Is GPL-2.0-or-later compatible with GPL-3.0-only?
Yes.
The 'or later' code upgrades to v3, matching the v3 component.
Result license is the more restrictive of the inputs. You must satisfy every input license's notice and source-offer terms. Verify pairwise compatibility first.
Resulting work's license: GPL-2.0-or-later
General guidance, not legal advice.
Obligations when redistributing as open source
- GPL-2.0-or-later: retain the copyright notice and license text.
- GPL-2.0-or-later: state significant changes made to the code.
- GPL-2.0-or-later: provide complete corresponding source of the combined work.
- GPL-2.0-or-later: the combined distributed work must be licensed under GPL-2.0-or-later.
- GPL-3.0-only: retain the copyright notice and license text.
- GPL-3.0-only: state significant changes made to the code.
- GPL-3.0-only: provide complete corresponding source of the combined work.
Other distribution models
These licenses sit the same way against each other under every distribution model, but the model decides whether you can ship the result. Not possible under:
- Proprietary software you distribute as a binary — GPL-2.0-or-later requires the entire distributed work to be licensed GPL-2.0-or-later with complete corresponding source, so a proprietary binary is not possible. Distribute the whole work under GPL-2.0-or-later, or replace the GPL-2.0-or-later component. GPL-3.0-only requires the entire distributed work to be licensed GPL-3.0-only with complete corresponding source, so a proprietary binary is not possible. Distribute the whole work under GPL-3.0-only, or replace the GPL-3.0-only component.
Check this pair in the tool to switch models.