> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://qodex.ai/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Should I self-host or use Qodex cloud?

> Choose Qodex Cloud for the fastest path, or self-host when data residency, private networking, or compliance requires your infrastructure.

# Should I self-host or use Qodex cloud?

Use Qodex Cloud unless you have a clear reason to operate Qodex yourself.

The product experience is meant to be the same. The difference is where the infrastructure runs, who maintains it, and where your data lives.

## Choose Qodex Cloud when

* You want the fastest onboarding path.
* You do not want to manage Postgres, blob storage, containers, or upgrades.
* Your security review allows SaaS.
* BYOK gives you enough provider billing control.
* Your application is reachable from Qodex Cloud.

## Choose self-hosted when

* Test data, findings, screenshots, or transcripts must stay in your infrastructure.
* Your app is reachable only from a private network.
* Compliance requires your own cloud account, VPC, region, or controls.
* LLM traffic must go through an internal proxy or AI gateway.
* Your team already operates the required infrastructure and wants Qodex inside that stack.

## What changes operationally

| Area             | Qodex Cloud               | Self-hosted                             |
| ---------------- | ------------------------- | --------------------------------------- |
| Infrastructure   | Operated by Qodex         | Operated by your team                   |
| Postgres         | Managed by Qodex          | Your database                           |
| Artifact storage | Managed by Qodex          | Your storage backend                    |
| Updates          | Applied by Qodex          | You deploy new versions                 |
| Network access   | SaaS connectivity         | Your VPC, firewall, and egress controls |
| Secrets          | Managed by Qodex platform | Managed by your secret store            |

## Data residency rule

If scenario data, findings, screenshots, memory, and transcripts must live inside your infrastructure, choose self-hosted.

If that is not required, Qodex Cloud is usually simpler and faster.

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Self-hosted overview" icon="server" href="/self-hosted">
    See what self-hosting requires.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Single-container deploy" icon="box" href="/self-hosted-single-container">
    Try the smallest self-hosted setup.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Plans and pricing" icon="credit-card" href="/account-plans-and-pricing">
    Compare plan behavior.
  </Card>

  <Card title="AWS Terraform reference" icon="cloud" href="/self-hosted-aws-terraform">
    Review the production AWS shape.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>