diff --git a/charts/risingwave/templates/_helpers.tpl b/charts/risingwave/templates/_helpers.tpl
index c9a7604..61c88f8 100644
--- a/charts/risingwave/templates/_helpers.tpl
+++ b/charts/risingwave/templates/_helpers.tpl
@@ -601,7 +601,10 @@ Cloud related enviroments.
 
 {{/* Env vars for license key */}}
 {{- define "risingwave.licenseKeyEnv" }}
-{{- if and .Values.license.secret.key .Values.license.secret.name }}
+{{- if and .Values.license.passAsFile (or .Values.license.key (and .Values.license.secret.key .Values.license.secret.name)) }}
+- name: RW_LICENSE_KEY_PATH
+  value: /license/license.jwt
+{{- else if and .Values.license.secret.key .Values.license.secret.name }}
 - name: RW_LICENSE_KEY
   valueFrom:
     secretKeyRef:
@@ -612,3 +615,42 @@ Cloud related enviroments.
   value: {{ .Values.license.key | quote }}
 {{- end }}
 {{- end }}
+
+{{/* Secret name to store license */}}
+{{- define "risingwave.licenseKeySecretName" }}
+{{- if and .Values.license.secret.key .Values.license.secret.name }}
+{{- .Values.license.secret.name }}
+{{- else }}
+{{- printf "%s-license" (include "risingwave.fullname" .) | trunc 63 | trimSuffix "-" }}
+{{- end }}
+{{- end }}
+
+{{/* Secret key to the license data*/}}
+{{- define "risingwave.licenseKeySecretKey" }}
+{{- if and .Values.license.secret.key .Values.license.secret.name }}
+{{- .Values.license.secret.key }}
+{{- else }}
+{{- printf "license.jwt" }}
+{{- end }}
+{{- end }}
+
+{{/* Volume for license key */}}
+{{- define "risingwave.licenseKeyVolume"}}
+{{- if and .Values.license.passAsFile (or .Values.license.key (and .Values.license.secret.key .Values.license.secret.name)) }}
+- name: license
+  secret:
+    secretName: {{ include "risingwave.licenseKeySecretName" . | quote }}
+    items:
+    - key: {{ include "risingwave.licenseKeySecretKey" . | quote }}
+      path: license.jwt
+{{- end }}
+{{- end }}
+
+{{/* Volume mount for license key */}}
+{{- define "risingwave.licenseKeyVolumeMount"}}
+{{- if and .Values.license.passAsFile (or .Values.license.key (and .Values.license.secret.key .Values.license.secret.name)) }}
+- name: license
+  mountPath: /license
+  readOnly: true
+{{- end }}
+{{- end }}
diff --git a/charts/risingwave/templates/license-secret.yaml b/charts/risingwave/templates/license-secret.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..00c9de6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/charts/risingwave/templates/license-secret.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+{{- $secretName := (include "risingwave.licenseKeySecretName" .) }}
+{{- with .Values.license }}
+{{/* passAsFile && key != "" && (secret.key == "" || secret.name == "") */}}
+{{- if and .passAsFile .key (or (empty .secret.key) (empty .secret.name)) }}
+apiVersion: v1
+kind: Secret
+metadata:
+  name: {{ $secretName }}
+stringData:
+  license.jwt: {{ .key }}
+{{- end }}
+{{- end }}
diff --git a/charts/risingwave/templates/meta-sts.yaml b/charts/risingwave/templates/meta-sts.yaml
index 19f394e..891c0b7 100644
--- a/charts/risingwave/templates/meta-sts.yaml
+++ b/charts/risingwave/templates/meta-sts.yaml
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ spec:
       {{- end }}
       {{- end }}
       volumes:
+      {{ include "risingwave.licenseKeyVolume" . | nindent 6 }}
       - name: config
         configMap:
           name: {{ include "risingwave.configurationConfigMapName" . }}
@@ -327,6 +328,7 @@ spec:
             {{ toYaml .Values.metaComponent.resources.requests | nindent 12 }}
           {{- end }}
         volumeMounts:
+        {{ include "risingwave.licenseKeyVolumeMount" . | nindent 8 }}
         - mountPath: /risingwave/config
           name: config
           readOnly: true
diff --git a/charts/risingwave/templates/standalone/standalone-sts.yaml b/charts/risingwave/templates/standalone/standalone-sts.yaml
index b4d496c..5b5a2c1 100644
--- a/charts/risingwave/templates/standalone/standalone-sts.yaml
+++ b/charts/risingwave/templates/standalone/standalone-sts.yaml
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ spec:
       {{- end }}
       {{- end }}
       volumes:
+      {{ include "risingwave.licenseKeyVolume" . | nindent 6 }}
       - name: config
         configMap:
           name: {{ include "risingwave.configurationConfigMapName" . }}
@@ -367,6 +368,7 @@ spec:
             {{ toYaml .Values.standalone.resources.requests | nindent 12 }}
           {{- end }}
         volumeMounts:
+        {{ include "risingwave.licenseKeyVolumeMount" . | nindent 8 }}
         - mountPath: /risingwave/config
           name: config
           readOnly: true
diff --git a/charts/risingwave/tests/license_secret_test.yaml b/charts/risingwave/tests/license_secret_test.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..57b40f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/charts/risingwave/tests/license_secret_test.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+suite: License secret test
+templates:
+- license-secret.yaml
+chart:
+  appVersion: 1.0.0
+  version: 0.0.1
+tests:
+- it: no license key
+  asserts:
+  - hasDocuments:
+      count: 0
+- it: license key found with raw key and not passing by file
+  set:
+    license:
+      key: "ABC"
+      passAsFile: false
+  asserts:
+  - hasDocuments:
+      count: 0
+- it: license key found with secret and not passing by file
+  set:
+    license:
+      secret:
+        name: a
+        key: b
+      passAsFile: false
+  asserts:
+  - hasDocuments:
+      count: 0
+- it: license key found with raw key and passing by file
+  set:
+    license:
+      key: "ABC"
+      passAsFile: true
+  asserts:
+  - hasDocuments:
+      count: 1
+  - containsDocument:
+      apiVersion: v1
+      kind: Secret
+  - equal:
+      path: metadata.name
+      value: RELEASE-NAME-risingwave-license
+  - equal:
+      path: stringData["license.jwt"]
+      value: "ABC"
+- it: license key found with secret and passing by file
+  set:
+    license:
+      secret:
+        name: a
+        key: b
+      passAsFile: true
+  asserts:
+  - hasDocuments:
+      count: 0
diff --git a/charts/risingwave/tests/license_standalone_test.yaml b/charts/risingwave/tests/license_standalone_test.yaml
index f583a1b..51e9cfa 100644
--- a/charts/risingwave/tests/license_standalone_test.yaml
+++ b/charts/risingwave/tests/license_standalone_test.yaml
@@ -15,7 +15,47 @@ tests:
       content:
         name: RW_LICENSE_KEY
       any: true
-- it: license key found with raw key
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].env
+      content:
+        name: RW_LICENSE_KEY_PATH
+      any: true
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].volumeMounts
+      content:
+        name: license
+      any: true
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.volumes
+      content:
+        name: license
+      any: true
+- it: no license key and passing as file
+  set:
+    license:
+      passAsFile: true
+  asserts:
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].env
+      content:
+        name: RW_LICENSE_KEY
+      any: true
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].env
+      content:
+        name: RW_LICENSE_KEY_PATH
+      any: true
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].volumeMounts
+      content:
+        name: license
+      any: true
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.volumes
+      content:
+        name: license
+      any: true
+- it: license key found with raw key and not passing by file
   set:
     license:
       key: "ABC"
@@ -25,7 +65,53 @@ tests:
       content:
         name: RW_LICENSE_KEY
         value: "ABC"
-- it: license key found with secret ref
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].env
+      content:
+        name: RW_LICENSE_KEY_PATH
+      any: true
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].volumeMounts
+      content:
+        name: license
+      any: true
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.volumes
+      content:
+        name: license
+      any: true
+- it: license key found with raw key and passing by file
+  set:
+    license:
+      key: "ABC"
+      passAsFile: true
+  asserts:
+  - contains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].env
+      content:
+        name: RW_LICENSE_KEY_PATH
+        value: /license/license.jwt
+  - contains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].volumeMounts
+      content:
+        name: license
+        mountPath: /license
+        readOnly: true
+  - contains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.volumes
+      content:
+        name: license
+        secret:
+          secretName: RELEASE-NAME-risingwave-license
+          items:
+          - key: license.jwt
+            path: license.jwt
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].env
+      content:
+        name: RW_LICENSE_KEY
+      any: true
+- it: license key found with secret ref and not passing by file
   set:
     license:
       secret:
@@ -40,7 +126,55 @@ tests:
           secretKeyRef:
             name: LICENSE-SECRET
             key: LICENSE-KEY
-- it: license key found with secret ref and key
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].env
+      content:
+        name: RW_LICENSE_KEY_PATH
+      any: true
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].volumeMounts
+      content:
+        name: license
+      any: true
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.volumes
+      content:
+        name: license
+      any: true
+- it: license key found with secret ref and passing by file
+  set:
+    license:
+      secret:
+        name: LICENSE-SECRET
+        key: LICENSE-KEY
+      passAsFile: true
+  asserts:
+  - contains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].env
+      content:
+        name: RW_LICENSE_KEY_PATH
+        value: /license/license.jwt
+  - contains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].volumeMounts
+      content:
+        name: license
+        mountPath: /license
+        readOnly: true
+  - contains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.volumes
+      content:
+        name: license
+        secret:
+          secretName: LICENSE-SECRET
+          items:
+          - key: LICENSE-KEY
+            path: license.jwt
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].env
+      content:
+        name: RW_LICENSE_KEY
+      any: true
+- it: license key found with secret ref and key and not passing by file
   set:
     license:
       key: "ABC"
@@ -56,3 +190,52 @@ tests:
           secretKeyRef:
             name: LICENSE-SECRET
             key: LICENSE-KEY
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].env
+      content:
+        name: RW_LICENSE_KEY_PATH
+      any: true
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].volumeMounts
+      content:
+        name: license
+      any: true
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.volumes
+      content:
+        name: license
+      any: true
+- it: license key found with secret ref and key and passing by file
+  set:
+    license:
+      key: "ABC"
+      secret:
+        name: LICENSE-SECRET
+        key: LICENSE-KEY
+      passAsFile: true
+  asserts:
+  - contains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].env
+      content:
+        name: RW_LICENSE_KEY_PATH
+        value: /license/license.jwt
+  - contains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].volumeMounts
+      content:
+        name: license
+        mountPath: /license
+        readOnly: true
+  - contains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.volumes
+      content:
+        name: license
+        secret:
+          secretName: LICENSE-SECRET
+          items:
+          - key: LICENSE-KEY
+            path: license.jwt
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].env
+      content:
+        name: RW_LICENSE_KEY
+      any: true
diff --git a/charts/risingwave/tests/license_test.yaml b/charts/risingwave/tests/license_test.yaml
index caf737a..e65e159 100644
--- a/charts/risingwave/tests/license_test.yaml
+++ b/charts/risingwave/tests/license_test.yaml
@@ -12,7 +12,47 @@ tests:
       content:
         name: RW_LICENSE_KEY
       any: true
-- it: license key found with raw key
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].env
+      content:
+        name: RW_LICENSE_KEY_PATH
+      any: true
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].volumeMounts
+      content:
+        name: license
+      any: true
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.volumes
+      content:
+        name: license
+      any: true
+- it: no license key and passing as file
+  set:
+    license:
+      passAsFile: true
+  asserts:
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].env
+      content:
+        name: RW_LICENSE_KEY
+      any: true
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].env
+      content:
+        name: RW_LICENSE_KEY_PATH
+      any: true
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].volumeMounts
+      content:
+        name: license
+      any: true
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.volumes
+      content:
+        name: license
+      any: true
+- it: license key found with raw key and not passing by file
   set:
     license:
       key: "ABC"
@@ -22,7 +62,53 @@ tests:
       content:
         name: RW_LICENSE_KEY
         value: "ABC"
-- it: license key found with secret ref
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].env
+      content:
+        name: RW_LICENSE_KEY_PATH
+      any: true
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].volumeMounts
+      content:
+        name: license
+      any: true
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.volumes
+      content:
+        name: license
+      any: true
+- it: license key found with raw key and passing by file
+  set:
+    license:
+      key: "ABC"
+      passAsFile: true
+  asserts:
+  - contains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].env
+      content:
+        name: RW_LICENSE_KEY_PATH
+        value: /license/license.jwt
+  - contains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].volumeMounts
+      content:
+        name: license
+        mountPath: /license
+        readOnly: true
+  - contains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.volumes
+      content:
+        name: license
+        secret:
+          secretName: RELEASE-NAME-risingwave-license
+          items:
+          - key: license.jwt
+            path: license.jwt
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].env
+      content:
+        name: RW_LICENSE_KEY
+      any: true
+- it: license key found with secret ref and not passing by file
   set:
     license:
       secret:
@@ -37,7 +123,55 @@ tests:
           secretKeyRef:
             name: LICENSE-SECRET
             key: LICENSE-KEY
-- it: license key found with secret ref and key
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].env
+      content:
+        name: RW_LICENSE_KEY_PATH
+      any: true
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].volumeMounts
+      content:
+        name: license
+      any: true
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.volumes
+      content:
+        name: license
+      any: true
+- it: license key found with secret ref and passing by file
+  set:
+    license:
+      secret:
+        name: LICENSE-SECRET
+        key: LICENSE-KEY
+      passAsFile: true
+  asserts:
+  - contains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].env
+      content:
+        name: RW_LICENSE_KEY_PATH
+        value: /license/license.jwt
+  - contains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].volumeMounts
+      content:
+        name: license
+        mountPath: /license
+        readOnly: true
+  - contains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.volumes
+      content:
+        name: license
+        secret:
+          secretName: LICENSE-SECRET
+          items:
+          - key: LICENSE-KEY
+            path: license.jwt
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].env
+      content:
+        name: RW_LICENSE_KEY
+      any: true
+- it: license key found with secret ref and key and not passing by file
   set:
     license:
       key: "ABC"
@@ -53,3 +187,52 @@ tests:
           secretKeyRef:
             name: LICENSE-SECRET
             key: LICENSE-KEY
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].env
+      content:
+        name: RW_LICENSE_KEY_PATH
+      any: true
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].volumeMounts
+      content:
+        name: license
+      any: true
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.volumes
+      content:
+        name: license
+      any: true
+- it: license key found with secret ref and key and passing by file
+  set:
+    license:
+      key: "ABC"
+      secret:
+        name: LICENSE-SECRET
+        key: LICENSE-KEY
+      passAsFile: true
+  asserts:
+  - contains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].env
+      content:
+        name: RW_LICENSE_KEY_PATH
+        value: /license/license.jwt
+  - contains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].volumeMounts
+      content:
+        name: license
+        mountPath: /license
+        readOnly: true
+  - contains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.volumes
+      content:
+        name: license
+        secret:
+          secretName: LICENSE-SECRET
+          items:
+          - key: LICENSE-KEY
+            path: license.jwt
+  - notContains:
+      path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].env
+      content:
+        name: RW_LICENSE_KEY
+      any: true
diff --git a/charts/risingwave/values.yaml b/charts/risingwave/values.yaml
index 27cf487..7704935 100644
--- a/charts/risingwave/values.yaml
+++ b/charts/risingwave/values.yaml
@@ -1401,9 +1401,14 @@ license:
   ## @param secret Use existing Secret to provide license key.
   ## If set, value of key will be ignored.
   secret:
-    ## @param name Name of the existing Secret.
+    ## @param name of the existing Secret.
     ##
     name: ""
-    ## @param key Key in the Secret. Defaults to "licenseKey".
+    ## @param key in the Secret. Defaults to "licenseKey".
     ##
     key: "licenseKey"
+
+  ## @param passAsFile Pass the license key as a file. Defaults to false.
+  ## Will be removed once RisingWave v2.1 is released.
+  ##
+  passAsFile: false