XAMPP

XAMPP is fundamentally a free software project. Since its inception in 2002, Apache Friends has maintained that the compilation is free to use, copy, and modify under the terms of the GNU General Public License. This makes it a zero-cost entry point for students, freelancers, and small businesses alike. While the core XAMPP distribution remains free, users should note that the broader ecosystem—specifically the Bitnami-packaged containers and VM images now managed by Broadcom—has recently introduced commercial tiers (Bitnami Premium) which can cost significant sums (up to $72,000/year for enterprise-grade secure images). However, for the vast majority of local development needs, the standard XAMPP installer downloaded from Apache Friends is, and is intended to remain, a free resource supported by the community and its partners.