Yes — SimpleBoard runs on your own server. If you need full control over where your data lives, self-hosting is a supported and fully functional option. Here's when it makes sense, what you need, and how to get it running.
When to Self-Host
The cloud version of SimpleBoard at simpleboard.pl is ready in 30 seconds and handles infrastructure, backups, and updates for you. For most teams, that's the right choice. But there are situations where self-hosting makes more sense:
- Data sovereignty — your organization requires that all data stays within your own infrastructure and never passes through third-party servers
- Regulated industries — finance, healthcare, and public sector organizations often operate under compliance requirements (GDPR, HIPAA, ISO 27001) that restrict where data can be stored and processed
- Custom internal integrations — you want to connect SimpleBoard to internal systems that aren't reachable from the public internet
- Network isolation — your security policy requires that project management tools operate entirely within your corporate network, with no external connectivity
If any of these apply to your situation, self-hosting gives you complete control. Your data stays where you put it.
Technical Requirements
| Requirement | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Linux (Ubuntu 22.04+, Debian 12) | Ubuntu 22.04 LTS |
| RAM | 2 GB | 4 GB |
| CPU | 2 vCPU | 4 vCPU |
| Storage | 20 GB | 100 GB+ |
| Docker | 24.0+ | latest |
| Database | PostgreSQL 15+ (bundled) | PostgreSQL 16 |
Docker and Docker Compose are the only required dependencies. PostgreSQL is bundled in the Compose file — you don't need to install or configure it separately unless you prefer to use an external managed database.
Setup in 3 Steps
The entire installation is handled by Docker Compose. On a fresh Ubuntu 22.04 server with Docker installed:
# 1. Set environment variables
cp .env.example .env
nano .env # fill in SECRET_KEY, DOMAIN, SMTP
# 2. Start
docker compose up -dDocker Compose pulls the SimpleBoard application image, starts PostgreSQL (bundled), runs database migrations, and starts the web server. The first startup takes 2–3 minutes. After that, SimpleBoard is running and accessible at the domain you configured.
Subsequent starts (after reboots, updates) are faster since the images are already cached locally.
Configuration
All configuration is done through environment variables in the .env file:
DOMAIN=simpleboard.yourcompany.com
SECRET_KEY=your-secret-key-min-32-chars
DATABASE_URL=postgresql://sb:password@db:5432/simpleboard
SMTP_HOST=smtp.yourcompany.com
SMTP_PORT=587Key variables to set:
- DOMAIN — the hostname where SimpleBoard will be accessible. Used to generate links in emails and enforce CORS.
- SECRET_KEY — a random string of at least 32 characters used for session signing and encryption. Generate one with
openssl rand -hex 32. - DATABASE_URL — connection string for PostgreSQL. If you're using the bundled database, this is pre-configured in the Compose file and can be left as-is.
- SMTP_HOST / SMTP_PORT — your outbound mail server. SimpleBoard uses email for account invitations, password resets, and notifications.
Important: Set up regular database backups before going to production. We recommend automated daily backups to external storage (Amazon S3, Backblaze B2, or any S3-compatible service). The bundled PostgreSQL data lives in a named Docker volume — back up that volume or dump the database with pg_dump on a schedule.
Tip: For production deployments, run a reverse proxy in front of SimpleBoard. Caddy is the easiest option — it handles SSL certificates automatically via Let's Encrypt with zero configuration. Nginx works equally well if you prefer it. Both proxy HTTP traffic to SimpleBoard on its internal port and terminate TLS at the edge.
Licensing
On-premise installations require a separate self-hosted license. The cloud plan subscription does not cover self-hosted deployments.
The self-hosted license covers:
- Unlimited users on your infrastructure — no per-seat pricing
- All updates released during the license period
- Email support for installation and configuration questions
To get a license or ask about pricing for your team size, contact us at hello@simpleboard.pl. We'll get back to you within one business day.
Prefer not to manage infrastructure? The cloud version at simpleboard.pl is ready in 30 seconds, handles updates and backups automatically, and starts at 1€ per user per month.