Self-hosting DocuSeal the easy way

#docker #selfhosted #tutorial #opensource

DocuSeal is an open-source document signing platform that enables you to create, send, and manage document signing workflows. Whether you're handling contracts, agreements, or any other documents that need signatures, DocuSeal provides a powerful alternative to expensive SaaS solutions like DocuSign or HelloSign.

The best part? You can self-host DocuSeal and maintain complete control over your sensitive documents while saving significant costs. In this tutorial, we're going to set up a DocuSeal instance on Sliplane for only €9 per month with full control and no usage limitations!

Deploy DocuSeal Now

Why Self-Host DocuSeal?

Cost Savings: Save 80%+ compared to SaaS document signing services
Data Privacy: Keep all your documents and signatures on your own infrastructure
No Usage Limits: Sign unlimited documents without per-signature fees
Full Control: Customize branding, workflows, and integrations
Compliance: Meet GDPR, and other regulatory requirements
No Vendor Lock-in: Your data stays with you, always

Setup

Signup at sliplane.io, the signup is free and you can use your Github Account to login.
Create a server: If you already have a server, you can skip this step. If not, go to > Servers and then click > Create Server
Create a service: go to your projects (create a new one or use the default one) and click > Deploy Service (top right)
- Select the DocuSeal preset (You can also use the Docker image directly if you prefer)
Click deploy, wait for the service to be up and then open the domain provided by sliplane. You can find that in the service settings, it should be service-name.sliplane.app
Follow the setup steps in the DocuSeal dashboard and you're done!

Your DocuSeal instance is ready for initial setup!

You did it! 🎉

Comparison to other Hosting platforms

Of course you can also self-host DocuSeal with other cloud providers. Here is a pricing comparison for the most common ones:

Provider	vCPU Cores	RAM	Disk	Estimated Monthly Cost	Notes
Render.com	1	2 GB	40 GB	~€35–€45	€35
Fly.io	2	2 GB	40 GB	~€20–€25	€17
Railway	2	2 GB	40 GB	~€15–€30	€66*
sliplane.io	2	2 GB	40 GB	~€9	~€9/month flat

Note: Railway charges for actually used memory and cpu time. €66 is the max price, actual price might vary.

Comparison to SaaS Alternatives

Self-hosting DocuSeal also saves you significant money compared to managed document signing services:

Service	Monthly Cost	Documents/Month	Custom Branding	Data Location
DocuSign	€45–€65+	Limited	Paid plans only	US servers
HelloSign	€25–€65+	Limited	Paid plans only	US servers
PandaDoc	€35–€65+	Limited	Paid plans only	US servers
Self-hosted DocuSeal	€9	Unlimited	Free	Your servers

FAQ

You got questions? We got answers!

Is self-hosted DocuSeal the same as the SaaS version?

Self-hosted DocuSeal gives you access to all the core features of the open-source version:

Create and manage document templates
Send documents for signing
Track signing status in real-time
Collect multiple signatures
Custom branding and white-labeling
API access for integrations
Webhook support

The main difference is that you manage the infrastructure yourself, but you get complete control and unlimited usage!

Can I use PostgreSQL or MySQL instead of SQLite?

Yes! By default, DocuSeal uses SQLite which is perfect for small to medium deployments. For production environments or larger scale usage, you can configure DocuSeal to use PostgreSQL or MySQL by adding the DATABASE_URL environment variable in your service settings:

DATABASE_URL=postgres://user:password@host:5432/dbname

You can deploy a PostgreSQL or MySQL service in the same project and connect DocuSeal to it.

Are there any usage based costs with sliplane?

Compute is always a flat, fixed price.

How do I update the DocuSeal version?

If you used the latest tag, you can simply redeploy the service (there is a button on the dashboard for that). If you used a specific version, you can update it by changing the image tag in the Sliplane settings and redeploying the service.

Can I customize the branding?

Yes! DocuSeal supports full white-labeling and custom branding. You can customize logos, colors, email templates, and more through the DocuSeal admin interface.

Is my data secure?

Absolutely! With self-hosting, you have complete control over your data:

All documents are stored in your own volumes
No data leaves your server unless you configure external storage
You can implement additional security measures as needed
Full compliance with GDPR, HIPAA, and other regulations

Can I integrate DocuSeal with my application?

Yes! DocuSeal provides a comprehensive REST API that allows you to:

Create and manage templates programmatically
Send documents for signing via API
Track signing status
Receive webhooks for signing events
Download completed documents

Check the DocuSeal API documentation for detailed integration guides.

What about email notifications?

DocuSeal can send email notifications for document signing events. You'll need to configure SMTP settings in the environment variables. Add these to your service settings:

SMTP_ADDRESS=smtp.example.com
SMTP_PORT=587
SMTP_USERNAME=your-email@example.com
SMTP_PASSWORD=your-password
SMTP_DOMAIN=your-domain.com

Do I need a custom domain?

No, you can use the default service-name.sliplane.app domain that Sliplane provides. However, if you want to use a custom domain for branding purposes, you can configure it in your service settings. Sliplane automatically handles SSL certificates for custom domains.

See the full tutorial on Sliplane.io

Happy self-hosting! 🚀

If you have any questions, drop them in the comments below!