Anaconda is one of the most popular Python distributions for data science and machine learning. It packages Python, R, conda, and hundreds of scientific libraries into a single installer. However, what many users don’t realize is that Anaconda is not entirely free for commercial use. To help our customers avoid the potential pitfalls of Anaconda licensing, Eracent’s newest version of ITMC Discovery includes Anaconda audit reports.
What are the common licensing pitfalls when using Anaconda in professional environments?
❗️The Big Shift: May 2020 Licensing Change
As of May 2020, Anaconda Inc. updated its licensing terms. The key change?
🔒 Commercial users now require a paid license, even for internal use. If you’re using Anaconda in a for-profit company — even just for testing, development, or CI/CD — you’re likely not in compliance unless you have a commercial license.
🚫 Common Pitfalls to Avoid
1. Assuming Anaconda is Fully Open Source
While it includes many open-source packages (like NumPy and Pandas), the Anaconda installer itself is proprietary and subject to Anaconda Inc.’s EULA.
2. Using Anaconda Internally in a Company
Even if you’re not redistributing Anaconda externally, internal commercial use often still requires a license.
3. Bundling Anaconda in Docker Images or Products
Including Anaconda in Docker containers, software products, or virtual machines that are distributed to customers can trigger redistribution rules — which require separate licensing.
4. Assuming Miniconda is Safe
Miniconda, despite being a lighter installer, is still covered by the same EULA. It’s not a free pass.
✅ Safer Alternatives
If you want to avoid licensing complications, consider switching to Miniforge or Mambaforge, community-driven distributions that use the open conda-forge channel and are fully open-source. No commercial license is needed for these.
🧭 Final Tips
- 📜 Review the Anaconda EULA and check out Eracent’s Anaconda Audit Reports to know exactly what your license exposure could be. Get visibility into your Anaconda environment by seeing Anaconda and Miniconda package counts, children, paths, package types, versions and much more.
Contact Eracent for details today!
– by Terry Divelbliss
Terry Divelbliss is Eracent’s Sr. VP of Marketing & Technical Alliances. He has almost 20 years of experience in the ITAM and SAM industry in product management and customer solution implementation roles, and he is a regular speaker at industry conferences and events.
