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EnglishIs Pi-Apps Free and Open Source?
Updated
Yes. Pi-Apps is free to use, and its source code is open source. The Pi-Apps website states that Pi-Apps "will always remain Free and Open Source," with all code available on GitHub under the GPL-3 license. The website's own source is also hosted under the GPL-3 license.
What "free" means here
The Pi-Apps site explicitly says it is free — in fact, it jokes that it would offer a referral discount but "Pi-Apps is free, so..." There is no paid tier, subscription, or license fee described on the page. It is a Raspberry Pi app store for open-source projects, so the apps it distributes are themselves open-source projects.
What "open source" means here
Two separate things are licensed under GPL-3:
- The Pi-Apps application code — all of it is published on GitHub under GPL-3.
- The Pi-Apps website source — also hosted under GPL-3.
GPL-3 is a copyleft license, which means anyone who distributes modified versions must also release the source under the same terms. If you want to inspect, fork, or build on Pi-Apps, the code is available to you.
Practical implications
| Question | Answer from the site |
|---|---|
| Does it cost money? | No — it is free |
| Is the code public? | Yes, on GitHub |
| What license? | GPL-3 (app and website) |
| Can I modify and redistribute? | Yes, under GPL-3 terms |
| Do I need to be a programmer to help? | No — starring the repo, telling others, suggesting apps, or reporting bugs all count |
How to verify it yourself
- Go to the Pi-Apps GitHub repository (linked from pi-apps.io).
- Check the license file — it should state GPL-3.
- For the website, look for the source link on the site itself, which the page says is hosted under GPL-3.
If you are evaluating Pi-Apps for a project, the key takeaway is that there is no cost barrier and no proprietary lock-in: the tool, the website, and the apps it serves are all open source.