# A self-hosted helpdesk with nothing held back

> Colliedesk is open source. Run it on your own server with Docker and PostgreSQL, free, with every feature. Here is what that takes.

Source: https://colliedesk.com/self-hosted-helpdesk
Updated: 2026-10-16

## 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](https://colliedesk.com/pricing) 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

```sh
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](https://colliedesk.com/docs/install).

## What you take on

Self-hosting is free in money, not in time. You are responsible for:

1. **Backups** of PostgreSQL and the attachments volume, and a tested restore.
2. **Updates**: pull a new image tag and restart. Pin a release tag if you do not want the `edge` build.
3. **Email delivery**: your support address and its DNS records (see [Connect email](https://colliedesk.com/docs/email-channel)).
4. **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](https://colliedesk.com/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](https://github.com/colliedesk/colliedesk).

### What must I back up?

Two things: the PostgreSQL database and the attachments volume. The [install guide](https://colliedesk.com/docs/install#data-to-back-up) 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](https://colliedesk.com/docs/export).