Survey highlights shifting priorities in open source use

A report by the Linux Foundation, based on the World of Open Source survey, shows that European organizations are changing how they view open source software. Over the years 2022 to 2025, the focus of using open source has moved from cost reduction to other benefits like productivity and innovation.

Priorities shift from cost to productivity and innovation

In 2022, most respondents cited reducing software costs as a key reason to use open source. By 2023 and 2024, the emphasis had changed, with productivity and innovation becoming the top priorities. By 2025, improving industrial standards and interoperability was the most frequently mentioned benefit, while cost reduction had dropped significantly.

Frequency of open source benefits declines

In 2023, 82% of respondents said open source "often" or "always" reduced software costs. This number dropped to 58% by 2025. Benefits like productivity and reducing vendor lock-in became more commonly cited, while the perception of open source reducing IT operational costs also declined.

Cost-benefit perception declines over time

In 2023, 77% of respondents believed the cost-benefit ratio of open source was in their favor. By 2025, this number had dropped to 55%, with 12% saying the costs outweighed the benefits. Popular open source technologies like Linux and cloud platforms saw a decline in usage rates from 2023 to 2025.

Challenges to open source adoption remain

In 2025, the main barriers to using open source included security concerns, licensing issues, lack of technical support, and poor leadership. The main factors that could encourage more open source use, such as legal support and policy improvements, also saw a decline in importance from 2022 to 2025.

Organizational policies and AI impact open source use

In 2022, more than half of the respondents said their organizations encouraged open source use openly. By 2025, this had dropped to 48%, with AI-assisted coding reported to have increased open source use for some. While most reported stable usage, a small percentage noted a decline in open source adoption.