is it really FOSS?

MongoDB

A document-oriented database

Nope!
It's not FOSS, and it doesn't currently claim to be, although it may have been in the past.

Details

The project is provided under a Server Side Public License (SSPL) which targets specific use, specifically providing the software as a service, with requirements which go far beyond the scope of the software itself, likely to hinder competitive SaaS usage.

The project was previously provided under an AGPLv3 license.

The project does not appear to currently market itself as open source, although it did during it’s time of introducing its SSPL license. The SSPL was submitted to the OSI for approval at this time, but was not successful due to not meeting criteria 6 and 9 of the OSD.

MongoDB is now a publicly traded company, who appears to have previously raised $311m in funding from investors including Fidelity, TRowe Price, Salesforce, Altimiter Capital, NEA, Sequoia Capital, Intel, and Red Hat. The project appears to generate revenue from selling its software as a service, providing support, and from selling variations of its software.

Details last reviewed 2025-06-14. Mistakes or outdated information? Let us know by opening an issue on Codeberg.