Oracle Java users are looking for alternatives because of rising costs, pricing uncertainty, and audit concerns. Azul Core offers lower cost, commercial support and security updates, while other OpenJDK distributions offer free access, broad platform support, or specialized runtimes. When choosing an alternative, consider how smoothly you can migrate from Oracle Java without disruption.
Your Best Options for Moving Off Oracle JDK
Oracle’s surprising January 2023 pivot to pricing commercial support for Java based on an employee count has reignited interest in popular OpenJDK distributions.
This guide discusses 9 such distributions, covering their support options, security updates, features, and pricing. We’ll also touch on what matters most when migrating from Oracle Java.
Azul: A Reliable Oracle Java Alternative
Azul is one of the few companies fully focused on Java, with proven migration pathways for enterprises moving from Oracle Java to supported OpenJDK.
Our experience supporting brands like EWE AG, Sasol, and Skybox Security with Oracle Java migrations informs the insights in this article.
Why Organizations Look for Oracle Java Alternatives
Organizations move away from Oracle Java for different reasons, but cost is still the biggest one. In our 2026 State of Java Survey, 37% of respondents cited cost as a reason for migrating.
But pricing is not the only concern:
- 31% prefer an open-source alternative.
- 29% are concerned about ongoing changes to Oracle’s Java pricing.
- And 26% are concerned about Oracle Java audit risk.
Whether your priority is lowering costs, reducing licensing risk, or moving to an open-source distribution, one of the 9 alternatives we’ll discuss should meet your needs.
The 9 Best Oracle Java Alternatives: Detailed Reviews
1. Azul Core (Azul Zulu Builds)
Azul Core, with its Azul Zulu Builds of OpenJDK, is a one-to-one replacement for Oracle Java SE at dramatically lower costs; customers typically see 50% to 70% lower costs after switching from Oracle Java SE Universal Subscription, based on results we’ve seen across comparable migrations.
Azul Core gives enterprises Technology Compatibility Kit (TCK)-verified, Java SE-compliant OpenJDK builds across a broad array of Java versions, architectures, operating systems, package types, and configuration options.
It also adds commercial support, security updates, production Service Level Agreements (SLAs), and access to dedicated expert Java engineers with a track record of solving difficult issues and delivering high customer satisfaction. Outside of Oracle, Azul is among the few commercial providers that offer quarterly stabilized security builds and, when needed, out-of-cycle security patches to help minimize the risk of regression.
For older versions of Java, like Java 6 and 7, Azul provides extended support, giving teams more time to modernize applications without staying on unsupported Java and enabling customers to upgrade on their own timelines.
Azul Core also provides license non-contamination guarantees for software running on Azul JDKs to protect customers’ intellectual property (IP), as well as patent indemnification.
Azul Core is a perfect fit for enterprises looking to move away from Oracle Java to a cheaper alternative without giving up commercial support, security updates, or the flexibility to run supported OpenJDK across their existing Java estate.
To learn more about Azul Core, connect with our Java experts or download an Azul Zulu Build of OpenJDK.
2. Amazon Corretto
Amazon Corretto is Amazon’s distribution of OpenJDK, used internally across thousands of production services and offered as publicly downloadable free binaries. Corretto JDK is TCK-tested and available for Linux, Windows, and macOS, and is designed as a drop-in replacement for other Java SE distributions.
The Corretto JDK includes patches from Amazon that are not yet integrated into corresponding OpenJDK update projects, including security fixes and changes aimed at improving stability and performance.
Corretto follows a regular release cadence, with quarterly updates and urgent security fixes released outside the regular cycle when needed. It is licensed under GPLv2 with the Classpath Exception and is free. Organizations that need commercial support can get assistance through AWS Support Plans, which cover Corretto alongside other supported AWS services and software.
Corretto makes the most sense for organizations that want a free, production-ready OpenJDK distribution and are already invested in AWS.
Learn more about Amazon Corretto.
3. Red Hat OpenJDK
The Red Hat build of OpenJDK is a free and open-source implementation of the Java Platform, Standard Edition (Java SE). It is supported on Windows and Red Hat Enterprise Linux, where it serves as the Java Development Kit (JDK) and Java Runtime Environment (JRE).
Red Hat makes OpenJDK packages available through Red Hat Enterprise Linux alongside its other supported content. Red Hat also makes OpenJDK binaries available through the Red Hat Developer Portal, and ships the JDK and JRE in many containers through the Red Hat Container Catalog.
For organizations already running Red Hat Enterprise Linux or other Red Hat infrastructure, Red Hat OpenJDK provides a natural way to standardize their Java environment. Its support and lifecycle are tied to Red Hat’s published policies, so it is worth checking the Red Hat Life Cycle and Support Policy for OpenJDK when planning your Java estate.
Red Hat OpenJDK makes the most sense for organizations already invested in the Red Hat ecosystem and looking for a supported OpenJDK distribution that fits into that environment.
Read more about Red Hat’s Life Cycle and Support Policy for OpenJDK
4. Eclipse Temurin
Eclipse Temurin is a free, open-source distribution of OpenJDK from the Eclipse Adoptium project. Its binaries are Java SE TCK-certified and AQAvit-verified (Adoptium’s automated quality-assurance test suite), and are available across a broad range of operating systems and hardware architectures.
Temurin provides both JDK and JRE packages, with downloads available directly from Adoptium and through package managers, Linux repositories, containers, and other distribution channels.
For active releases, Adoptium follows OpenJDK’s quarterly maintenance and security update schedule. Long-Term Support (LTS) releases are supported for at least four years.
One thing to keep in mind is support. Adoptium provides community support, but Eclipse does not offer commercial support or SLAs for Temurin. Organizations that need contracted commercial support must use one of the third-party providers listed by Adoptium.
Temurin is best for organizations looking for a free, TCK-certified OpenJDK distribution with broad platform support and community-based support.
Learn more about Eclipse Temurin.
5. BellSoft Liberica JDK
BellSoft Liberica JDK is BellSoft’s production-ready build of OpenJDK. It is TCK-certified and designed as a drop-in replacement for Oracle JDK, with support across Windows, macOS, Linux, and Solaris, as well as x86, ARM, PowerPC, SPARC, and RISC-V architectures.
Liberica JDK is available in several flavors, including Standard, Lite, and Full, giving teams options for general development, lightweight deployments, and applications that need JavaFX. BellSoft also provides quarterly updates, security patches, and extended support for older Java versions, including Java 6 and 7.
For organizations that need commercial support, BellSoft offers support for Liberica JDK, including assistance with runtime issues and extended support for LTS releases.
Liberica JDK is a natural choice for organizations that want a broadly compatible OpenJDK distribution with flexible deployment options, long-term support, and commercial support available when needed.
Read more about BellSoft Liberica JDK.
6. IBM Semeru Runtimes
IBM Semeru Runtimes is IBM’s distribution of OpenJDK, available in two implementations: Semeru Certified Edition, which uses the Eclipse OpenJ9 JVM, and Semeru Runtime Open Edition, which also uses the Eclipse OpenJ9 JVM. The Certified Edition is TCK-certified and available for major operating systems and architectures.
Semeru Runtimes are available at no cost, with IBM providing downloads for supported Java versions. Both editions combine OpenJDK class libraries with the Eclipse OpenJ9 JVM; the Open Edition is GPLv2+CE licensed, while the Certified Edition ships under an IBM license.
IBM also provides commercial support for Semeru through its support offerings, giving organizations a route to paid assistance when they need it.
Semeru Runtimes is ideal for organizations already invested in IBM technologies or those specifically looking for OpenJ9 alongside their OpenJDK deployment.
Learn more about IBM Semeru Runtimes.
7. GraalVM
GraalVM is an OpenJDK-based runtime from Oracle that adds the Graal optimizing Just-In-Time (JIT) compiler and GraalVM Native Image. Native Image can compile Java applications ahead of time into native executables, which can reduce memory and CPU usage, speed up startup, and make applications easier to package into lightweight containers.
GraalVM is available in Oracle GraalVM and GraalVM Community Edition. Community Edition is open source under GPLv2 with the Classpath Exception, while Oracle GraalVM is available under Oracle’s GraalVM Free Terms and Conditions for current releases.
It supports Linux, macOS, and Windows, and is supported by frameworks including Spring Boot, Micronaut, Helidon, and Quarkus.
GraalVM is the right fit for organizations building cloud-native applications, especially when fast startup, lower resource usage, compact containers, or native compilation are key requirements.
Read more about GraalVM’s offering.
8. Microsoft Build of OpenJDK
Microsoft Build of OpenJDK is Microsoft’s no-cost, long-term-supported distribution of OpenJDK. It is available for Windows, Linux, and macOS and is designed for use across Microsoft’s Java ecosystem, including Azure, SQL Server, Visual Studio Code, and LinkedIn.
Microsoft contributes patches to the OpenJDK project and states that its default policy is to upstream patches when they are accepted. Microsoft is also a strategic member of the Eclipse Adoptium Working Group, which provides a vendor-neutral home for business-ready, Java-compliant OpenJDK binaries.
Microsoft Build of OpenJDK makes the most sense for organizations that want a free, long-term-supported OpenJDK distribution, particularly those already running Java workloads across Microsoft technologies or Azure.
Get more details on Microsoft Build of OpenJDK.
9. SapMachine
SapMachine is a distribution of OpenJDK maintained by the SAP Machine project. It is built from OpenJDK and includes SAP-specific patches and improvements, with a particular focus on running Java reliably in SAP environments.
SapMachine provides builds for Linux, Windows, and macOS across common architectures. It follows the OpenJDK release cycle and provides regular builds for current Java versions, including long-term-support releases. The project also makes its source code and build information publicly available through GitHub.
Because SapMachine is maintained by SAP, it is particularly relevant for organizations running SAP software that depends heavily on Java. It gives those teams an OpenJDK distribution aligned with SAP’s own Java use and development.
SapMachine best fits organizations with substantial SAP environments that want an OpenJDK distribution maintained by the same company behind their SAP software.
Learn more about SapMachine.
How to Choose the Right Oracle Java Alternative
Start with what you need from your Java distribution:
- Want commercial support and a lower-cost alternative to Oracle Java? Choose Azul Core.
- Want a free OpenJDK distribution? Consider Amazon Corretto or Eclipse Temurin.
- Already invested in a specific ecosystem? Red Hat OpenJDK fits Red Hat environments, Microsoft Build of OpenJDK fits Microsoft and Azure environments, and SapMachine is a natural choice for SAP environments.
- Need a specific runtime or deployment capability? Choose IBM Semeru Runtimes if you want OpenJ9, or GraalVM if native compilation and fast startup are priorities.
- Need broad platform and architecture support with commercial support available? Consider BellSoft Liberica JDK.
Your goal shouldn’t be to choose the most popular option, but the one that fits your Java estate, infrastructure, support requirements, and budget without adding capabilities you don’t need.
Choose an OpenJDK Distribution With Smooth Migration
Beyond picking an OpenJDK distribution that fits your Java estate and support requirements, choose one that makes migration as smooth as possible. That means looking beyond the JDK itself to the migration support, tools, and expertise available to help you make the move.
Azul Core is particularly strong here. It is a one-to-one replacement for Oracle Java SE, with migration advisory services and tools to help you discover your Java estate, assess migration requirements, and plan the move.
Azul has a strong track record of migrating hundreds of enterprises from Oracle Java to supported OpenJDK, including University of Southern Queensland, Ausgrid, Sasol, EWE AG, Skybox Security, and more.
Explore Azul’s Oracle Java migration resources or connect with an Azul Java expert to start your Oracle JDK migration.
