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Oracle Java after the October 2026 update: what it would cost your company

Oracle prices Java SE by your whole headcount, contractors included, not by servers. From the Critical Patch Update of 20 October 2026, new Oracle JDK 21 updates are under the Java SE OTN License, so production use needs a subscription. On Oracle's price list of 8 October 2026 a 250-person company pays $10,000 a year; an OpenJDK 21 build or Oracle JDK 25 costs $0.

A GitHub code search on 16 October 2026 (query "download.oracle.com/java/21/latest") returns 1,004 public files that fetch the newest Oracle JDK 21 build in Dockerfiles, CI and install scripts (1,664 files reference download.oracle.com/java/21 at all). After 20 October a routine rebuild of such an image pulls an OTN-licensed update without anyone editing the file.

The four real options

1. Move to an OpenJDK 21 build such as Eclipse Temurin or Amazon Corretto: no licence fee, same Java 21.
2. Move to Oracle JDK 25: Oracle keeps it under the No-Fee Terms until September 2028.
3. Stay on the last Oracle JDK 21 build from September 2026: no fee, but no further free security updates from Oracle.
4. Buy Java SE Universal Subscription for the whole headcount at the price above.

Steps

1. Find every place that pulls an Oracle JDK: Dockerfiles, CI workflows, provisioning scripts, desktop installs.
2. Replace each line with the free equivalent (the free check below gives the exact line).
3. Keep a dated record of what was checked and changed, so finance and audit can see it.

Checklist to hand to finance (free)

• Headcount used: all employees plus contractors supporting internal operations (Oracle's definition).
• Date checked, and the Oracle price list date (8 October 2026).
• List of repositories and hosts checked, with the Oracle lines found and replaced.
• Decision: move to OpenJDK / JDK 25, or subscribe; who approved it.

Check your files now (free)

Paste a Dockerfile, a GitHub Actions workflow or a provisioning script. The check names every line that pulls an Oracle build and gives the free Temurin or Corretto line for each. It runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded.

Check your files now (free) →

For the company: the Oracle Java Exit Pack

One team key for 5 people: the check runs on every repository and pull request in CI, and writes a dated record per workspace (file, line, licence basis, SHA-256 of each file) that you can hand to finance or an auditor.

Oracle Java Exit Pack - team key, 5 seats - $149 once

In your editor: the free VS Code extension (also on Open VSX for Cursor and VSCodium). VS Code Marketplace · Open VSX

Questions

How much does Oracle Java cost for a 250-person company?

On Oracle's Java SE Universal Subscription price list of 8 October 2026, a company of 101 to 500 employees pays $10,000 a year. The count is the whole company, contractors included.

Is Oracle JDK 21 still free after 20 October 2026?

Builds released through September 2026 stay under the No-Fee Terms. New Oracle JDK 21 updates after that are under the Java SE OTN License, which does not allow free production use beyond its limited grants.

What is the free alternative?

An OpenJDK 21 build such as Eclipse Temurin or Amazon Corretto, or Oracle JDK 25, which Oracle keeps under the No-Fee Terms until September 2028.

Sources (read 2026-10-16): Oracle Java downloads page · Oracle JDK licence FAQ · Oracle Critical Patch Updates · Java SE Universal Subscription Global Price List (October 8, 2026)

Not legal advice. List prices for direct purchase from Oracle's price list; your own agreement with Oracle, if you have one, is what governs.