Remotion License Explained: Free vs. Company Tiers and Commercial Use Rules

Remotion uses a two-tier licensing model that allows free commercial use for individuals and small companies with up to three employees, while larger organizations must purchase a Company License to remain compliant.

The remotion-dev/remotion repository distributes its React-based video rendering framework under a custom Remotion license that balances open-source accessibility with commercial sustainability. Understanding the distinction between the Free License and Company License is essential for any organization building video automation pipelines or SaaS products with this tool.

Understanding the Remotion License Structure

Free License Eligibility

According to the repository's LICENSE.md (lines 18-23), the Free License covers:

• Individual developers
• For-profit organizations with ≤ 3 employees
• Non-profit and not-for-profit entities
• Organizations evaluating the library without current commercial deployment

Company License Requirements

Organizations exceeding the Free License thresholds must obtain a Company License. As specified in LICENSE.md (lines 41-45), this tier grants identical usage rights plus prioritized support. Pricing and purchase details are available at remotion.pro/license.

Commercial Restrictions and Permitted Use Cases

What You Can Do Under the Free License

The Free License explicitly permits commercial video production. Per LICENSE.md (lines 27-28), eligible users may:

• Create videos or images commercially or non-commercially
• Modify the source code
• Contribute changes back to the repository

Prohibited Activities Without a Company License

Critical restrictions apply to all tiers. LICENSE.md (lines 31-32) prohibits copying or modifying Remotion to sell, rent, license, re-license, or sublicense a derivative product. This prevents competitors from repackaging Remotion as a competing video framework.

Key License Files in the Repository

File	Purpose	Reference
LICENSE.md	Complete legal terms for Free and Company tiers	View file
README.md	License summary and compliance reminder	Lines 57-60
package.json	License metadata ("SEE LICENSE IN LICENSE.md")	View file
CONTRIBUTING.md	Contribution licensing expectations	View file

Practical Code Examples for Commercial Use

The following examples demonstrate legally permitted commercial usage patterns under the Free License. These snippets do not modify Remotion's core for redistribution, remaining compliant with the restrictions outlined in LICENSE.md (lines 31-32).

Rendering Video in a Node.js Script

// src/render-video.ts
import { renderMedia } from 'remotion';

// Your React component that defines the video
import { MyVideo } from './MyVideo';

async function render() {
  await renderMedia({
    // The component that renders the video
    composition: {
      id: 'MyVideo',
      component: MyVideo,
      durationInFrames: 150,
      fps: 30,
      width: 1280,
      height: 720,
    },
    // Output file (you can ship this video with your product)
    codec: 'h264',
    outputLocation: './out/video.mp4',
    // Optional: enable parallel rendering for speed
    parallelism: 4,
  });
}

render().catch(console.error);

This script can power a SaaS product generating personalized marketing videos. No additional licensing is required for eligible entities.

Using the Player Component in a Web Application

// src/App.tsx
import { Player } from '@remotion/player';
import { MyVideo } from './MyVideo';

export const App = () => (
  <div style={{ width: '100%', height: '100vh' }}>
    <Player
      component={MyVideo}
      compositionWidth={1280}
      compositionHeight={720}
      durationInFrames={150}
      fps={30}
      controls
    />
  </div>
);

Embedding this player in a paid web application is permitted under the Free License for qualifying organizations.

Summary

• Remotion license uses a dual-tier structure: Free License for individuals and small teams (≤3 employees), and Company License for larger organizations.
• Free License permits commercial video production and modification for internal use, but prohibits reselling Remotion as a product or creating competing libraries.
• Company License purchases are required at remotion.pro/license for entities exceeding the employee threshold, offering prioritized support.
• All users must comply with restrictions in LICENSE.md (lines 31-32) against sublicensing derivative works.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Remotion for commercial projects without paying?

Yes, if you qualify for the Free License. According to LICENSE.md (lines 27-28), individuals and organizations with up to three employees may use Remotion commercially to create videos and images without purchasing a license. Larger for-profit entities must buy a Company License.

What happens if my company grows beyond three employees?

You must transition to a Company License. The Free License eligibility defined in LICENSE.md (lines 18-23) explicitly limits for-profit organizations to three employees or fewer. Once you exceed this threshold, you are no longer covered by the Free License and must purchase a Company License from remotion.pro/license to remain compliant.

Does the Remotion license restrict selling videos created with the tool?

No. The license explicitly permits selling videos and images created with Remotion. LICENSE.md (lines 27-28) states you may "create videos or images with Remotion, commercially or non-commercially." The restriction applies only to selling the Remotion software itself or creating a competing video-rendering library, as prohibited in lines 31-32.

Where can I find the full Remotion license text?

The complete license terms reside in the LICENSE.md file at the root of the remotion-dev/remotion repository. The README.md (lines 57-60) also references this file, and package.json points to it with the metadata "license": "SEE LICENSE IN LICENSE.md".

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instagit": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "instagit@latest"]
    }
  }
}