BYO vs Hosted Chat

Chat has its own ladder, not Importer's single $19.99 production tier. Pick the storage model that matches your risk and ops appetite, then match publishable keys and entitlements.

ModePriceWhat Bootstrapware stores
Local / demoFree foreverNothing, createLocalAdapter
BYO$9.99 / workspace / moApp config only. You implement a ChatAdapter; messages stay on your backend.
Hosted$19.99 / workspace / moConfig + messages + files (1 GB included). You moderate in the dashboard.

Live entitlements

CallRequirement
Test keys (bsw_test_*)No paid Chat entitlement
Live config fetchBYO ($9.99) or Hosted ($19.99)
Live Hosted messages / filesHosted ($19.99) only

Publishing an app stores config. It does not skip live entitlement checks. Optional Chat storage add-on ($9.99) raises Hosted files from 1 GB to 10 GB and is not stack-discounted. Stack discount (2nd product 25% off that product's list, 3rd+ 35%) is company-wide, see pricing.

When BYO is the right default

  • You cannot store customer messages or files on Bootstrapware
  • You already have Postgres / object storage and want RLS
  • You need retention rules Bootstrapware Hosted does not offer

Implement the ChatAdapter on your API. Re-bind authorship from the session.

When Hosted is enough

  • You want SSE, inbox, and storage without a BYO backend
  • You accept moderating plain text and files yourself
  • 1 GB (or 10 GB with the add-on) covers your attachment story

Cancel Hosted: freeze writes, export 30 days, then delete. Guide: moderate Hosted.

Related: Modes · Pricing · Adapter · Privacy