Can we create users that can only see a project in Jira? will these view users use a license?

[Cristina Vega]

We are wondering, if there is a type of user in JIRA which can see but not touch and it is free. Or every user needs a paid license?

If there is any short of free user / view user, what can they view? 

Thanks! 

[Nic Brough -Adaptavist-]

No.  If a user can log in, then they consume a licence.

What you can do is allow anonymous access by adding the "group" called "anyone" to "browse project" permission in the permission scheme for projects you want to make public.

One word of caution - never grant this for anything other than browse project permission, as that allows anonymous changes to be made and you'll never know who made them.  (Especially if you're on the internet as you will be spammed).  Also, if you're on JIRA 6.3 or lower, your workflows will probably need to be protected against anonymous using transitions (In 6.4+, there's a specific "can transition issue" permission which prevents this problem by default)