Plans & Licensing
How CH-UI is licensed — open-source core (Apache-2.0), the self-hosted Pro License, and the CH-UI Cloud subscription.
CH-UI comes two ways: an open-source core you self-host — optionally unlocked to Pro with a license key — and a managed cloud service with subscription plans.
Self-hosting: Open Source + Pro License
Self-hosted CH-UI comes in two tiers.
Open Source (Apache-2.0) — free
The CH-UI core is open source under the Apache License 2.0. You can use, modify, and distribute it freely, including commercially (retain the copyright and license notice).
Open Source includes the full workspace — SQL editor (with query history, result filtering, and error navigation), explorer, saved queries, dashboards, pipelines, models, telemetry logs, Brain (bring-your-own AI key), admin, and the tunnel connector — running on your own infrastructure. See the Installation and Deployment guides.
Self-hosted CH-UI stores its state in a local SQLite database — no external database to operate. (CH-UI Cloud runs on managed PostgreSQL with an isolated schema per organization.)
Pro License — $1,199/year per instance
The Pro License unlocks the full Pro module set on top of the Open Source core:
- Query Insights —
system.query_loganalytics: latency percentiles, slow and memory-heavy query patterns, failures, users, hot tables - Cluster Health — per-node replication, merges, mutations, parts pressure, Keeper, and backups monitoring
- Governance — catalog, lineage, query guardrails, incidents, access matrix, audit — plus alert channels and rules
- Schedules — cron-driven model and query runs
- Query parameters —
{name:Type}binding in the editor plus the saved-query Run API - GitHub sync — keep models in version control
- Single Sign-On — OIDC SSO (Okta, Entra ID, Google, Keycloak)
- Audit forwarding — stream audit events to your SIEM
Pricing is flat per instance — no per-seat math, regardless of how many people use the instance. Request a license — keys are issued personally, and you'll get yours with the invoice as soon as possible. Or start a 1-month free trial first, no card required.
The Pro modules' source is published under the Business Source License 1.1
(BSL 1.1) — source-available; production use requires a valid Pro license, and
each version converts to Apache-2.0 on its Change Date. Every Pro source file
carries an SPDX-License-Identifier: BUSL-1.1 header; the open-source core
remains Apache-2.0. See LICENSING.md in the repository for the exact scope.
How activation works
You receive a signed license file and upload it on your instance's Settings → License page. Verification happens locally against a public key embedded in the binary:
- No call-home — works in air-gapped environments
- No account required — the license is the whole relationship
- One license covers one running instance
What happens at expiry
A license never hard-locks your instance in the middle of an incident. When it expires, Pro features enter a 14-day read-only grace period — monitoring and other reads keep working while writes to Pro features are blocked — giving you time to renew. After the grace window, Pro features return to the community state until a valid license is uploaded.
CH-UI Cloud (subscription)
CH-UI Cloud is the hosted alternative. Access to features and limits is set by your organization's plan — there are no license files to manage. Plans, limits, and managed AI are described on the Pricing page; upgrade, downgrade, or buy AI credits self-serve in the console (billing handled by Stripe).
- No license keys — your plan is applied automatically.
- Limits are enforced when you create resources; hitting one prompts an upgrade and never touches existing data.
- Cancel anytime — you keep your plan until the end of the billing period.
Cloud vs self-hosted
| Self-hosted (OSS) | Self-hosted (Pro License) | CH-UI Cloud | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup | Run the binary (SQLite) | Run the binary + upload license | Sign up, connect cluster |
| Upgrades, TLS, backups | You operate them | You operate them | Managed for you |
| Query Insights + Cluster Health | — | Included | Pro plan |
| Governance + Schedules | — | Included | Pro plan |
| Managed AI (Brain) | BYO key | BYO key | Included on Pro + credits |
| Cost | Free (your infra) | $1,199/year per instance | Plan-based |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 core + BSL 1.1 for Pro modules | Subscription terms |
FAQ
Do I need a license file? Only for the Pro modules (Query Insights, Cluster Health, Governance, Schedules, query parameters, GitHub sync) while self-hosting. The Open Source tier is fully unlocked otherwise — Apache-2.0, no key, no activation.
Does the license phone home? No. Activation is a signed file verified locally — air-gapped deployments work fine.
What does the $1,199/year buy me? The full Pro module set on your own deployment, plus email support — the same modules as Cloud Pro ($99 × 12 = $1,188), with your data never leaving your infrastructure.
Can I try before buying? Yes — request a 1-month free trial. You get a time-limited key that unlocks every Pro module; no card required.
Can I use the open-source core in production? Yes — Apache-2.0 permits commercial use.
What happens if I cancel a Cloud plan? You drop to the Free plan limits. Your data is preserved; you just can't create new items beyond the Free caps until you're back under them.
Questions or Enterprise terms: me@caioricciuti.com.