---
title: "Deploy Campfire"
description: "Self-hosted group chat with rooms, DMs, file sharing and search"
category: "Other"
url: https://railway.com/deploy/campfire-2
---

# Deploy Campfire

Self-hosted group chat with rooms, DMs, file sharing and search

**[Deploy Campfire on Railway](https://railway.com/template/campfire-2)**

Machine-readable deploy manifest (JSON, validated by TemplateCI): https://railway.com/deploy/campfire-2/manifest.json

- **Creator:** zer0person's Projects
- **Category:** Other
- **Total deploys:** 1

## Template content

### Campfire

- **Image:** ghcr.io/basecamp/once-campfire:latest
- **Public domain:** Yes

## Documentation

# Deploy and Host Campfire on Railway

[Campfire](https://github.com/basecamp/once-campfire) is a simple web-based group chat from Basecamp: multiple rooms with access controls, direct messages, file attachments with previews, search, mentions and a bot API.

## About Hosting Campfire

This template runs the official `ghcr.io/basecamp/once-campfire:latest` image, which bundles the web app, background jobs and cache in one container, with a persistent volume at `/rails/storage` for the SQLite database and uploads. Open the public URL right after the deploy and complete the first-run wizard to create the admin account; the email you enter is shown on the sign-in page. Web push notifications are not configured in this template.

## Common Use Cases

- Private team or community chat without a subscription
- Rooms with controlled membership, plus direct messages
- Bot integrations through the built-in API

## Dependencies for Campfire Hosting

- One service with a volume; no external database

### Deployment Dependencies

- [Campfire on GitHub](https://github.com/basecamp/once-campfire)
- [Self-hosting guide](https://github.com/basecamp/once-campfire/blob/main/docs/self-hosting.md)

## Why Deploy Campfire on Railway?

Railway gives you a public HTTPS URL, a persistent volume and automatic restarts with no server to maintain. Create the admin account as soon as the deploy finishes, since the first visitor becomes the admin.


## Similar templates

- [Rocky Linux](https://railway.com/deploy/rocky-linux) — Hosted Rocky Linux 9 workspace with SSH and persistent storage. 🚀
- [Foundry Virtual Tabletop](https://railway.com/deploy/X5tR6G) — A Self-Hosted & Modern Roleplaying Platform
- [Letta Code Remote](https://railway.com/deploy/letta-code-remote) — Run a Letta Code agent 24/7. No inbound ports, just deploy.

Open this page in a browser: https://railway.com/deploy/campfire-2
