Choose your Dagu deployment model.
Dagu is open source under GPLv3. Self-host the Community edition at no cost, add enterprise security with a paid license when your team needs it, or hand operations to us with a managed instance.
Community stays free and open source forever. Paid self-host licenses add SSO, RBAC, and audit logging. Managed Dagu Cloud is available from $20/month if you'd rather not run the platform yourself.
Run Dagu on your own infrastructure
Community is free and open source under GPLv3 — unlimited servers, unlimited workers, no strings. Paid tiers only add enterprise security (SSO, RBAC, audit logging) and support when your team needs them.
Download the binary and you're done. Pick a paid tier only if you need the extras.
- Full workflow automation and monitoring
- Web UI with DAG visualization
- Docker, SSH, and HTTP executors
- Cron scheduling & retries
For a single self-hosted server
- SSO (OIDC)
- Role-Based Access Control
- Audit logging
- Email support
For multiple servers (dev, staging, prod) or team deployments
- SSO (OIDC)
- Role-Based Access Control
- Audit logging
- Priority support
For teams building event-driven workflow infrastructure in complex environments
- Architecture consulting for distributed setup
- Custom implementation
- Initial migration support
- Dedicated meetings
Everything in Pro, plus architecture guidance, migration support, and hands-on operational help
Create a 14-day Pro license in minutes — 14 days, No credit card required. Start free Pro trial
Prefer not to run the platform? Dagu Cloud manages it.
A dedicated Dagu instance isolated from other tenants, operated by us. For teams who'd rather not deal with servers, upgrades, or networking. Request Medium or larger when you need more headroom.
Hosted Instance Small
The fastest way to run Dagu Cloud without managing infrastructure.
Monthly billing. Dedicated instance.
- Dedicated instance isolated from other tenants
- GKE + gVisor sandbox for workload isolation
- Persistent storage and browser terminal included
- Managed networking, runtime, platform operations, and Pro features included
- Docker steps can run through a private worker, not inside the managed instance
Dedicated runtime
Your instance is provisioned separately instead of being packed into a shared multi-tenant runtime, and includes managed Pro features without a separate self-host license.
gVisor isolation
Hosted workloads run on GKE inside a gVisor sandbox boundary. The managed instance does not expose a Docker daemon or Docker socket; Docker step types can run on a private worker connected to the managed Dagu server.
Persistent workspace
Instance storage stays attached until you delete the instance.
Web terminal access
Open the browser terminal to inspect files, adjust config, and operate Dagu directly.
Clear billing before you start
Managed instances use simple monthly billing, with clear behavior for failed setup, stopping, and shutdown.
Failed instances are not kept on billing
If Dagu Cloud cannot provision an instance, the failed instance is not kept on monthly managed-instance billing.
Stop keeps storage
Stop removes compute but keeps persistent storage, credentials, and monthly billing so the instance can be started again.
Shutdown stops billing
When you shut down an instance, Dagu Cloud removes its persistent storage and credentials, then stops billing once cleanup completes. Unused time in the current month is handled through Stripe billing as a prorated invoice credit or adjustment for your Dagu Cloud billing customer. It applies to future Dagu Cloud invoices in the same billing account and currency; it is not a card refund, coupon, cash balance, or credit usable with other merchants.
How billing cycles work
Self-host licenses and managed instances are billed as separate Stripe subscriptions. The billing portal shows the exact renewal dates for each subscription.
Self-host licenses
Choose monthly or yearly billing at checkout. Plan and interval changes are handled through Stripe and prorated when they affect the current billing period. Any resulting Stripe invoice credit applies to future Dagu invoices for the same billing customer and currency.
Managed instances
Hosted Instance Small is billed monthly per instance. Saving a payment method does not start billing. Failed instances are not kept on billing; added instances and shutdowns are prorated during the month. Stopped instances continue billing because storage is retained. Any prorated credit is a Stripe invoice credit for future Dagu Cloud invoices in the same billing account and currency, not a transferable credit or automatic refund.
Deployment models
Choose where the Dagu server runs and where your workflows execute. Dagu can stay fully self-hosted, or Dagu Cloud can run a full managed Dagu server and optionally attach private workers inside your infrastructure.
Community self-host
- Control plane
- Your infrastructure, using the open-source Dagu server.
- Execution
- Local execution and workers run on machines you operate.
- Best for
- Teams that want the free GPLv3 engine with no managed control plane.
Enterprise self-host
- Control plane
- Your infrastructure, with licensed Dagu servers for SSO, RBAC, and audit logging.
- Execution
- Workers run in your infrastructure and are not licensed separately.
- Best for
- Teams that need enterprise controls while keeping Dagu inside their own security boundary.
Managed Dagu server + private workers
- Control plane
- A full Dagu server running in a dedicated, isolated gVisor instance on GKE, operated by Dagu Cloud with the managed license included.
- Execution
- Run workflows directly in the managed Dagu server, or attach private workers for Docker, private networks, and custom runtimes.
- Best for
- Teams that want Dagu to run the full server while selected execution can stay close to their systems.
Dagu Cloud is a full managed Dagu server. Private workers are optional, and let Docker steps, private network access, secrets, and data-heavy work stay inside your infrastructure.
Which deployment model fits your team?
Hosted Dagu Cloud and Self-Host solve different problems. Pick the model that matches your operational preference.
| Hosted Dagu Cloud | Self-Hosted Dagu | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing unit | $20 per hosted Small instance, billed monthly | Community is free; paid self-host licenses are per server with monthly or yearly billing |
| Isolation model | Dedicated instance isolated from other tenants, with gVisor sandboxing | Isolation is defined by the infrastructure and controls you operate |
| Who operates it | Dagu manages the platform, networking, and runtime environment | Your team operates the servers, upgrades, and surrounding infrastructure |
| Scaling path | Buy additional hosted instances; request Medium and larger for now | Add more licensed servers or workers on your own infrastructure |
| Security features | Managed GKE + gVisor isolation, controlled network policy, browser access, and no Docker socket exposure | SSO, RBAC, and audit logging via the self-host license |
| Best for | Teams that want Dagu running quickly without owning platform operations | Teams that need Dagu inside their own environment and security boundary |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a hosted instance?
A hosted instance is a dedicated Dagu environment managed by Dagu Cloud. It is isolated from other tenants, includes Pro features for that instance, and is billed separately from self-host licenses.
Did self-host pricing change?
No. Community remains free and open source. Self-host license pricing stays the same, and Pro now offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required.
What does Hosted Instance Small include?
Hosted Instance Small gives you a dedicated hosted Dagu instance with gVisor sandboxing, persistent storage, browser terminal access, managed platform operations, and Pro features including user management, RBAC, audit logging, and SSO support for $20 per month.
How do Medium and larger hosted instances work?
Medium and larger hosted instances are request-based for now. Contact the Dagu team and we will size the instance around your workload.
Can hosted deployments run Docker steps?
Not inside the managed instance. Managed instances run on GKE with gVisor isolation and do not expose a Docker daemon or Docker socket. Docker step types can run on a private worker in your infrastructure, attached to the managed Dagu server with the worker mTLS bundle.
Does hosted have annual billing?
Not yet. Hosted Instance Small is currently billed monthly. Self-host licenses continue to support monthly and yearly billing.
How does the Pro trial work?
Create a free trial license from the Dagu console, enable Pro features on your self-hosted deployment, and evaluate them for 14 days. No credit card is required to start.
What happens if provisioning fails, or if I stop or shut down a hosted instance?
Failed instances are not kept on billing. Stop keeps persistent storage and monthly billing. Shutdown removes retained resources and stops future billing after cleanup; unused monthly time is handled as a Stripe invoice credit or adjustment for your Dagu Cloud billing customer. It applies automatically to future Dagu Cloud invoices in the same account and currency, not to other merchants or separate Stripe accounts, and it is not an automatic card refund.
Download Dagu, or let us run it.
Dagu is open source under GPLv3. Self-host the Community edition at no cost, add enterprise security with a paid license when your team needs it, or hand operations to us with a managed instance.
Want test access or have questions? Join our Discord and ask directly.
Want to talk first? Book a free 30-min meeting — happy to answer any questions.