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Genfeed Core (OSS)Self-Hosted vs. Cloud

Self-Hosted vs. Cloud

GenFeed is available as an open source core (self-hosted) and a fully managed cloud platform. Here’s how to decide.

Comparison

Self-Hosted (Core)GenFeed Cloud
SetupYou manage infrastructureInstant — sign up and start
CostYour compute + API costsSubscription (free tier available)
Image generationYesYes
Video generationYesYes
Brand kitsYesYes
Model selectionFull control (any model)Curated best models
Multi-tenancyNoYes — manage multiple brands
PublisherNoYes — auto-post to X, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
AnalyticsNoYes — engagement, revenue per post
Team collaborationNoYes — roles, approvals, workspaces
Manager (templates, ingredients)NoYes
Studio (full editor)NoYes
MarketplaceNoYes — prompts, workflows, brand kits
APIYes (REST)Yes (REST + SDK)
WebhooksYesYes
NSFW contentYes (your models)SFW only
SupportCommunity (GitHub)Priority support + SLA
UpdatesManual (git pull)Automatic
LicenseAGPL-3.0Commercial

When to Self-Host

Self-hosting is right for you if:

  • You need NSFW content support (bring your own models)
  • You want full control over models, data, and infrastructure
  • You’re a developer who prefers to run their own stack
  • You have existing infrastructure (Kubernetes, Docker, etc.)
  • You need to keep data on-premises for compliance

When to Use Cloud

GenFeed Cloud is right for you if:

  • You want to start generating content immediately
  • You need multi-brand management (agencies, teams)
  • You want auto-publishing to social platforms
  • You need analytics and performance tracking
  • You want a collaborative workspace for your team
  • You prefer managed infrastructure with zero DevOps

Cost Comparison

Self-Hosted

  • Infrastructure: $20-100/month (VPS or cloud server)
  • AI API costs: Variable (Replicate ~$0.003-0.05/image, fal.ai similar)
  • Your time: Setup, maintenance, updates, monitoring

Cloud

  • Subscription: Free tier available, paid plans from $29/month
  • Per-use pricing: Images and video billed per asset
  • Your time: Zero infrastructure management

The math: If you generate fewer than 500 images/month, Cloud is more cost-effective when you factor in infrastructure and maintenance time. Above 500/month, self-hosting saves money — but you lose Publisher, Analytics, and multi-tenancy.

Migration Path

Start with either option — migration is straightforward:

Core → Cloud: Export your brand kits and templates, import into Cloud. Your content and settings transfer.

Cloud → Core: Export your configuration. Self-host with the same brand kits and generation settings.

Get Started

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