Is Pimcore Still Open Source? The License History, Precisely Explained.
GPLv3, POCL, source-available: the terms get mixed up often. We explain what actually changed and what it means for your system.
"Pimcore isn't open source anymore" is a headline, not a precise statement. The more accurate version: Pimcore was licensed under GPLv3 through version 11.5; since version 12, the Community Edition runs under the Pimcore Open Core License (POCL). That is a license change: the source code stays public, but by its own definition the POCL is not an open source license. The difference between those two statements decides whether you make an informed decision or fall for an oversimplification.
What's the Difference Between GPLv3 and POCL?
GPLv3 applied through Pimcore 11.5 (Platform Version 2024.4, the last GPLv3 release, with LTS support through December 2026). Starting with Pimcore 12.0 (Platform Version 2025.1), the Community Edition runs under POCL, the Pimcore Open Core License. POCL means: the source code stays open and viewable, "source-available" in the technical sense, but usage is tied to commercial conditions, specifically a revenue threshold of roughly 5 million euros in annual revenue and restrictions on SaaS-style redistribution of the code.
Source-Available Is Not the Same as Open Source in the Strict Sense
This is where many comparisons get imprecise. In the strict sense of the Open Source Initiative (OSI), "open source" also means: no restriction on use by purpose, revenue, or user. POCL doesn't meet that, the code is readable and modifiable, but usage rights are conditioned. Pimcore itself correctly calls this model "Open Core," not classic open source. That distinction isn't semantic nitpicking, it decides whether a legal or compliance review at your company lets the POCL core count as "open source" at all.
What This Means for an Existing Pimcore System
An existing system on Pimcore 11 or earlier stays under GPLv3. The license switch to POCL only kicks in with an actual upgrade to version 12 or later, not retroactively. Anyone staying on 11.5 has a supported GPLv3 system through December 2026. Anyone who wants to or has to upgrade automatically hits the POCL decision the moment they jump to 12, including the revenue threshold and mandatory product registration.
Repository Split: What Stayed GPL, What Went Private
Not every bundle followed the same path. The commercial enterprise bundles and Datahub 2.x live in the private, POCL-/proprietary-licensed repository. The older GPL 1.x lines (such as Datahub 1.x and the original E-Commerce Framework bundle generation) are archived and no longer receive fixes. Anyone assessing an existing system should therefore check not just the Pimcore core version, but also which bundle generation is actually in use.
Three Paths From Here: Stay, Upgrade, or Fork
Anyone currently on GPLv3 has, at the core, three options. Stay on 11.5/GPLv3, safe through December 2026, then unsupported for security updates afterward. Upgrade to 12 or later, POCL-compliant, under the corresponding conditions, but with full access to current bundles and support, as part of Upgrades & Migration. Or take a GPLv3 escape route via OpenDXP, the DACHCOM fork of Pimcore 11, an option for companies for whom GPLv3 as a licensing model matters structurally more than access to the latest Pimcore line (details on switching). Which path fits isn't a blanket answer, it depends on your specific bundle mix, revenue, and risk tolerance, that's exactly what a Pimcore Audit clarifies before a direction gets locked in. How the revenue threshold translates concretely into an edition decision is shown in the decision matrix on the comparison page Pimcore Enterprise vs. Community.
Why We Treat This as a Data Sovereignty Question, Not a Cost Question
Our argument for Pimcore is never "free", that would simply be wrong for most of our target customers since version 12. Our argument is data sovereignty: an open, viewable core, no usage-based license that automatically grows with users, SKUs, channels, or data volume, and full control over hosting and the data model. That holds under GPLv3 just as much as under POCL, the license switch changes the usage conditions, not the fundamental promise of Pimcore as an open-source platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pimcore still open source?
The core stays open and viewable, but since version 12 it runs under POCL, which ties usage rights to a revenue threshold. In the strict OSI sense, that's "Open Core," not classic open source, but "not open source anymore" is still too blunt, since the code stays visible.
What exactly does POCL mean?
Pimcore Open Core License: the source code stays viewable and adaptable, but free-of-charge use is tied to a revenue threshold of roughly 5 million euros in annual revenue, with restrictions on SaaS-style redistribution.
Does my existing Pimcore 11 system stay under GPLv3?
Yes. The license switch to POCL doesn't apply retroactively. It only takes effect with an actual upgrade to Pimcore 12 or later.
What is OpenDXP?
A GPLv3-licensed fork of Pimcore 11 run by DACHCOM, more on that under OpenDXP, and, if a switch is on the table, under Switching from Pimcore to OpenDXP.
Why is Pimcore switching from GPLv3 to POCL?
The business rationale is Pimcore's own to explain. What's technically established: starting with version 12, the Community Edition runs under POCL with a revenue threshold and mandatory product registration.
Is POCL the same as a proprietary license?
Not quite. The code stays readable and viewable, unlike purely proprietary software. But usage rights are conditioned, which is why POCL is neither classic open source nor a closed proprietary license in the strict sense.
Should I move away from Pimcore because of the license change?
That depends on your situation, not the headline. If you're below the revenue threshold or already need a commercial license anyway, you'll notice little practical difference. An audit assesses that for your specific case instead of judging it in the abstract.
Unsure what the license change means for you?
We assess your specific license situation, without scare tactics or a blanket recommendation.
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