# Having our own Elastic search DB, if we want to use Kibana for Production MS use , do we need a license still?
**URL:** https://discuss.elastic.co/t/having-our-own-elastic-search-db-if-we-want-to-use-kibana-for-production-ms-use-do-we-need-a-license-still/376839
**Category:** Kibana
**Tags:** kql-kibana-query-language
**Created:** [April 6, 2025, 10:07am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/having-our-own-elastic-search-db-if-we-want-to-use-kibana-for-production-ms-use-do-we-need-a-license-still/376839 "2025-04-06T10:07:12Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@sujitghose](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/sujitghose)
#### Post date: [April 6, 2025, 10:07am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/having-our-own-elastic-search-db-if-we-want-to-use-kibana-for-production-ms-use-do-we-need-a-license-still/376839/1 "2025-04-06T10:07:12Z")
Having our own Elastic search DB, if we want to use Kibana only for log viewing for Production MS use, do we need a license still?
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### Author:  [@Rios](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Rios)
#### Post date: [April 6, 2025, 11:01am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/having-our-own-elastic-search-db-if-we-want-to-use-kibana-for-production-ms-use-do-we-need-a-license-still/376839/2 "2025-04-06T11:01:27Z")
Welcome to the community.
It depends what is a purpose of your Elastic deployment.
If you want to use for internal use like monitoring own logs by using the basic license, without any charge to anyone it's free.
> The license allows the free right to use, modify, create derivative works, and redistribute, with three simple limitations:
>
> - You may not provide the products to others as a managed service
> - You may not circumvent the license key functionality or remove/obscure features protected by license keys
> - You may not remove or obscure any licensing, copyright, or other notices
Check [FAQ](https://www.elastic.co/licensing/elastic-license/faq) or [the software licensing FAQ](https://www.elastic.co/pricing/faq/licensing) and [features per the subscription model](https://www.elastic.co/subscriptions). Also check [the discussion](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/free-license-limitation-for-msp/336129).
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### Author:  [@sujitghose](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/sujitghose)
#### Post date: [April 6, 2025, 11:52am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/having-our-own-elastic-search-db-if-we-want-to-use-kibana-for-production-ms-use-do-we-need-a-license-still/376839/3 "2025-04-06T11:52:28Z")
What is the licensing strategy for Kibana only use? Is it user based?
Also " _You may not provide the products to others as a managed service_" did not get this. If you can pls explain.
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### Author:  [@leandrojmp](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/leandrojmp)
#### Post date: [April 6, 2025, 12:14pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/having-our-own-elastic-search-db-if-we-want-to-use-kibana-for-production-ms-use-do-we-need-a-license-still/376839/4 "2025-04-06T12:14:43Z")
> [@sujitghose](#):
>
> What is the licensing strategy for Kibana only use? Is it user based?
There is no such thing, Kibana is an Elasticsearch client, so depending on your use and the features you want you need a Elasticsearch license.
> [@sujitghose](#):
>
> Also " _You may not provide the products to others as a managed service_" did not get this. If you can pls explain.
I think that this basically means that if you offer accesss directly to Kibana to your clients, you need a license.
It is best to contact elastic directly for questions about licenses.
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### Author:  [@Rios](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Rios)
#### Post date: [April 6, 2025, 1:08pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/having-our-own-elastic-search-db-if-we-want-to-use-kibana-for-production-ms-use-do-we-need-a-license-still/376839/5 "2025-04-06T13:08:20Z")
I share the same opinion as The Jedi Leandro.
There is [another topic](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/can-we-use-basic-elasticsearch-for-commercial-use/319710) which more clearly handle your case.