Frequently Asked Questions – Oracle Java vs OpenJDK

Frequently Asked Questions – Oracle Java vs OpenJDK

Many companies are asking the same Java licensing questions lately. Oracle’s changes have confused. This Q&A clears them up in plain English — no jargon or vendor spin, just straight answers.

Pro Tip: “If you’re confused, that’s by design — Oracle’s licensing thrives on complexity.”

For a full overview of all alternatives, read our guide Oracle JDK vs OpenJDK – Alternatives to Oracle Java.

Is OpenJDK Really Free for Commercial Use?

Yes. OpenJDK is completely free for any commercial use. It’s open-source software under the GPL license with a special Classpath Exception. This means you can run it in production, distribute it, and use it in your business without paying any license fees.

There are no hidden costs or surprise bills for using OpenJDK itself. The only time you might pay money is if you choose to get support from a third-party vendor (which is optional). But the Java runtime itself, as provided by OpenJDK, costs nothing to use. It’s truly free.

Does OpenJDK Get Security Updates as Quickly as Oracle JDK?

Yes — in practice it does. Oracle typically releases Java security patches first (they have a scheduled quarterly release of updates). However, OpenJDK vendors and the community release their security fixes very shortly after Oracle. In most cases, it’s a matter of a few days.

Both Oracle JDK and OpenJDK share the same underlying code, so any critical patch that goes into Oracle’s version also goes into OpenJDK.

The small delay is simply due to testing and packaging the OpenJDK updates by various distributors. If you have a regular patching process, this timing gap won’t put you at risk. You’ll have updated OpenJDK builds in hand quickly, keeping you secure.

Pro Tip: “Update speed depends on your process, not your vendor.”

Will My Oracle Applications Still Work on OpenJDK?

In most cases, yes. Oracle’s enterprise applications (such as Oracle WebLogic Server and Oracle E-Business Suite) are built on standard Java. They are not uniquely tied to the Oracle-branded JDK. This means they should run on any compatible Java Virtual Machine, including OpenJDK, as long as the Java version is the same.

That said, it’s wise to test critical applications before making a full switch. Set up a dev or staging environment with OpenJDK and deploy your Oracle-based apps there first. Verify that everything works as expected.

Generally, if your OpenJDK version matches the Oracle JDK version required by the app, you shouldn’t encounter issues. Almost all Java code doesn’t know (or care) which vendor’s JDK it’s running on – it just cares about Java version and configuration.

How does Oracle compare to Coretto? – Oracle Java vs Amazon Corretto – Cost, Support & Fit.

What’s the Real Difference Between Oracle JDK and OpenJDK?

The core technology is essentially the same. Oracle JDK and OpenJDK start from the same source code. For day-to-day Java usage, you won’t see a functional difference in how your code runs. The real differences are in licensing, support, and cost.

Oracle JDK is Oracle’s branded, commercial build of Java. Using Oracle’s JDK in production requires agreeing to Oracle’s license, which now usually means paying for a subscription (recently based on your number of employees).

Oracle may include a few proprietary add-ons and charge a fee for its support services. OpenJDK, on the other hand, is the open-source reference implementation of Java. It’s free to use and modify, and multiple vendors (as well as the community) maintain their own builds of OpenJDK.

These builds have no up-front cost or license fees. Any differences in features are minor and have been shrinking over time (many previously “Oracle-only” features have been open-sourced or made available in OpenJDK). In short: same software, but one comes with a bill and a contract.

Is there any difference? – Performance Benchmark – Oracle JDK vs OpenJDK.

Here’s a quick side-by-side comparison of Oracle JDK vs OpenJDK:

Pro Tip: “The code is identical. Only the invoice changes.”

Do I Need Oracle’s Permission to Use OpenJDK?

No. You do not need any permission or approval from Oracle to use OpenJDK. OpenJDK is released under an open-source license, which grants you the right to use it freely.

You can download it from any official source (Adoptium/Eclipse Temurin, Red Hat, Azul, Amazon, etc.) and install it on your systems without notifying Oracle.

You don’t have to register or sign a contract to use OpenJDK. It’s not under Oracle’s commercial licensing at all. Just ensure you follow the open-source license (which mainly requires giving proper attribution if you redistribute Java itself).

For internal use, treat OpenJDK as your Java runtime and proceed. As a best practice, keep track of your software versions and apply updates regularly, but there’s no Oracle oversight on OpenJDK usage. You’re free and clear.

Can I Mix Oracle Java and OpenJDK in the Same Environment?

Yes, you can, but do it carefully. It’s technically possible to have some systems using Oracle JDK and others using OpenJDK. They can coexist in your overall IT environment. For example, you might run Oracle JDK on a few specific application servers (if you still need it there) and OpenJDK on the rest.

The key challenge with mixing is management and tracking. You must clearly know which system is running which version/vendor of Java. If you mix them haphazardly, you might lose track. That’s dangerous during audits — you wouldn’t want to accidentally run Oracle JDK somewhere and not have it licensed. So maintain a clear inventory: label servers or containers that use Oracle’s JDK versus OpenJDK.

Many organizations use a hybrid approach as they transition away from Oracle.

This is fine as long as you stay organized. Just avoid “Java sprawl,” where you no longer know what’s installed where. With good tracking, you can mix Oracle and OpenJDK runtimes without trouble, and gradually phase Oracle out if that’s your goal.

Pro Tip: “Hybrid is fine — chaos isn’t. Always label your Java footprints.”

How Long Will OpenJDK Versions Be Supported?

OpenJDK versions, especially the Long-Term Support (LTS) releases, are supported for many years by various vendors. Typically, an LTS release (like Java 8, 11, 17, etc.) gets around eight years of updates from at least one provider. This is similar to Oracle’s support timeline for their JDK (Oracle also offers long-term support, but only to paying customers).

For example, Java 11 (released in 2018) has been promised support by certain OpenJDK vendors well into the late 2020s. Vendors like Red Hat, Azul, and the Eclipse Adoptium community will continue to publish security fixes and critical patches for the foreseeable future.

The exact duration can vary by vendor, so it’s wise to choose an OpenJDK distribution that aligns with your needs. Check the vendor’s maintenance schedule—they often publish how long they’ll support each Java version.

In short, you won’t be left hanging. If you prefer stability on one major Java version, you can stick with an OpenJDK LTS build and get updates for many years.

Or, you always have the option to upgrade to a newer Java version after a few years, as new LTS releases come out. You have flexibility without being forced into a narrow update window.

What If I Already Have Oracle Java Subscriptions?

You can continue through your current subscription term, but start planning. If you’ve already paid for Oracle Java (perhaps via an annual subscription or a multi-year deal), make use of it for now – you’ve paid for those updates and support. However, you should evaluate your usage before the next renewal.

Assess how many applications or systems truly require Oracle’s JDK versus those that could run on OpenJDK. Often, companies find that only a small subset of their Java usage has any reason to stay on Oracle JDK (and even that might be out of caution rather than necessity).

Begin migrating less critical or easily testable systems to OpenJDK now, while Oracle’s support still covers you. This lets you vet OpenJDK in your environment and work out any kinks early.

As your renewal date approaches, you might discover you’ve reduced your reliance on Oracle significantly. Maybe only a few systems (if any) truly need Oracle’s JDK by that point. You could then decide not to renew the Oracle subscription at all, or renew for a much smaller scope.

The goal is to avoid paying for more Oracle Java licenses than you actually need. By transitioning gradually during your current contract, you position yourself to save costs when it’s time to renew.

What About Compliance and Audit Risks?

Using Oracle JDK does come with compliance considerations. Because Oracle JDK is a paid product, Oracle reserves the right to audit your usage. If they find you’ve installed or used Oracle Java in ways that aren’t covered by your licenses, they could demand penalties or additional fees. This is a risk anytime you use a commercial software license, and Oracle is known for being strict on this.

OpenJDK carries no Oracle audit risk. Since OpenJDK is free and open source, there’s no scenario where Oracle can say you’re “out of compliance” for using it. There’s no license fee you’re evading. Essentially, by choosing OpenJDK, you remove Oracle’s audit threat from the Java equation entirely.

Of course, good IT governance means you should still keep track of all software in your environment. Even with OpenJDK, you’ll want to maintain proper inventory for security and operational reasons. But you can rest easy that the “Java police” won’t come knocking over OpenJDK usage.

The only audit concern would be mixing Oracle JDK without proper licensing, which underscores the importance of tracking when you mix environments. If you eliminate Oracle JDK, you eliminate that particular headache.

Pro Tip: “The only Java audit risk you have is the one you pay for.”

Are There Reliable Vendors for Supported OpenJDK?

Yes, several reputable vendors offer OpenJDK builds with long-term support. You’re not tied to Oracle for getting professional Java support. Some of the well-known options include:

• Azul – Azul provides an OpenJDK build called Azul Zulu. They offer commercial support contracts if needed. Azul specializes in Java and even offers extended support for older versions beyond what others do.
• Amazon Corretto – Amazon provides Corretto as a free OpenJDK distribution. It’s used internally at Amazon and AWS, and they make it available to everyone at no cost. It’s TCK-tested (to ensure Java compatibility) and receives regular updates. While Amazon doesn’t charge for it, you can run it on AWS with their blessing, and it’s production-ready.
• Red Hat – Red Hat supports OpenJDK in its enterprise Linux distributions. They take an active role in maintaining OpenJDK updates (for example, for Java 8 and 11) and provide support to their customers. If you’re a Red Hat subscriber, you get a well-tested OpenJDK as part of that.
• Eclipse Temurin (Adoptium) – This is the continuation of the AdoptOpenJDK project under the Eclipse Foundation. It produces free, high-quality OpenJDK builds. While the builds themselves are community-supported, many companies (including IBM) use them, and some offer support services around them. Temurin is a great choice if you want a neutral, community-driven build of Java.

All of these options provide timely security updates and adhere to the same standards as Oracle JDK. In many cases, the updates from these sources come within days of Oracle’s (as mentioned earlier).

And crucially, they do it without Oracle’s licensing fees. If you need a support agreement for peace of mind, you can get one from these vendors at a typically lower cost and with more flexible terms than Oracle’s subscription. In short, you have a rich ecosystem of Java providers now — Oracle is no longer the only game in town.

Will I Lose Performance by Switching?

No, you shouldn’t lose performance by switching from Oracle JDK to OpenJDK. The runtime engine is the same at its core.

For the vast majority of workloads, OpenJDK will perform identically to Oracle’s JDK. Remember, Oracle’s JDK is built from the OpenJDK project — they share the same codebase for all the fundamental Java functionality.

Any performance differences, if they exist at all, are extremely minor. Most users report no change in application speed or resource usage after switching. The performance of Java applications depends more on how you tune the JVM (memory settings, garbage collector choices, etc.) and the hardware it runs on, rather than which build of the JDK you use. OpenJDK from a major vendor is rigorously tested and optimized in the same ways Oracle’s JDK is.

In fact, large companies and high-performance applications (such as trading systems, big data platforms, etc.) run on OpenJDK without issues. If you do encounter a performance concern, it’s likely something that can be tuned or fixed regardless of the distribution. There’s nothing in Oracle’s paid version that’s magically faster than what’s in OpenJDK. So you can switch with confidence that your Java apps will run just as smoothly as before.

Quick Recap – Oracle vs OpenJDK at a Glance

To wrap up, here’s a quick recap comparing Oracle JDK and OpenJDK on key points:

Final Take

You don’t need to pay Oracle to run Java. That’s the big takeaway. Today, OpenJDK and its various distributions give you full choice, stability, and freedom to run Java without Oracle’s involvement. The playing field is level in terms of technology: the Java platform you get from OpenJDK is just as robust as what you get from Oracle.

The challenge for many organizations isn’t a technical one – it’s about confidence and habit. Oracle’s licensing has been the status quo for a long time, and it can feel safer to stick with what you know (even if it costs more). But as countless enterprises have discovered, you can break out of that cycle. Moving to OpenJDK is a straightforward switch that can dramatically cut costs and remove compliance anxiety.

In the end, the smartest Java strategy is an informed one. Know what you’re paying for, and know that you have a choice. If Oracle’s value no longer justifies its price or risk, you have a viable alternative ready to go. Java itself remains the same powerful tool for your business – you just get to decide the most cost-effective and worry-free way to keep using it.

Pro Tip: “The smartest Java strategy today is knowing when not to renew.”

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