---
title: Self-Hosted Installation Guide
description: Complete guide to install and setup a production-ready Chatwoot instance on your own infrastructure.
sidebarTitle: Introduction
---

Welcome to the Chatwoot self-hosted installation guide. This comprehensive documentation will help you deploy, configure, and maintain your own Chatwoot instance with full control over your data and infrastructure.

## Why Self-Host Chatwoot?

Self-hosting Chatwoot gives you complete control over your customer support platform:

- **Data Privacy**: Keep all customer data on your own servers
- **Customization**: Modify the platform to fit your specific needs
- **Cost Control**: No per-agent pricing - scale as much as you need
- **Compliance**: Meet specific regulatory requirements
- **Integration**: Deep integration with your existing infrastructure

## Deployment Options

Chatwoot supports multiple deployment methods to fit different infrastructure needs:

### 🐧 Linux VM Deployment
Deploy directly on Ubuntu/Linux virtual machines with our automated installation script.
- **Best for**: Traditional server environments
- **Complexity**: Low to Medium
- **Maintenance**: Manual updates required

### 🐳 Docker Deployment
Use Docker containers for consistent, portable deployments.
- **Best for**: Containerized environments
- **Complexity**: Medium
- **Maintenance**: Easy updates with container pulls

### ☸️ Kubernetes Deployment
Deploy on Kubernetes clusters for enterprise-scale operations.
- **Best for**: Large-scale, high-availability deployments
- **Complexity**: High
- **Maintenance**: Automated with proper CI/CD

### ☁️ Cloud Provider Deployments
One-click deployments on major cloud platforms:
- **AWS**: EC2, ECS, and Marketplace options
- **Azure**: Container Instances and VM deployments
- **DigitalOcean**: Droplets and App Platform
- **Google Cloud**: Compute Engine and Cloud Run
- **Heroku**: Simple one-click deployment

## System Requirements

### Minimum Requirements
- **CPU**: 2 cores
- **RAM**: 4GB
- **Storage**: 20GB SSD
- **OS**: Ubuntu 20.04+ or compatible Linux distribution

### Recommended for Production
- **CPU**: 4+ cores
- **RAM**: 8GB+
- **Storage**: 50GB+ SSD
- **Database**: PostgreSQL 12+
- **Cache**: Redis 6+
- **Reverse Proxy**: Nginx or similar

## What You'll Need

Before starting your Chatwoot installation, ensure you have:

### Technical Requirements
- [ ] Server or cloud instance meeting minimum requirements
- [ ] Domain name (recommended for production)
- [ ] SSL certificate (Let's Encrypt recommended)
- [ ] SMTP server for email notifications

### Access Requirements
- [ ] SSH access to your server
- [ ] Root or sudo privileges
- [ ] Firewall configuration access

### Optional but Recommended
- [ ] Object storage (AWS S3, Google Cloud Storage, etc.)
- [ ] CDN for static assets
- [ ] Monitoring tools (APM, logging)
- [ ] Backup solution

## Security Considerations

When self-hosting Chatwoot, consider these security aspects:

- **Regular Updates**: Keep Chatwoot and system packages updated
- **Firewall Configuration**: Only expose necessary ports
- **SSL/TLS**: Always use HTTPS in production
- **Database Security**: Secure PostgreSQL with strong passwords
- **Backup Encryption**: Encrypt sensitive backup data
- **Access Control**: Implement proper user access controls

## Getting Started

Ready to deploy Chatwoot? Choose your preferred deployment method:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Quick Start with Docker" icon="docker" href="/self-hosted/deployment/docker">
    Get up and running quickly with Docker containers
  </Card>
  <Card title="Linux VM Installation" icon="server" href="/self-hosted/deployment/linux-vm">
    Traditional server deployment with our automated script
  </Card>
  <Card title="Kubernetes Deployment" icon="dharmachakra" href="/self-hosted/deployment/kubernetes">
    Enterprise-scale deployment on Kubernetes
  </Card>
  <Card title="Cloud Providers" icon="cloud" href="/self-hosted/cloud/aws">
    One-click deployments on major cloud platforms
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Community and Support

- **Documentation**: Comprehensive guides and API references
- **GitHub**: [Source code and issue tracking](https://github.com/chatwoot/chatwoot)
- **Discord**: [Community chat and support](https://discord.gg/cJXdrwS)
- **Forum**: [Community discussions and Q&A](https://github.com/chatwoot/chatwoot/discussions)

---

<Note>
This documentation covers Chatwoot Community Edition (CE). For Enterprise features and support, visit [Chatwoot Enterprise](https://www.chatwoot.com/pricing).
</Note> 