When self-hosting is the right call
- Your customers' messages must stay on servers you control: a regulated industry, a data residency rule, or a contract.
- You already run Docker services and have someone who keeps them patched and backed up.
- You want to read the code that handles your customer data, or change it.
If none of these apply, Colliedesk Cloud runs the same code for $49 per workspace per month, and you can still export everything.
What you run
| Part | Detail |
|---|---|
| Server | One container image: ghcr.io/colliedesk/colliedesk |
| Database | PostgreSQL 16 or newer, in the same Compose stack or external |
| Requirements | Docker with Compose v2 |
| Workspace isolation | PostgreSQL row-level security; requests run as a database user that can only read the signed-in workspace |
| Sign-in | One-time links, no passwords to store |
| Licence | AGPL-3.0, every feature |
Install in one command
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/colliedesk/colliedesk/main/install.sh | sh -s -- \
--name "My Support Desk" --email "admin@example.com"
The command starts the stack, creates the workspace and prints a one-time sign-in link. Re-running it keeps your existing .env. Step-by-step from a clone, image tags and database hardening: install guide.
What you take on
Self-hosting is free in money, not in time. You are responsible for:
- Backups of PostgreSQL and the attachments volume, and a tested restore.
- Updates: pull a new image tag and restart. Pin a release tag if you do not want the
edgebuild. - Email delivery: your support address and its DNS records (see Connect email).
- Uptime and TLS for the address your agents open.
What Colliedesk does today
Colliedesk is alpha: the interface or database schema may change between releases. Self-host it to try it; read the roadmap before a production move.
| Capability | Colliedesk |
|---|---|
| Shared inbox: replies, private notes, status, priority, assignee, tags, search, bulk actions | Available now (alpha) |
| Email channel (inbound and outbound, threading) | Available now (alpha) |
| Freshdesk importer with reconcile report | Available now (alpha) |
| Saved replies, attachments, live updates and browser notifications | Available now (alpha) |
| Passwordless sign-in, revocable sessions, isolated workspaces, full export | Available now (alpha) |
| One-command install and published container image | Available now |
| Colliedesk Cloud with a 14-day free trial, then Team or Founding | Available now (alpha) |
| Cc on replies, new conversation from the inbox, contact history | Beta (0.1.0) |
| Upgrade guide, upgrades tested on real data | Beta (0.1.0) |
| AI draft replies, triage, auto-answer with a human in the loop | Coming after beta |
| Knowledge base and public help center | Coming after beta |
| Automations, macros, SLA, business hours, CSAT and reports | Coming later |
| Zendesk and Help Scout importers, live chat widget | Coming later |
Questions people ask
What do I need to self-host Colliedesk?
A Linux server with Docker and Compose v2. Colliedesk runs as one server container plus PostgreSQL 16 or newer. One install command starts both and creates your first workspace.
Is the self-hosted version limited?
No. Self-hosting is free with every feature. There is no enterprise edition and no feature held back for Cloud. The code is AGPL-3.0 on GitHub.
What must I back up?
Two things: the PostgreSQL database and the attachments volume. The install guide has the exact pg_dump steps.
Can I move from self-hosted to Cloud, or back?
Yes. Your data is in PostgreSQL with an open model, and an admin can download everything as one ZIP file. See export all your data.