How to self-host Papermark?

Papermark is an open-source document sharing platform that offers flexible hosting options to suit different needs. Before diving into self-hosting, it's important to understand the licensing structure and available options.

Hosting Options Overview

1. Papermark SaaS (Loved by 45k+ Users)

The easiest way to start using Papermark is through our hosted SaaS version. This option requires no technical setup or maintenance on your part. We host your data in the EU out of the box, with US and other global locations available. You can start with a free plan or choose from our paid plans based on your needs.

2. Bring Your Own Storage (Partially Self-Hosted)

For organizations that want the convenience of Papermark's hosted service while maintaining control over their document storage, we offer a "Bring Your Own Storage" option. You can connect your own AWS S3 bucket or other cloud storage using your own access keys, ensuring your files remain in your infrastructure while still benefiting from Papermark's features and managed platform.

This hybrid approach gives you data sovereignty without the complexity of managing the entire application infrastructure. Contact our team to set up your own storage integration.

3. Self-Hosting for Personal Use

As an open-source project, Papermark can be self-hosted for personal, non-commercial usage. This option is ideal for individual developers who want to experiment with the platform or use it for personal projects.

Important: Personal self-hosting does not include access to datarooms and advanced security features available in higher paid plans. These features are reserved for SaaS users and commercial license holders.

4. Self-Hosting for Teams and Companies

For team or company usage, especially when you need advanced security features and datarooms, you'll need to obtain a Papermark Self-Hosting License. This license enables you to use Papermark in a commercial environment with full access to enterprise features.

Enterprise licence includes commercial usage rights, access to advanced security features, datarooms, support for enterprise deployments, and regular updates. With the self-hosting license, you can either deploy and manage Papermark on your own infrastructure, or let our team handle the deployment while you maintain complete data ownership and control.

To discuss self-hosting licenses, you can book a call with our team, reach out via our GitHub repository, or contact our support team.

Hosting Options Comparison

Self-Hosting Setup Process

If you're setting up Papermark for personal use or have obtained a commercial license, here's a brief overview of the technical setup process:

1. Clone the Papermark repository from GitHub
2. Ensure you have the necessary prerequisites: Node.js (version 18 or higher), PostgreSQL, and a blob storage solution
3. Set up your environment variables
4. Install dependencies and initialize the database
5. Run the server in development or production mode

For a complete, step-by-step guide with all the necessary commands and detailed instructions, please visit our GitHub repository. There, you'll find comprehensive documentation on how to set up and configure your self-hosted Papermark instance.

Important Considerations

Self-hosting Papermark gives you full control over your data and allows you to customize the platform to your needs. However, it also requires technical knowledge and ongoing maintenance to ensure security and performance.

If you encounter any issues during the setup process or have questions, you can:

• Check our GitHub repository's Issues section for community support
• Contact our support team for assistance
• For commercial license inquiries, book a consultation call

Remember to keep your self-hosted instance updated with the latest security patches and features by regularly pulling updates from the main repository.

Which Option Is Right for You?

Choose SaaS if you:

• Want the easiest setup with zero maintenance
• Need to get started quickly
• Prefer not to manage infrastructure
• Want automatic updates and security patches

Choose Bring Your Own Storage if you:

• Need data sovereignty with your own storage infrastructure
• Want the convenience of managed Papermark platform
• Have compliance requirements for data location
• Prefer not to manage the entire application stack
• Need all advanced features without full self-hosting complexity

Choose Self-Hosting (Personal) if you:

• Are using Papermark for personal, non-commercial projects
• Have technical expertise
• Want to experiment with the codebase
• Need complete control over your data

Choose Self-Hosting (Commercial License) if you:

• Need to use Papermark for team or company purposes
• Require advanced security features
• Have compliance requirements for data residency
• Want full customization capabilities and infrastructure control
• Need enterprise-grade support with complete self-hosting

Important License Notice
The Papermark Open Source Project is licensed for personal use. Commercial usage, including team and company deployments with advanced security features, requires a self-hosting license. This ensures sustainable development and support for enterprise features.

For more information, check our pricing page for SaaS options, visit our GitHub repository for technical details, or contact our team to discuss self-hosting licenses.

View All Pricing Options