Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to Convex · ☁️ hosting
Convex vs Convex Self-Hosted
The actual Convex backend and reactive function runtime on your own server; auth still comes from an external provider. Here is how Convex Self-Hosted ($0/mo free) stacks up against Convex (paid subscription) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
Convex Self-Hosted
$0.00/mo · FSL-1.1-ALv2
Convex vs Convex Self-Hosted Specification Matrix
facts verified 2026-08-10
| Dimension | Convex (Paid) | Convex Self-Hosted (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | Paid tier | $0 / mo |
| Source & License | Proprietary SaaS | free FSL-1.1-ALv2 |
| Where It Runs | Vendor Cloud | Self-host (your server) |
| Platforms | Web / Cloud | webself-hostedself-host, real ops |
| GitHub Stars | — | ★ $0 forever |
Deep Dive: Switching from Convex to Convex Self-Hosted
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
What you trade away
This is Convex's actual runtime, but the subscription savings remove managed scaling, backups, monitoring, upgrades, incident response, and integrated authentication from the package.
How to deploy Convex Self-Hosted
Docker Compose for the Convex backend and dashboard
What it takes to run
The first hurdle is not Docker itself but replacing Convex Cloud's managed envelope: configure instance secrets, a public URL/TLS, external authentication, durable volumes, backups, monitoring, and upgrades.
Where your data lives
Database state, scheduled-function state, indexes, and file-storage objects are kept in Convex's internal representation inside persistent volumes controlled by the self-hosted backend; this is not a user-facing SQL database. Application functions remain in the project's source tree and are pushed to that deployment.
Why fork Convex Self-Hosted instead of vibe-coding a Convex clone?
Do not mistake the interface for the product. Convex's durable value is infrastructure, uptime, operations, which a solo one-shot build cannot reproduce responsibly. The prompt therefore builds only the closest honest personal consolation tool.
Convex vs Convex Self-Hosted FAQ
Is Convex Self-Hosted a good free alternative to Convex?+
Yes. Convex Self-Hosted is a verified free replacement for Convex. The actual Convex backend and reactive function runtime on your own server; auth still comes from an external provider.
What is the catch when switching from Convex to Convex Self-Hosted?+
This is Convex's actual runtime, but the subscription savings remove managed scaling, backups, monitoring, upgrades, incident response, and integrated authentication from the package.
How do I install or self-host Convex Self-Hosted instead of Convex?+
Install: Docker Compose for the Convex backend and dashboard. Setup: The first hurdle is not Docker itself but replacing Convex Cloud's managed envelope: configure instance secrets, a public URL/TLS, external authentication, durable volumes, backups, monitoring, and upgrades.
