Free software / Separate licenses

Licenses & source

Notice updated: 27 September 2026. This page describes OpenSDR licensing; it does not replace the full licenses or change any third-party terms.

Project-owned OpenSDR code

Unless a file states otherwise, project-owned files in the public OpenSDR package are licensed under the GNU General Public License version 2 or later (GPL-2.0-or-later). This covers opensdrcore, rtlsdrhost and public package documentation/scripts. The shared radioapi module has a separate MIT license, described below.

You may use, study, modify and redistribute the software under the applicable license, including its source-code and notice requirements. This is not a non-commercial-only license.

Read the full GNU GPL version 2 (local text).

Radio API for independent clients

The project-owned code, build configuration and documentation in radioapi are licensed under the MIT License. Copyright © 2026 Rafał Czeczótka. Open-source and proprietary clients, including paid applications, may include this API while preserving its copyright and permission notice.

Read the full Radio API MIT License (local text). The source package contains the same notice in radioapi/LICENSE and an Android asset bundled with the API.

The API carries commands, settings and status through Android IPC to the separate Host application. This permission does not relicense the Host, receiver core or native dependencies. Earlier GPL grants for previously distributed API copies are not revoked. Android signature-permission requirements still apply.

Bundled native components

• RTL-SDR / rtl-sdr-android: GPL-covered code, with the bundled GNU GPL version 2 text and applicable per-file notices. Preserve upstream copyright and modification notices.
• libusb: GNU Lesser General Public License version 2.1 or later, with applicable per-file terms. Read the full LGPL version 2.1 (local text).
• Android/Kotlin components: AndroidX, Jetpack Compose, Material and Kotlin dependencies retain their own notices, generally Apache License 2.0. Release notices must match the exact resolved versions.

Consult LICENSE, THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES and upstream license files in the source package for component-specific terms. Copyright remains with the respective authors and contributors; this site does not claim ownership of upstream code.

Corresponding source and builds

Project repository: OpenSDR Radio Host on GitHub.

Release information and source archives: OpenSDR releases on GitHub.

To reproduce an installed version, choose the matching source release, including native dependencies and build instructions. The latest development revision may differ from the version installed on your device.

Official builds use a signature-protected Android service. A self-built Host may require a correspondingly signed client; this is a compatibility constraint, not an additional restriction on your rights under GPL or LGPL.

No warranty and safety information

The warranty and liability provisions of the applicable GPL/LGPL licenses apply, subject to mandatory law. OpenSDR is intended for general-purpose radio reception, hobby listening and experimentation, not safety-critical, navigation or operational decision-making systems. This safety information does not add a field-of-use restriction to the open-source licenses.

Check local laws before receiving, recording or sharing any radio communications or signals. These activities may be permitted, restricted or prohibited depending on your location, the radio service and your authorization. The ability to receive a signal does not imply legal permission to listen to, record or share it.

Contact and privacy

See the privacy policy and publisher contact. Reports you choose to share can include tuned frequencies and device details.