Definition
Dual distribution ships the same product through two channels with different licenses: typically GPLv3 source/build-your-own artifacts on GitHub, and commercially licensed binaries via app stores or vendor downloads.
Key Points
- 2026-10: bitwarden moves store-published clients to commercial builds while keeping GPLv3 clients in
bitwarden/clients(2026-10-09-bitwarden-dual-license-app-store-builds) /bitwarden_licensedirectories in Bitwarden repos remain source-available under Bitwarden License v1.0 (non-production without subscription)- Risk vector: feature fork—enterprise or store-only capabilities over time; average users may not know which binary they run
- Distinct from going closed-source: source still published; self-hosters and fork ecosystems (e.g. Vaultwarden server) largely unaffected per vendor FAQ