Choose Your Creative Commons License

Answer three questions. Get your license badge, HTML, and attribution text instantly.

1. Do you allow commercial use of your work?

Yes, anyone can use it commercially No, only non-commercial use

If you choose "no," companies and advertisers cannot use your work without asking you first.

2. Do you allow modifications or remixes?

Yes, people can remix and adapt it No, only verbatim sharing allowed

Choosing "no" means others can share your work but cannot alter it in any way.

3. If adaptations are allowed, must they be shared under the same license?

Yes, derivatives must use the same license (ShareAlike) No, they can choose their own license

ShareAlike keeps your work and all its derivatives open under the same terms.

Quick presets:

Your license result will appear here as you answer the questions.

All Six CC Licenses Compared

Here is every Creative Commons license side by side. The green check means the license allows it. The red cross means it does not.

License	Abbreviation	Commercial use	Modifications	Share alike	Free culture
Attribution	CC BY 4.0	✔	✔	✘	✔
Attribution-ShareAlike	CC BY-SA 4.0	✔	✔	✔	✔
Attribution-NonCommercial	CC BY-NC 4.0	✘	✔	✘	✘
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike	CC BY-NC-SA 4.0	✘	✔	✔	✘
Attribution-NoDerivatives	CC BY-ND 4.0	✔	✘	✘	✘
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives	CC BY-NC-ND 4.0	✘	✘	✘	✘

"Free culture" means the license meets the Definition of Free Cultural Works. Only CC BY and CC BY-SA qualify.

Real-World Examples

These well-known projects use Creative Commons licenses. Seeing how others license their work can help you decide.

Wikipedia

CC BY-SA 4.0

The world's largest encyclopedia uses ShareAlike so every translation, remix, and fork stays open under the same terms. This keeps knowledge free as it spreads.

Free Music Archive

Various CC licenses

Thousands of musicians share tracks under different CC licenses. Some allow remixes, some do not. Each artist picks what fits their goals.

Flickr (CC photos)

Various CC licenses

Over 500 million CC-licensed photos live on Flickr. Photographers choose from all six licenses depending on how they want their images used.

PLOS ONE

CC BY 4.0

This open-access research journal uses the most permissive license so scientists and educators can freely build on published findings.

OpenStax

CC BY 4.0

Free college textbooks from Rice University. The CC BY license lets teachers adapt chapters, translate content, and share without asking permission.

OpenStreetMap

ODbL (similar spirit)

While not a CC license, OpenStreetMap follows the same open ethos. Its data powers maps worldwide because the community chose openness.

Common Mistakes

Choosing NC when you want commercial sharing

Many creators pick NonCommercial because they do not want big companies profiting from their work. But NC also blocks small nonprofits, educators, and startups that technically operate commercially. If you are okay with commercial use, skip NC.

Choosing ND and then complaining about no remixes

NoDerivatives means nobody can modify your work. That includes translations, accessibility adaptations, and remixes. If you want your work to evolve, do not use ND.

Thinking CC0 is "no license"

CC0 is a legal tool that waives your copyright entirely. It is the most open option, not the absence of a choice. Use it when you want your work in the public domain.

Applying a CC license to someone else's work

You can only license work you created or have rights to. Applying a CC license to a copyrighted photo you found online does not make it legal to share.

Frequently Asked Questions

: CC BY (attribution only), CC BY-SA (attribution, share alike), CC BY-NC (attribution, non-commercial), CC BY-NC-SA (attribution, non-commercial, share alike), CC BY-ND (attribution, no derivatives), and CC BY-NC-ND (attribution, non-commercial, no derivatives). Each adds restrictions beyond simple credit.
: You can re-license your own work under a new license going forward, but you cannot revoke a license already granted. Anyone who received your work under the old terms can continue using it under those terms.
: CC0 means you waive all copyright and related rights, placing your work in the public domain. Others can use it for any purpose without credit. This is not a license. It is a dedication.
: No. You apply a CC license by marking your work with the license name, badge, or a link to the license deed. Registration is not required.
: Follow the license terms. At minimum, give credit to the creator. If the license has NC, do not use it commercially. If it has ND, do not modify it. If it has SA, share your adaptation under the same license.
: CC licenses only cover copyright. They do not address trademarks, patents, moral rights, or personality rights. If someone uses your CC-licensed photo to endorse a product, that may violate your right of publicity even though the copyright is cleared.

Quick Reference Card

Print this card and keep it at your desk. It summarizes every CC license at a glance.

Creative Commons License Reference

2026

CC BYCredit the creator. That is it.

CC BY-SACredit + derivatives use same license.

CC BY-NCCredit + no commercial use.

CC BY-NC-SACredit + non-commercial + share alike.

CC BY-NDCredit + no modifications.

CC BY-NC-NDCredit + non-commercial + no modifications.