Licensing
ModPageSpeed products are licensed under the Business Source License 1.1.
Business Source License 1.1
The Business Source License 1.1 (BUSL-1.1) is a source-available license used by companies including MariaDB, CockroachDB, HashiCorp, and Sentry. It gives you access to the full source code while requiring a commercial license for production use.
In plain language: you can read, modify, and test the code freely. To run it in production, you need a license from We-Amp B.V.
Key terms
Change Date
Four years after each version's release, the license automatically converts to the Apache License 2.0. The Change Date is specified in the LICENSE file of each release.
Change License
Apache License 2.0 — the same permissive open-source license used by the original Google mod_pagespeed project.
Additional Use Grant
Non-production use is permitted without a commercial license. This includes development, testing, evaluation, and academic use.
NuGet preview
The ASP.NET Core middleware preview packages
(WeAmp.PageSpeed.*)
are free to use during the preview period. No license key is required.
The preview has no time limit and will remain free until commercial licensing
begins at General Availability (GA).
Licensing enforcement will be activated at General Availability (GA). Preview users will receive advance notice before enforcement begins.
The preview is free of charge. Commercial pricing will be announced before GA so you can plan ahead.
Trial and activation
All ModPageSpeed products include a 14-day free trial. After trial expiration, the software continues to serve traffic but adds an informational response header. Optimization features remain active during a 72-hour grace period after license expiration to prevent service disruption.
License activation is handled through the ModPageSpeed admin console or via
a license key in your configuration. Licenses are validated against
api.modpagespeed.com,
with Ed25519-signed tokens cached locally so your application does not depend on
external connectivity after activation.
FAQ
Can I use ModPageSpeed in development without a license?
Yes. The BUSL-1.1 Additional Use Grant permits all non-production use, including local development, CI/CD pipelines, staging environments, and testing.
What happens when the Change Date passes?
The code for that version automatically becomes Apache 2.0 licensed. You can use it for any purpose, including commercial production, without a license from We-Amp.
What happens if my license expires?
There is a 72-hour grace period during which optimization continues normally. Auto-renewal attempts begin 7 days before expiration. If renewal fails, the software degrades gracefully — it will not break your application.
Does the license require an internet connection?
Only for initial activation and periodic renewal. License tokens are Ed25519-signed and cached locally. Your application runs independently between renewals.
Can I read and modify the source code?
Yes. The BUSL-1.1 grants full access to the source code. You can read, modify, and build from source. The restriction is only on production use without a commercial license.
Can I redistribute ModPageSpeed?
You can use ModPageSpeed to optimize your own applications and services. The BUSL-1.1 restriction prevents you from offering ModPageSpeed itself as a competing commercial product or service. Redistribution of the source code for non-production purposes (such as forking for contributions) is permitted.
How does BUSL-1.1 compare to AGPL?
BUSL-1.1 is simpler. Unlike the AGPL, it does not impose copyleft requirements on your application code — your proprietary code stays proprietary. Additionally, each BUSL-1.1 release automatically converts to a permissive open-source license (Apache 2.0) after the Change Date, giving you a guaranteed path to full open source.
Pricing
ModPageSpeed 2.0 and mod_pagespeed 1.1 are $49/server/month, or $39/server/month billed annually (excl. VAT where applicable). All plans include a 14-day free trial.
See modpagespeed.com/pricing for full details, volume discounts, and what's included.
Questions?
For licensing inquiries, volume pricing, or enterprise agreements, contact info@we-amp.com.