Frequently Asked Questions
General
Is OpenCLM really free?
Yes. OpenCLM is released under the AGPL v3 licence. You can use it, self-host it, and modify it for free. There are no per-seat fees, no feature tiers, and no artificial usage limits.
The AGPL requires that if you modify OpenCLM and offer it as a service to others, you must release your modifications under the same licence. If you use OpenCLM internally within your organisation without distributing it, no open-source obligations apply to your customisations.
Who is behind OpenCLM?
OpenCLM is developed and maintained by NXG Labs and open-source contributors. Contributions are welcome from anyone.
What contract types does OpenCLM support?
OpenCLM is contract-type agnostic. You can manage any type of agreement: NDAs, vendor contracts, SLAs, employment agreements, customer contracts, partnership agreements, licences, leases, and more. Contract types are user-configurable.
Can OpenCLM handle contracts in multiple languages?
The UI is currently in English. The contract body editor is a rich text editor and accepts content in any language. Multi-language UI support is on the roadmap.
Self-Hosting
What are the minimum server requirements?
See Self-Hosting Overview — Server Requirements.
For a small team (under 20 users), a 2 vCPU / 4 GB RAM VPS is sufficient.
Can I run OpenCLM without Docker?
Yes — see server/DEPLOYMENT.md in the repository for bare-metal setup instructions. Docker Compose is recommended because it simplifies the multi-service setup, but it is not required.
Does OpenCLM work on Windows servers?
The API and frontend can run on Windows via Node.js. Docker Desktop for Windows works but has performance overhead. For production, we recommend Linux (Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or Debian 12).
How do I back up my data?
Use pg_dump to back up the PostgreSQL database. See Database Management for a complete backup script.
Features
Can external parties (counterparties) access OpenCLM to sign?
Yes — via the OpenSign integration. Counterparties receive a signature request email with a link to sign the document. They do not need an OpenCLM account.
Can I import existing contracts?
You can upload PDF or DOCX files as contract attachments. Full OCR-based import (extracting the body into the editor) is a planned feature.
Does OpenCLM support contract renewals?
Yes. The Deadlines & Renewals module tracks expiry dates and sends configurable reminders. Auto-renewal tracking is also supported.
Can multiple users edit a contract simultaneously?
Currently, the editor supports one active editor at a time. Collaborative real-time editing (like Google Docs) is on the roadmap.
Is there a mobile app?
Not yet. The web UI is responsive and works on mobile browsers, but a dedicated native app is not planned for the near future.
Security & Compliance
Where is my data stored?
In your self-hosted PostgreSQL database, on your own servers. OpenCLM does not send contract data to any external service (except to OpenSign for signature requests, which you also self-host).
Does OpenCLM support SOC 2 / ISO 27001?
OpenCLM provides the technical controls (audit logs, RBAC, encryption at rest, TLS in transit, MFA via Keycloak) needed to support compliance. Certification depends on your own infrastructure and processes.
Is there an audit log?
Yes. All significant events — contract changes, approval decisions, login events, setting changes — are recorded in an immutable audit log. See Settings → Audit Log.
Can I restrict access by IP address?
Yes. Configure an IP allowlist at Settings → Security → IP Allowlist.