How do I deploy Perplexica on Railway?

You can deploy Perplexica on Railway by clicking the "Deploy Now" button on this page. Railway will automatically set up all the necessary services and configurations for you.

What are the system requirements?

Railway handles all the infrastructure requirements. You only need a web browser to deploy and manage your application.

Is this template free to use?

Yes, this template is free to use within your existing Railway account.

Can I customize this template?

Yes, you can fully customize this template. After deployment, you will have full control of what you've deployed in your Railway project.

How do I get support for this template?

You can get support through our community forum: perplexica-8728e1fd, or join our Discord community for more assistance.

Deploy and Host Perplexica on Railway

Perplexica is a privacy-focused AI answering engine that combines web search with AI intelligence. It supports both local LLMs through Ollama and cloud providers like OpenAI, Claude, and Groq, delivering accurate answers with cited sources. With built-in SearxNG search integration, specialized focus modes, and file upload capabilities, Perplexica offers a comprehensive search experience that respects your privacy.

About Hosting Perplexica

Hosting Perplexica involves deploying a full-stack application that includes both the Perplexica search interface and an integrated SearxNG instance for private web searches. The bundled Docker image contains everything needed to run independently. You'll need to configure AI provider settings (API keys for OpenAI, Claude, etc., or local Ollama endpoints) through the web interface after deployment. Perplexica stores search history and uploaded files persistently, requiring proper volume management. The application runs on port 8080 by default and handles both frontend interface and backend API requests through Next.js, making it straightforward to expose to the internet while maintaining privacy.

Common Use Cases

Private Research Platform: Replace traditional search engines with an AI-powered alternative that keeps all queries private and provides cited, intelligent answers
Academic Research Tool: Leverage specialized focus modes for academic papers, Wolfram Alpha calculations, and domain-specific searches with document upload capabilities
Team Knowledge Base: Deploy for organizational use to provide employees with a private, AI-enhanced search tool that can analyze uploaded documents and answer questions based on both web content and internal files

Dependencies for Perplexica Hosting

Docker-compatible hosting environment with persistent volume support for data and uploads
AI Provider Access: API keys from at least one provider (OpenAI, Anthropic Claude, Google Gemini, Groq) or a local Ollama instance
Sufficient compute resources: Minimum 1GB RAM, 1 vCPU (more recommended for better performance with the bundled SearxNG)

Deployment Dependencies

Perplexica GitHub Repository - Official source code and documentation
Perplexica Docker Hub - Pre-built Docker images
Perplexica Installation Guide - Detailed installation instructions
Perplexica API Documentation - API reference for integration

Key Configuration Notes:

Port 8080 must be exposed for web access
Two persistent volumes required:
- /home/perplexica/data - Stores search history and application data
- /home/perplexica/uploads - Stores uploaded files
Post-deployment setup: Navigate to http://your-domain to configure AI provider settings, API keys, and model selections through the built-in setup screen
No environment variables required for basic deployment since the bundled image includes SearxNG (unlike the slim version)

Why Deploy Perplexica on Railway?

Railway is a singular platform to deploy your infrastructure stack. Railway will host your infrastructure so you don't have to deal with configuration, while allowing you to vertically and horizontally scale it.

By deploying Perplexica on Railway, you are one step closer to supporting a complete full-stack application with minimal burden. Host your servers, databases, AI agents, and more on Railway.