OpenFold / OpenFold3
A fully open reproduction of AlphaFold 2 and then AlphaFold 3 under Apache 2.0, with training data. OpenFold3 predicts complexes of proteins, nucleic acids and ligands.
- Developer
- AlQuraishi Lab (Columbia University) and the OpenFold consortium, USA
- First release
- Jun 2022
- Latest release
- Aug 2026
- Sizes
- a single set of weights per version
- License
- Commercial use allowedApache 2.0
- Running
- On your own serverNeeds a GPU
- Industries
- Healthcare, Science and research
What it does
- Predicting structures of proteins and ligand complexes
- Fine-tuning on the company's own data (training code is open)
- An in-house structural analysis service without sending data outside
Where it is used
Hardware requirements
Versions
- OpenBind-0
- OpenFold3-preview2
- OpenFold3-preview
- OpenFold (AlphaFold 2)
How to run it
I can set this up end to end: pick the model size, deploy it on your server and connect it to your systems.
Frequently asked questions
Can OpenFold / OpenFold3 be used in a commercial project?
Yes. License: Apache 2.0. It allows commercial use, but it is still worth having a lawyer review the license before launch.
What hardware does OpenFold / OpenFold3 need?
At minimum: One GPU with 16–80 GB — mid-size versions. Without a GPU the model is not practical. You can calculate the exact VRAM for your model size and context in the hardware calculator.
Does OpenFold / OpenFold3 support Russian?
Language does not matter for this model: it does not work with text.
Where can I download OpenFold / OpenFold3 and what does it cost?
The OpenFold / OpenFold3 weights are open and free to download. You only pay for the hardware it runs on and for the setup. Source links are at the bottom of this page.
How I deploy it for clients
- SelectionI pick the model size for your task and hardware and test it on your examples.
- DeploymentI deploy it on your server or in a closed network and provide an API.
- Fine-tuningI fine-tune it on your data (LoRA) or connect a knowledge base — whichever is cheaper for the task.
- IntegrationI connect it to your CRM, ERP, bot, website or team chat and set up monitoring.
Similar models
An open MIT-licensed alternative to AlphaFold 3: predicts structures of protein, DNA and small-molecule complexes; Boltz-2 estimates binding strength, BoltzGen designs new binding proteins.
DetailsBiology and chemistryAlphaFold 3Google DeepMind and Isomorphic Labs · UKNon-commercial onlyThe reference model for the structure of biomolecules and their complexes. Weights are provided for non-commercial research only; companies need commercial access via Google Cloud or open alternatives (Boltz, OpenFold3).
DetailsBiology and chemistryESM (ESM-2, ESM3, ESM C, ESMFold2)EvolutionaryScale / Chan Zuckerberg Biohub (ESM-2 — Meta AI) · USACommercial use allowedProtein language models: they understand amino acid sequences, predict structure (ESMFold2) and help with protein design. Since 2026 all open versions are under MIT.
DetailsSource: github.com/aqlaboratory/openfold-3/releases. Data checked against the model card on 22 Sep 2026. Have a lawyer review the license before commercial launch.


