> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.kyvvu.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.kyvvu.com/reference/licensing.md).

# Licensing

**What you'll learn:** The license structure across Kyvvu's packages.

***

## Package licenses

| Package         | License                               | License file           |
| --------------- | ------------------------------------- | ---------------------- |
| `kyvvu-sdk`     | Apache License 2.0                    | `kyvvu-sdk/LICENSE`    |
| `kyvvu-engine`  | Business Source License 1.1 (BSL 1.1) | `kyvvu-engine/LICENSE` |
| `kyvvu-api`     | Proprietary                           | `kyvvu-api/LICENSE.md` |
| Kyvvu Dashboard | Proprietary                           | --                     |

## SDK (Apache 2.0)

The SDK is permissively licensed. You can use, modify, and distribute it freely.

## Engine (BSL 1.1)

The engine is source-available under the Business Source License 1.1:

* **Free use** is permitted for development, testing, research, evaluation, and personal non-commercial purposes.
* **Production use** requires a Kyvvu commercial subscription or a separate license agreement with Kyvvu B.V.
* Each release **converts to Apache License 2.0** four years after its publication date.

The SDK depends on the engine at runtime. **The SDK's permissive license does not extend to the engine.** Bundling, vendoring, or depending on the SDK does not grant rights to the engine beyond what BSL 1.1 permits.

## Platform API and Dashboard (Proprietary)

The API and dashboard are proprietary software. Copyright 2025-2026 Kyvvu B.V. All rights reserved.

## Behavior definitions

The atomic behavior definitions (step types, verbs, and the Behavior schema) are part of `kyvvu-engine` and are governed by BSL 1.1.

## Bundled policy content (Apache 2.0) -- and what that does not mean

The `kyvvu` package bundles the 15-policy [frozen baseline set](/policy-authoring/bundled-baseline.md). That policy *content* is Apache 2.0, like the `kyvvu-manifests-public` manifests it is copied from, which is why it ships in the Apache-2.0 SDK rather than in the BSL engine: policy content carries the licence of the manifests it came from.

**Apache-2.0 manifests do not make the trial Apache-licensed end to end.** Loading them still requires `kyvvu-engine` to evaluate them, and the engine is BSL 1.1. So:

* The policy YAML and the loader (`kyvvu.baseline`) are Apache 2.0. Copy, modify and redistribute them freely.
* **Evaluating** them -- which is the only thing that makes them useful -- runs BSL-1.1 code. Free-to-try therefore remains bounded by the BSL's non-production terms: development, testing, research, evaluation and personal non-commercial use. Production use of the baseline needs the same commercial subscription as any other production use of the engine.

One further consequence: **`pip install kyvvu-engine` alone does not get the frozen set.** It is a `kyvvu` (SDK) feature, and installing the SDK pulls the engine in as a dependency.

## Pricing

Kyvvu meters usage by **active engine instance-hours**. One instance-hour is one `KyvvuRunner` (or `kyvvu serve` process) active for one hour.

|               |                                |
| ------------- | ------------------------------ |
| **Rate**      | EUR 0.05 per instance-hour     |
| **Free tier** | 1,000 instance-hours per month |

Kyvvu is currently available for evaluation at no cost — metered billing will be introduced in a future release. While in beta, we reserve the right to cap user registration or limit policy retrieval and agent registration.

## Commercial licensing

For production use of the engine, commercial subscriptions, or licensing inquiries:

**<licensing@kyvvu.com>**

***

## Next steps

* [Installation](/getting-started/installation.md) — install the SDK
* [Changelog](/reference/changelog.md) — version history