Oracle prices Java on people, not on usage. Under the per employee Universal Subscription, the list rate runs from 5.25 to 15.00 dollars per employee per month, and the count includes every full time and part time employee, every contractor, and every temporary worker, whether or not they ever run Java. That means the cheapest Java you own is the Java you no longer have to license at all. A disciplined OpenJDK migration moves the workloads that can leave Oracle onto a supported, free distribution, and leaves only the genuinely Oracle dependent footprint behind. The result is a smaller bill today and far stronger leverage at your next renewal.
We are an independent buyer side advisory. We work only for the customer, never for Oracle and never for a reseller. We have defended more than 300 Java audits, protected over $120M in Java exposure, and we cut the opening number by 68 percent on average, with more than 20 years of combined experience.
Why migration is a commercial move, not just a technical one
Many teams think of migration as an engineering task. It is, but its real value is commercial. Every workload you move off Oracle Java reduces the population you can be asked to license and weakens any audit claim that reaches back across the three year lookback Oracle now applies in 2026. Just as important, a migration that is already underway is the most credible form of leverage you can bring to a renewal. Oracle discounts hardest when it can see you genuinely have somewhere else to go.
The principle. Migrate what can leave, isolate what must stay, then negotiate the residual against a much smaller employee envelope. Each step lowers both cost and risk.
What an OpenJDK migration actually involves
A safe migration is methodical. We work through five stages, and you keep control at every gate.
- Discover. Find every place Oracle Java runs across desktops, servers, containers, and build pipelines, including the installs nobody remembers.
- Classify. Separate workloads that can move freely from those with a real Oracle dependency, such as a specific commercial feature or a vendor support requirement.
- Select a distribution. Match each workload to a supported free OpenJDK build that fits your platform and patch needs.
- Migrate and test. Move in controlled waves with rollback at each step, so production is never put at risk.
- Govern. Stand up controls so Oracle Java does not creep back in and create new exposure later.
Handling the hard cases
Most Java runs perfectly well on a free OpenJDK distribution, but some workloads need care. Older desktop applications, software that depends on a specific commercial Java feature, and third party products that only certify on Oracle Java all need a deliberate decision rather than a blanket move. Our job is to find the small number of genuine dependencies and keep them isolated, so they do not force you to license your whole workforce. The bulk of most estates can move without drama.
How this connects to the rest of your defense
Migration rarely stands alone. It pairs with renewal timing, with metric defense, and with audit response. The deeper technical playbook lives in our OpenJDK migration playbook. The commercial timing lives in the Java renewal strategy guide. And the overall mechanics are set out in the Oracle Java licensing guide for 2026. If you are already in a review, our Java audit defense service runs the response while migration reduces the future exposure.
What it costs
You can engage us in one of two ways, both built so the risk sits with us, not with you. The first is a Fixed Fee from $18,000, agreed up front, which suits a defined scope. The second is Gainshare, a share of verified savings or avoided exposure, with zero retainer and no risk to the customer. If the work does not reduce your position, you do not pay us out of savings that did not materialize. See the full detail on our pricing page.
| Engagement | How it works | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed Fee | From $18,000, agreed up front | The scope is known and you want one predictable number |
| Gainshare | A share of verified savings or avoided exposure, zero retainer | You want no downside and to pay only from what we remove |
Start with a clear number
The first step is simple. We map your Oracle Java footprint, model the employee envelope you can realistically reach, and show you the savings a migration would unlock before you commit a thing. Get a quote and we will turn your estate into a plan with a number attached.