Open source vs managed
Open source feature request board vs Bootstrapware Feedback
If you searched for "open source feature request board," you probably want a server you can fork, self-host, and own forever. The @bootstrapware/feedback client npm package is MIT. The Hosted server is not self-hostable. This page compares that split with true self-hosted boards.
True open-source / self-hosted options
These projects ship source code you can run on your own infrastructure:
| Project | Stack | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fider | Go + React, MIT | Public board, voting, statuses. Self-host on any Docker host. |
| Build your own | Your stack | Maximum control. Real cost: identity, vote integrity, moderation, maintenance. See build vs buy. |
Self-hosting means you own the server, the database, upgrades, and abuse handling. That is fine if it is a conscious choice. It is a maintenance commitment many teams underestimate.
What Bootstrapware Feedback actually is
The React component ships as the MIT package @bootstrapware/feedback. You can use that client in your app. The Hosted server and control plane are a commercial product. That server is not published for self-hosting.
What you do get for free is a local adapter path: pass a FeedbackAdapter backed by your own API and Postgres, and you own every post forever. The React component UI and the published board config managed layer require the npm package, but your data is yours. That is the closest thing to an open-source integration path Bootstrapware offers: not self-hosting, but full data ownership.
The full spectrum
| Path | You own | You operate | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-hosted open source (e.g. Fider) | Everything | Server, DB, upgrades, abuse | Infra + engineering time |
| Custom build | Everything | All of it, indefinitely | Engineering time + ops |
| Bootstrapware local adapter | Post data (your DB) | Your API; UI widget from npm | Free for dev/demo; $9.99/mo for live config |
| Bootstrapware BYO ($9.99) | Post data (your DB) | Your API; config via dashboard | $9.99/mo live config |
| Bootstrapware Hosted ($19.99) | Export on cancel | Nothing. We store and moderate | $19.99/mo |
Which path fits which team
Choose self-hosted open source when you cannot send any data to a third-party SaaS, have DevOps capacity, and want a public portal your customers can visit without logging in to your product. Fider covers this well.
Choose Bootstrapware BYO when you want to own data in your own Postgres, avoid operating a separate server, and need a finished UI without building it. You pay $9.99/month for published board config and test/live keys; posts never leave your backend.
Choose Bootstrapware Hosted when moderation inbox, status management, webhooks, and zero-ops post storage are worth $19.99/month and you are comfortable with Bootstrapware storing plain-text posts.
If the question is really "should we build the whole thing?", see build vs buy. For BYO vs Hosted tradeoffs, see BYO vs Hosted.
FAQ
Is Bootstrapware Feedback open source?
The client npm package (@bootstrapware/feedback) is MIT. The Hosted server and control plane are a commercial product and are not self-hostable. The local adapter is free forever with no account. If you need to run the server yourself, see Fider or a custom build.
Can I use Bootstrapware without paying?
Yes, indefinitely, with the local adapter (posts in localStorage) and test keys. Live published board config requires BYO $9.99/month. Hosted post storage requires Hosted $19.99/month.
What is the closest thing to open-source in Bootstrapware?
The MIT client plus a FeedbackAdapter backed by your own Postgres. You write the data layer. The widget handles the UI, and published board config is the managed layer. That path does not include a self-hosted server. Your post data stays in your database.
Which open-source feedback boards can I actually self-host?
Fider (Go + React, MIT) is the most widely deployed self-hosted option as of 2026. There are others. Self-hosting means you operate the server, database, email, and upgrades yourself.
Related: Build vs buy · BYO vs Hosted · Modes · Pricing