Open source
Source code publicly available (MIT, Apache, or similar)
What is open source?
Open source in the AI context usually means open weights — the model's parameters are publicly available for download and self-hosting. True open source (training data + code + weights + permissive licence) is rarer. The distinction matters: open weights let you run the model yourself at zero marginal cost per token, but you bear the infrastructure cost. Llama 3.1 405B requires ~140GB of GPU memory at full precision. With quantisation, it fits on consumer hardware.
Why it matters
The decision between open weights and API access comes down to volume and control. Below ~100,000 requests per month, API access is usually cheaper (no infrastructure overhead). Above that, self-hosting open weights models becomes cost-effective. sourc.dev tracks open_source and open_weights as separate boolean attributes — and tracks the infrastructure providers (Ollama, LM Studio, vLLM) that make self-hosting practical.
Where models stand
20 models with open source enabled:
Data available for 147 of 271 tracked entities. Last updated 2026-03-30.
How sourc.dev tracks this
sourc.dev verifies open source manually from official provider documentation, API responses, and published specifications. Every data point includes a source URL and verification date. When a value changes, the old value is preserved in the history table and the new value is recorded alongside it. Nothing is overwritten — the full timeline is always available.
sourc.dev verifies this attribute manually from provider documentation. Every data point includes a source URL and verification date. Changes are recorded in the history table — nothing is overwritten.
This attribute is verified periodically against provider documentation. When sourc.dev detects a change, the new value is recorded alongside the old one with full provenance.
Understanding open source helps developers make informed decisions when choosing between models and providers. Rather than relying on marketing claims, sourc.dev provides verified, dated, source-linked data so the data decides.