Managed white-label or self-hosted: who runs it, and what changes for you.
Both give you the same Sky Free application under your own brand. The difference is where it lives, who looks after it, and how you pay. This page explains what actually happens in each, step by step.
Your brand, your customers
Managed white-label
- We run the servers
- Updates applied for you
- Your domain and brand
Self-hosted
- Runs on your servers
- Your database, your data
- Weekly releases you apply
An everyday way to think about it
Managed white-label
Managed white-label is like renting a furnished shop. The building, power and repairs are looked after, and you decorate it with your name and run your business.
Self-hosted
Self-hosted is like owning the building. It is yours to arrange and it holds your things, and you look after the upkeep.
Which one sounds like you?
Tick the statements that fit. This does not decide for you. It shows which program each statement points toward.
Tick a statement to see where it points.
What stays the same
Whichever you choose, you run the same application with the same admin panel. These parts are yours in both.
The whole product
Shared inbox, automations, AI agents, campaigns, customer records, analytics, integrations and the mobile app. Some features depend on your plan, add-ons or licence.
Your brand
Your name, logo, colours, support email, menus and footer links, and the domain your customers open.
Your customers and plans
Platform users, the plans you sell, their subscriptions and their payments, in your own admin panel.
Your payment gateways
You set up the payment gateways your customers pay through, per platform.
Your email and files
Your own email sending settings, file storage settings, email templates and push notifications.
Your app connections
The app details your customers connect through: WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Google, plus store integrations such as Shopify.
What actually happens, step by step
You start on Sky Free's infrastructure. We run the servers; you brand it, connect your domain and look after your customers.
- 1
Pick the setup plan and a billing mode: prepaid Server Credits, or commission taken from a wallet. The billing mode is locked after setup.
- 2
You pay once. Your platform, its owner account and starter credits are created in the same order.
- 3
You point your domain to the address we give you (a CNAME record) and wait for it to spread across the internet.
- 4
You receive an email with the login address, the DNS instructions and a summary of your billing mode.
- 5
You sign in, add your branding, set up payment gateways and email, and invite your team and customers.
- 6
As usage grows you buy more credits or keep your wallet funded, and add extras (add-ons) whenever you need them.
Who does what
| Task | Managed white-label | Self-hosted |
|---|---|---|
| Servers and hosting | Sky Free runs the platform's servers. | You run the web and worker services on your own host. Railway is recommended, and any Docker host works. |
| Database and files | Kept on Sky Free's infrastructure. | Your own PostgreSQL, Redis and storage. We do not touch customer data. |
| Your domain | You add one DNS record and the branded panel opens on your domain. | You set your domains and security certificates in your own deployment. |
| Updates | Delivered on the managed platform. | Weekly releases as tagged images. You deploy them when you choose. |
| Backups and day-to-day security | Sky Free runs the platform infrastructure. | You own hosting, scaling, backups, credentials and the security of your environment. |
| How usage is paid for | Server Credits or commission. | Your own hosting bill, plus message fees from your message providers. |
| Selling white-label to your own partners | Not part of a managed platform. | Available on your instance when your licence includes white-label. |
Servers and hosting
- Managed white-label
- Sky Free runs the platform's servers.
- Self-hosted
- You run the web and worker services on your own host. Railway is recommended, and any Docker host works.
Database and files
- Managed white-label
- Kept on Sky Free's infrastructure.
- Self-hosted
- Your own PostgreSQL, Redis and storage. We do not touch customer data.
Your domain
- Managed white-label
- You add one DNS record and the branded panel opens on your domain.
- Self-hosted
- You set your domains and security certificates in your own deployment.
Updates
- Managed white-label
- Delivered on the managed platform.
- Self-hosted
- Weekly releases as tagged images. You deploy them when you choose.
Backups and day-to-day security
- Managed white-label
- Sky Free runs the platform infrastructure.
- Self-hosted
- You own hosting, scaling, backups, credentials and the security of your environment.
How usage is paid for
- Managed white-label
- Server Credits or commission.
- Self-hosted
- Your own hosting bill, plus message fees from your message providers.
Selling white-label to your own partners
- Managed white-label
- Not part of a managed platform.
- Self-hosted
- Available on your instance when your licence includes white-label.
How you pay
Current prices are on each program's page.
Managed white-label
- Setup is a one-time purchase for a new platform. It provisions the platform, the owner account, the domain target and starter credits.
- Server Credits: you buy prepaid credit packs. Each message sent or received on your connected channels uses credits. Credits are not topped up automatically, and low-credit emails are sent.
- Commission: you keep a wallet funded. A set percentage of each successful transaction on your platform is taken from it, and a minimum monthly commission applies.
- Add-ons unlock extra features for a period, for example mobile app builds, extra storage, AI assist or extra channels.
Self-hosted
- A 7-day free trial is available.
- A one-time Docker charge buys the licence.
- An annual renewal covers licence, weekly updates and standard support.
- Add-on licences unlock extra features and channels. You pay your own hosting and message fees on top.
What you manage in the admin panel
These are the real settings and screens in the application. The first four groups are available to every platform owner.
Records
Branding
Domain
Servers
Customers and money
Platform users · Plans you sell · Subscriptions · Transactions · Payment gateway · Platform billing
Look and feel
General settings and branding · Domain setup · Menu manager · Footer links · Email templates
Connections
Email sending (SMTP) · File storage · Push notifications · AI agent settings · Integration app settings · WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Google app settings · Webhooks and Meta relay
Rules
Trial settings · Tax settings · Wallet settings · Support ticket settings · Report settings · Mobile app settings
Instance only (self-hosted)
Custom-domain automation with Cloudflare or Railway · Server statistics · Scheduled jobs · Instance configuration · Licence status · White-label users, plans and transactions · Mobile app generation · Instance performance
Common questions
Is it the same application in both?
Yes. The product and the admin panel are the same. What differs is where it runs, who looks after it, and how you pay. Some features depend on your plan, add-ons or licence.
Where does my customers' data live?
On a managed platform, on Sky Free's infrastructure. On self-hosted, on your own database and servers.
What if my credits run out?
Credits are not topped up automatically. Buy another credit pack before you run out. On credits billing, low-credit emails are sent.
Can I change the billing mode later?
No. The billing mode chosen at setup is locked for that platform, so choose Server Credits or commission before you pay.
Do I need technical skills?
For managed white-label, no servers to run: you point a domain and use the admin panel. For self-hosted, your team should be comfortable with Docker, a PostgreSQL database and Redis.
Where do I see current prices?
Each program page shows its current prices and lets you start.
Ready to look closer?
Open the program page for prices and to get started, or talk to us.