> Markdown export: /developers/onboarding-and-setup.md
> HTML: /developers/onboarding-and-setup
---
description: Choose managed onboarding or self-hosted operator setup for Eigen Mesh.
audience: end-user
---

# Onboarding and setup

> **In plain terms:** Eigen Mesh supports two ways to get started — Eigen can host it for you, or you can run it yourself. Pick the path that matches how you plan to use Eigen Mesh.

Eigen supports two deployment styles — **managed hosting** (Eigen operates the stack) and **self-hosted** (you run Docker Compose on your own infrastructure). The product UI and onboarding flow are the same in both cases; only who configures infrastructure and LLM billing differs.

## Who this is for

- **End users** on managed hosting — sign up and capture without running servers
- **Operators** self-hosting with Docker — provision the stack before users sign in

## Choose your path

| I want to… | Start here |
|------------|------------|
| **Sign up and use Eigen Mesh in the browser** (Eigen hosts it) | [Onboarding (managed)](/developers/onboarding-managed) |
| **Deploy and operate Eigen Mesh on my own server** | [Self-hosted setup](/developers/self-hosted-setup) |

### Managed hosting (end users)

You do **not** need to run Docker, configure servers, or obtain LLM API keys unless you explicitly switch to bring-your-own-key (BYOK) billing.

→ [Onboarding (managed)](/developers/onboarding-managed) — sign-up, welcome tour, billing, and first capture.

### Self-hosted (operators)

You provision Docker, environment variables, gateway accounts, and optional PayPal or OAuth before users can sign in.

→ [Self-hosted setup](/developers/self-hosted-setup) — accounts to create, env vars, and first-run deployment.

For deployment philosophy (single codebase, no feature gating by plan), see [Deployment model](/developers/deployment-model).

## Troubleshooting

See [Troubleshooting](/developers/troubleshooting) for common issues.

## Next steps

- [What is Eigen Mesh?](/developers/what-is-eigenmesh) — plain-language product overview
- [MCP overview](/developers/mcp-overview) — connect your AI assistant
- [Overview & quick start](/developers/getting-started) — self-hosted Docker deployment