Real open source — omul under the AGPLv3
As the open-source Mentimeter alternative, omul is licensed under the AGPL-3.0, an OSI-approved open-source license, not just “source-available”. You can read the code, audit it, fork it and run omul on your own infrastructure with docker compose: free, with unlimited participants and no vendor lock-in. The hosted cloud funds development — everything beyond that is out in the open.
No credit card · Free self-hosting · Open source (AGPLv3)
Open, not just visible
What open source means at omul
“Open source” gets stretched a lot. At omul it means exactly one thing: a real, OSI-approved license — not “source-available” with footnotes.
AGPL-3.0, not “source-available”
The product code is licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License v3 — a genuine open-source license. The embed SDK is MIT-licensed. Only billing and cloud infrastructure stay private.
A public repository
The code lives in the open at github.com/binaryplease/omul. Read it, clone it, open issues, fork it — no sign-up, no NDA.
AGPL, not BSL or FSL
Models like BSL or FSL are only “source-available” — which would make the phrase “open-source alternative” simply untrue. The AGPL keeps omul genuinely open and preserves the community dividend.
Auditable, not a black box
Because the code is open, you don't have to trust anyone blindly. You can see what happens to questions and answers — and self-host the whole thing if you want.
Self-hosting
Self-hosted in three commands
All you need is Docker with Compose. Clone the repo, start the stack, open it in your browser — the rest runs on your machine.
# 1. Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/binaryplease/omul.git
cd omul
# 2. Start the stack with Docker Compose
docker compose up -d
# 3. Open it in your browser
open http://localhost:3000Why it matters
Data ownership isn't a feature — it's the foundation
Because you can self-host omul, your participants' data never leaves your infrastructure in the first place. No participant accounts, no third-party trackers, unlimited participants — open source and privacy belong together at omul, as part of the HyHyve ecosystem.
Decision help
Cloud or self-host?
Both paths lead to the same product. The only question is who runs it — us or you.
- Take the cloud when you want speed: ready in minutes, no ops team needed — we handle updates, scaling and backups.
- Self-host when you need full control: your participants' data never leaves your infrastructure, all the way to air-gapped networks.
- Self-hosting is free under the AGPLv3: you cover operations and hardware, there are no license fees.
- No lock-in: the same codebase on both paths — you can move from cloud to self-hosting at any time, or the other way around.
Brand & code
The code is free — the name is protected
The AGPLv3 gives you every freedom over the code: use it, change it, redistribute it, fork it. The “omul” trademark is the exception — it's protected. In practice: you may run and fork the code, but you can't ship your fork under the “omul” name. For a white-label build we offer dual-licensing as an OEM option.
Contributing
How we build omul
Contributions are welcome — and we're upfront about how we handle them, so no one hits a wall. Our principle: “Cloud first, conservative merging.”
- Cloud first: the hosted cloud funds development and sets the priorities. What helps it gets right of way.
- Conservative merging: we merge deliberately and carefully. For larger changes, open an issue first — that keeps disappointment small if something doesn't fit.
- DCO, not a CLA: you sign off contributions with the Developer Certificate of Origin (git commit -s). No contributor license agreement, no assignment of rights.
- Bug fixes, translations and small improvements almost always land quickly — the ideal way in.
Security
Found a vulnerability?
Please report it responsibly and not as a public issue. Our security policy describes the confidential disclosure path and how we handle reports.
Frequently asked questions about open source & self-hosting
Is omul really open source?
Yes. The product code is licensed under the AGPL-3.0, an OSI-approved open-source license — not just “source-available”. The embed SDK is additionally MIT-licensed. That makes omul a genuine open-source Mentimeter alternative.
Which license does omul use?
The public product repository is licensed under the AGPL-3.0, and the embed SDK under MIT. Billing and cloud infrastructure stay private. Anyone who wants to integrate omul into their own product without the AGPL obligations can use dual-licensing as an OEM option.
Can I self-host for free?
Yes. Under the AGPLv3 self-hosting is free: clone the repo, docker compose up, done — with unlimited participants and no license fees. You only cover operations and hardware. If you'd rather not run it yourself, the hosted cloud with its transparent pricing is the alternative.
Can I fork it and use the name?
You may fork, change and run the code under the AGPLv3 — that's explicitly encouraged. The name “omul” is a protected trademark, though: you can run and fork the code, but you can't ship your fork under the “omul” name. For a white-label build, dual-licensing is available.
How do I contribute?
Issues and pull requests are welcome. The rule is “cloud first, conservative merging”: the hosted cloud sets the priorities, and we merge deliberately — so for larger changes, open an issue first. You sign off contributions with the DCO (git commit -s); there is no CLA. Please report security issues through the security policy rather than as an issue.
Cloud or self-host — which should I choose?
Take the cloud if you want speed and no operations of your own — ready in minutes, updates and backups included. Self-host if you need full control and the data must not leave your infrastructure; that's free under the AGPLv3. Because both paths use the same codebase, you can switch at any time.
See for yourself
Read the code before you trust it
The repository is public — clone it, audit it, dig in. And if you'd rather start right away: the cloud is ready in a minute.
No credit card · Free self-hosting · Open source (AGPLv3)