Is OpenFL Free and Open Source?

Yes. OpenFL describes itself as a "100% free and open source" platform, with no licensing fees, and its code is hosted publicly on GitHub. That applies to the framework itself as distributed through the project; the site does not publish a separate price list or paid tiers, so there is nothing on the page suggesting a commercial license is required to use it.

What "free and open source" covers here

The OpenFL site makes three specific claims that matter for anyone evaluating cost and long-term risk:

• No licensing fees. The project explicitly says users can "say goodbye to licensing fees." This is about the framework, not about the tools or stores you might use alongside it.
• Open, hackable platform. The source is described as open and modifiable, and the project points to its GitHub repository and license for the actual terms.
• Community-backed. OpenFL says it is backed by "a passionate and responsive developer community," which is the practical support channel for an open-source project.

The site does not spell out which license text applies on the page itself; it links to GitHub and a license page. If license terms matter for your organization, read the repository's license file rather than relying on the marketing wording.

What you can build with it

OpenFL is a cross-platform toolkit for 2D and 3D graphics, audio, rich text, input (mouse, touch, keyboard, gamepads), asset management, networking, file system access, and clipboard read/write. The site frames its audience broadly: "from enterprise applications to best-selling games."

Publishing targets named on the page:

One toolset covers all of these, which is the main reason the free/open-source claim carries weight: you are not paying per platform.

The language question, briefly

OpenFL is written in and used with Haxe. That is why the "open source" claim is easy to verify — the framework and the language ecosystem around it are publicly developed. If you are coming from another stack, budget time for Haxe itself, not just OpenFL.

Ecosystem libraries that inherit the same model

The site highlights two libraries built on OpenFL, both relevant if you are choosing a starting point:

• HaxeFlixel — a cross-platform game engine for OpenFL with collisions, particles, and tilemaps. The site credits it with games including Canabalt, Kid Bubblegum, and Friday Night Funkin'.
• Starling Framework — improves OpenFL's GPU capabilities with batch rendering, texture atlases, bitmap fonts, and 3D effects; cited for Angry Birds, NCIS: Hidden Crimes, and CSI: Miami Heat.

These are separate projects with their own repositories, so check each one's license if you need a single consistent license across your stack.

How to confirm it for your case

1. Open the OpenFL GitHub repository linked from the site and read the license file — that is the authoritative answer, not the homepage.
2. Check whether the libraries you plan to use (HaxeFlixel, Starling, or others) carry compatible terms.
3. Note that "no licensing fees" covers the framework. App store fees, asset purchases, and third-party services are outside that claim and are not addressed on the page.

The short version: OpenFL is free and open source by its own description, with no licensing fees and a public codebase — verify the specific license text on GitHub before committing a commercial project to it.