Why open source does not always mean free to run

Separate the software license from model, data, and hosting costs.

Separate four cost components

A software license describes what you may do with the code. It does not necessarily include model services, market data, or hosting. Look at these four components separately before choosing a tool.

Check the intended setup

A hosted service may charge a subscription. A self-hosted project may require compute, data subscriptions, and paid model calls. An open-source license alone is insufficient to classify running costs as free.

Confirm the original source

Read the source linked in each project entry. A verification date records when information was checked. Unknown costs remain unknown; confirm them before connecting any external services.

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