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

# Self-Hosting Unpod: Complete Open Source Guide

> Deploy the full Unpod stack on your own infrastructure using Docker Compose - config, secrets, migrations, and production hardening

**May 27, 2026 · 12 min read**

***

Unpod is fully open source under the MIT license. This means you can run the entire platform - frontend, backend, voice pipeline, and all infrastructure - on your own servers. This guide covers everything from local setup to a production-hardened deployment.

## Why Self-Host?

* **Data sovereignty**: Call recordings and transcripts never leave your infrastructure
* **Compliance**: Meet HIPAA, GDPR, or SOC 2 requirements with full control over data residency
* **Cost at scale**: For high call volumes, self-hosting can significantly reduce per-minute costs
* **Customization**: Modify the source, add integrations, and white-label the platform

***

## Architecture Overview

Unpod is a monorepo with these key services:

| Service       | Tech            | Port  |
| ------------- | --------------- | ----- |
| Frontend      | Next.js         | 3000  |
| Backend Core  | Django (Python) | 8000  |
| API Services  | FastAPI         | 9116  |
| Real-time     | Centrifugo      | 8100  |
| Database      | PostgreSQL      | 5432  |
| Cache / Queue | Redis           | 6379  |
| Storage       | MongoDB         | 27017 |

All services are containerized and orchestrated via Docker Compose.

***

## Prerequisites

Install these before you start:

```bash theme={null}
# Check versions
node --version      # v20+
python3 --version   # 3.11+
docker --version    # 24+
docker compose version  # v2.20+
git --version
```

***

## Quick Start (Development)

The fastest path to a running instance:

```bash theme={null}
git clone https://github.com/unpod-ai/unpod.git
cd unpod
make quick-start    # installs deps, starts Docker, runs migrations
make dev            # starts all dev servers
```

Access points after startup:

| Service  | URL                                                                      |
| -------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| App      | [http://localhost:3000](http://localhost:3000)                           |
| API      | [http://localhost:8000/api/v1/](http://localhost:8000/api/v1/)           |
| Admin    | [http://localhost:8000/unpod-admin/](http://localhost:8000/unpod-admin/) |
| API Docs | [http://localhost:9116/docs](http://localhost:9116/docs)                 |

Default credentials: `admin@unpod.ai` / `admin123`

***

## Environment Configuration

Copy the example env file and set your values:

```bash theme={null}
cp .env.example .env
```

Critical variables to configure:

```bash theme={null}
# Django
SECRET_KEY=your-long-random-secret-key
DEBUG=False
ALLOWED_HOSTS=your-domain.com,www.your-domain.com

# Database
POSTGRES_DB=unpod
POSTGRES_USER=unpod
POSTGRES_PASSWORD=strong-password-here
DATABASE_URL=postgresql://unpod:password@postgres:5432/unpod

# Redis
REDIS_URL=redis://redis:6379/0

# Centrifugo (real-time)
CENTRIFUGO_SECRET=centrifugo-secret-token
CENTRIFUGO_API_KEY=centrifugo-api-key

# AI Providers (at least one required)
OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-...
GROQ_API_KEY=gsk_...

# Voice Providers
LIVEKIT_URL=wss://your-livekit-instance.com
LIVEKIT_API_KEY=API_KEY
LIVEKIT_SECRET=SECRET
```

***

## Production Deployment with Docker Compose

Use the production compose file:

```bash theme={null}
docker compose -f docker-compose.yml up -d --build
```

### Run Database Migrations

```bash theme={null}
docker compose exec backend python manage.py migrate --no-input
docker compose exec backend python manage.py collectstatic --no-input
```

### Create Admin User

```bash theme={null}
docker compose exec backend python manage.py createsuperuser
```

***

## Reverse Proxy Setup (Nginx)

Put Nginx in front of the app for SSL termination and routing:

```nginx theme={null}
server {
    listen 443 ssl;
    server_name your-domain.com;

    ssl_certificate /etc/letsencrypt/live/your-domain.com/fullchain.pem;
    ssl_certificate_key /etc/letsencrypt/live/your-domain.com/privkey.pem;

    # Frontend
    location / {
        proxy_pass http://localhost:3000;
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
    }

    # Backend API
    location /api/ {
        proxy_pass http://localhost:8000;
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
    }

    # WebSocket (Centrifugo)
    location /connection/websocket {
        proxy_pass http://localhost:8100;
        proxy_http_version 1.1;
        proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
        proxy_set_header Connection "upgrade";
    }
}
```

Use Certbot for free SSL: `certbot --nginx -d your-domain.com`

***

## Production Hardening Checklist

Before going live:

* [ ] Change all default passwords and secret keys
* [ ] Set `DEBUG=False` in all environments
* [ ] Configure `ALLOWED_HOSTS` to your domain only
* [ ] Enable PostgreSQL SSL connections
* [ ] Set up automated database backups (pg\_dump to S3 or equivalent)
* [ ] Configure log rotation for Django and Nginx logs
* [ ] Set up health check endpoints for uptime monitoring
* [ ] Restrict Redis to internal network only (no public exposure)
* [ ] Use Docker secrets or a vault for API keys (not plain .env in production)

***

## Updating Unpod

```bash theme={null}
git pull origin main
docker compose -f docker-compose.yml up -d --build
docker compose exec backend python manage.py migrate --no-input
```

Check the [GitHub releases](https://github.com/unpod-ai/unpod/releases) for breaking changes before pulling.

***

## What's Next

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Configuration Reference" icon="wrench" href="/platform/self-hosting/configuration">
    All environment variables and their defaults.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Architecture Docs" icon="layers" href="/platform/self-hosting/architecture">
    Monorepo structure, service dependencies, and data flow.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Developer Quickstart" icon="rocket" href="/platform/self-hosting/quickstart">
    Step-by-step local setup with all three setup methods.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Dev Platform Guide" icon="sliders-horizontal" href="/platform/dev-platform/introduction">
    Configure agents and telephony after setup.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>