Question 1

What am I self-hosting?

Accepted Answer

The relay — the server that carries a transfer when two devices cannot reach each other directly. It is one container; the apps and everything else stay exactly the same.

Question 2

What are the requirements?

Accepted Answer

Any server that runs Docker, with one UDP port open. No domain, no certificates, no reverse proxy — a $5 VPS is plenty.

Question 3

Can the relay see my files?

Accepted Answer

No. Files are end-to-end encrypted between the two devices, so a relay only ever forwards bytes it cannot read — including the one you run yourself.

Question 4

What is the difference between Personal and Business?

Accepted Answer

The same container either way. Business unlocks several relays managed from one place, removes the limit on simultaneous transfers, and adds usage metrics you can export anywhere, a commercial use license and priority support.

Question 5

Does the transfer limit apply to everything?

Accepted Answer

No. Most transfers go straight between the two devices and never touch a relay, so nothing about them is capped. The limit only counts transfers the relay actually carries, which is the fallback for when two devices cannot reach each other directly.

Question 6

What happens when a license expires?

Accepted Answer

Nothing breaks. Transfers in flight finish, the relay keeps running, and it simply drops back to the personal limits until you renew.

Question 7

How does billing work?

Accepted Answer

The business license is billed once a year per organization, with no per-device or per-seat pricing. Cancel whenever you like and it stays active until the end of the term.

Self-host AlterSend

Why self-host?

FAQs

Run it on your own terms