If your project cannot afford a commercial GoJS license, or if you are building an open-source tool that cannot embed a proprietary paid key, your best path forward is to migrate to a fully open-source diagramming library.
The watermark appears under two specific conditions:
It identifies unlicensed or improperly configured instances.
Visit the official GoJS website and choose the license tier that fits your development needs (e.g., Internal, Commercial, or Academic). Upon purchase, you will receive a unique license key string. Step 2: Bind the License Key to Your Domain gojs remove watermark
If your application does not run on a standard web domain (e.g., local files or desktop wrappers), the licensing requirements change:
: When upgrading to a new major or minor version (e.g., from 2.0 to 2.1), you generally need to request a new license key , though minor patch updates typically do not require one.
// Replace 'your-license-key' with the actual key provided by Northwoods go.Diagram.licenseKey = "your-license-key"; // Then, create your diagram var $ = go.GraphObject.make; var myDiagram = $(go.Diagram, "myDiagramDiv"); Use code with caution. Steps to Follow: Received via email after purchase. If your project cannot afford a commercial GoJS
Visit Northwoods Software’s GoJS Pricing Page . Prices typically start at $495 for a single developer license (as of 2025). This gives you the right to deploy GoJS in one application.
: Northwoods Software updates GoJS frequently. Internal DOM structures, class names, and canvas rendering methods change between minor versions, which will break temporary CSS or JS hacks.
Northwoods Software frequently updates GoJS with performance improvements and bug fixes. If you modify the source code to strip the watermark, you lock yourself out of easy updates. Every time you upgrade the library, your custom patch will break, forcing you to reverse-engineer the new version all over again. 3. Application Instability Upon purchase, you will receive a unique license key string
The GoJS watermark is a vital component of Northwoods Software's business model, ensuring they can continue maintaining a top-tier diagramming library. While looking for quick workarounds is a common developer instinct during tight budgets, the only sustainable, stable, and legal way to remove the watermark is by buying a license and setting go.Diagram.licenseKey in your codebase. If a commercial license is out of reach, transitioning to an open-source framework like React Flow or Cytoscape.js will serve your project much better in the long run.
No. GoJS licenses are perpetual for a specific version. You pay once and own that version forever. Maintenance (updates) is optional yearly.
The standard and legal way to remove the watermark is to purchase a license and apply the provided key to your project. License keys are tied to specific major/minor versions and the domain from which your application is served.