.
Does OpenJDK need a license from Oracle?
No. OpenJDK is released under the GPL v2 with the Classpath exception. You can use it in production without an Oracle subscription. You still need a plan for security updates and support, which come from the vendor of your build.
How to choose
- List where Java runs and which version each system uses.
- Check what your application vendors certify. Some certify only Oracle JDK.
- Decide who will supply updates and support.
- Compare the total cost with Oracle’s per-employee price.
Our Java license review does the first two steps for you, and our timeline of the Java license changes gives the background. To find out whether you need a Java license from Oracle, or to reduce your subscription cost, contact us.
Questions we are asked about OpenJDK and Oracle JDK
Is OpenJDK the same as Oracle JDK?
They are close in code. They differ in license, support and who ships the updates.
Is Oracle JDK free for commercial use?
Only some versions. JDK 25 is free under the NFTC until September 2028. JDK 17 updates after September 2024 and JDK 21 updates after September 2026 need a subscription for production use.
Is Microsoft’s OpenJDK different from Oracle JDK?
Microsoft is a member of the OpenJDK community and is one of the vendors that supports OpenJDK builds. Its build is not under Oracle’s license terms.
Sheshagiri Anegondi
Managing Partner of Rythium Technologies. Seventeen years at Oracle, from 1998 to 2015, in leadership roles including Vice President Sales, after Compaq and Digital Equipment Corporation.
Author of “Licensing Oracle: The Reference Manual for Managing Oracle License Compliance & Procuring Oracle Software, Hardware, Cloud & Services” (Notion Press, 2021) (ISBN 10: 1639046887).
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