licenseme vs license-checker
for dependency license auditing
license-checker reads your actual node_modules. licenseme reads your manifest file in the browser with no install. Here is the honest tradeoff between the two approaches.
Quick verdict
Use licenseme for fast, install-free audits across Node.js, Python, and Rust projects — especially when you need a quick compliance check or NOTICES file without running anything locally. Use license-checker when you need to audit the exact installed state of a Node.js project, including transitive dependencies not listed in package.json but present in node_modules.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | licenseme | license-checker (npm) |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | No install — open in browser | npm install -g license-checker |
| Data source | npm/PyPI/crates.io registry metadata | Actual node_modules on disk |
| Accuracy for installed state | Good — registry metadata is usually accurate | Exact — reads license files directly from installed packages |
| Transitive dependencies | Direct dependencies + one level of transitive | Full transitive tree from node_modules |
| Language support | Node.js, Python, Rust | Node.js only |
| Incompatibility detection | Flags GPL-in-MIT and similar conflicts | Lists licenses; no built-in incompatibility check |
| NOTICES file generation | One-click NOTICES file ready to ship | Requires post-processing of JSON output |
| CI/CD integration | Not a CLI — browser only | Clean --json output, scriptable, widely used in pipelines |
| Private package support | Not supported — uses public registry | Reads private packages from local node_modules |
| Cost | Free, no account | Free, MIT license |
When to use each
Quick compliance check
You need to check if a new project's dependencies include any GPL or AGPL licenses before you commit to using it. Paste the package.json — get the answer in seconds.
CI/CD license gate
You want to fail a build if any dependency introduces a prohibited license. license-checker's --failOn and --excludePackages flags make this straightforward in any pipeline.
Generate a NOTICES file
Your distribution requires attribution notices for all MIT/Apache/BSD dependencies. licenseme generates a ready-to-ship NOTICES file without any custom scripting.
Audit private packages
Your project has private npm packages hosted on a private registry. license-checker reads them from local node_modules — licenseme cannot access private registry metadata.
Python or Rust projects
You need to audit a Python (requirements.txt) or Rust (Cargo.toml) project. licenseme supports both. license-checker only handles npm.
Full transitive audit
You need the complete transitive dependency tree — every package your package requires, recursively. license-checker reads the actual installed tree from node_modules.
What about FOSSA, Snyk, and other enterprise tools?
Enterprise license compliance platforms like FOSSA, Snyk Open Source, and WhiteSource solve a larger problem: continuous monitoring, legal review workflows, policy enforcement at scale, and integration with source control. They are not just license checkers — they are compliance management systems with dashboards, approval workflows, and legal team features.
Neither licenseme nor license-checker competes with that category. They are developer-local audit tools for answering a specific question: "do any of my current dependencies have a license that conflicts with what I intend to ship?" If you need ongoing compliance tracking across dozens of repositories with a legal approval queue, you need an enterprise tool. If you need a quick local answer, licenseme or license-checker is faster and cheaper.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between licenseme and license-checker for npm license auditing?
license-checker reads your actual node_modules directory — it scans every installed package and reports the license declared in each package.json. licenseme is browser-based: you paste your package.json and it resolves license data from public registry metadata without needing node_modules installed. license-checker is more accurate for installed package state; licenseme is faster for quick audits and projects you do not have locally.
Can licenseme detect GPL-in-MIT incompatibilities?
Yes. licenseme checks your project's declared license against the licenses of all dependencies and flags combinations that are legally problematic — for example, a GPL-3.0 dependency in an MIT-licensed project, or an AGPL dependency in a proprietary project. It shows the specific conflict and which dependency introduced it.
Does licenseme work for Python and Rust projects, not just Node.js?
Yes. licenseme accepts package.json for Node.js, requirements.txt or pyproject.toml for Python, and Cargo.toml for Rust. For each format it resolves license data from the respective public registry (npm, PyPI, crates.io). license-checker only handles Node.js projects.
When should I use license-checker instead of licenseme?
Use license-checker when you need to audit the exact installed state of a Node.js project — including transitive dependencies that are not listed in package.json but are actually present in node_modules. It also works for private packages on a private registry, which licenseme cannot access. For CI/CD pipelines in Node.js projects, license-checker with --json output integrates cleanly.
What is a NOTICES file and why does licenseme generate one?
A NOTICES file (also called ATTRIBUTIONS or THIRD_PARTY_LICENSES) is required by many open source licenses — MIT, Apache 2.0, and BSD all require you to include a copy of the original copyright notices in any distribution. licenseme generates this file automatically from your dependency list, formatted so you can drop it directly into your project root or release package.
Is licenseme free?
Yes. licenseme is completely free with no account required and no usage limits. It runs entirely in your browser — no server sees your package.json or dependency data.
Audit your dependencies — no install, no account
Paste package.json, requirements.txt, or Cargo.toml and get a full license audit with incompatibility flags and a ready-to-ship NOTICES file. Runs in your browser.
open licenseme →