---
title: "Deploy Postiz — Self-Hosted Buffer Alternative for 30+ Platforms"
description: "Self-host Postiz: schedule 30+ platforms. No per-channel fees"
category: "Automation"
url: https://railway.com/deploy/postiz-social-scheduler
---

# Deploy Postiz — Self-Hosted Buffer Alternative for 30+ Platforms

Self-host Postiz: schedule 30+ platforms. No per-channel fees

**[Deploy Postiz — Self-Hosted Buffer Alternative for 30+ Platforms on Railway](https://railway.com/template/postiz-social-scheduler)**

Machine-readable deploy manifest (JSON, validated by TemplateCI): https://railway.com/deploy/postiz-social-scheduler/manifest.json

- **Creator:** SilverBanana
- **Category:** Automation
- **Total deploys:** 12

## Template content

### Postgres https://devicons.railway.app/i/postgresql.svg

- **Image:** ghcr.io/railwayapp-templates/postgres-ssl:18

### Postiz https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/homarr-labs/dashboard-icons/svg/postiz-dark.svg

- **Image:** ghcr.io/gitroomhq/postiz-app
- **Public domain:** Yes

### Redis https://cdn.sanity.io/images/sy1jschh/production/0ce0bfdcfbdbf69662b1116671f97c2dd788b655-157x157.svg

- **Image:** redis:8.2.1
- **Start command:** `/bin/sh -c "rm -rf $RAILWAY_VOLUME_MOUNT_PATH/lost+found/ && exec docker-entrypoint.sh redis-server --requirepass $REDIS_PASSWORD --save 60 1 --dir $RAILWAY_VOLUME_MOUNT_PATH"`

## Documentation

# Deploy and Host Postiz on Railway

![Postiz social media scheduling dashboard](https://repository-images.githubusercontent.com/664013991/8b16b484-683a-4ed9-a132-6d070704cc12)

Postiz is the open-source social media scheduler with **29k+ GitHub stars** — built by the
founder of Novu — that publishes to 30+ platforms from one dashboard: X, Instagram, LinkedIn,
Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Reddit, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon, Pinterest, Discord, and more.
AI-assisted content generation, a visual calendar, team collaboration, analytics, a public
REST API, and an MCP endpoint for AI-agent workflows — all self-hosted with zero per-channel fees.

This template pins **Postiz v2.11.3** — the last release before Temporal became a required
dependency — so you run a lean 3-service stack (app, PostgreSQL, Redis) instead of the heavier
4-service Temporal setup. Self-host for ~$5–10/month versus Buffer at $6/channel/month or
Hootsuite at $99+/month.

---

## What This Template Deploys

| Service | Purpose |
|---|---|
| **Postiz v2.11.3** | The scheduling app — Next.js + Node.js, AI content tools, calendar, analytics, REST API, and MCP endpoint on the public web service |
| **PostgreSQL 17 (SSL)** | Persistent database for users, posts, schedules, channel connections, and analytics |
| **Redis 8.2.1** | Background job queue for scheduled publishing (`RUN_CRON=true`) and session caching |

All three services connect over Railway's private network. Database and Redis ports are never
exposed publicly. `JWT_SECRET` and connection strings are generated and wired automatically.

---

## About Hosting Postiz

Postiz (GitHub: gitroomhq/postiz-app) is an open-source, AGPL-3.0 social media scheduling and
automation platform — a self-hosted alternative to Buffer, Hypefury, Hootsuite, and Later. The
self-hosted version has no feature limitations versus the cloud version.

Recent versions (v2.12+) require a Temporal workflow engine — a fourth service that adds
overhead. This template pins **v2.11.3**, the last release before Temporal, keeping your stack
lean and cheaper while preserving full scheduling functionality.

Railway provisions all three services with private networking, persistent volumes for uploads
and data, and automatic HTTPS. Typical cost: **~$5–10/month** on Railway's Hobby plan. Buffer
charges $6/channel/month — managing 8 channels is $48/month. Hootsuite starts at $99/month.
Postiz self-hosted is free across all 30+ platforms; you pay only Railway compute.

---

## Deploy in Under 5 Minutes

1. Click **Deploy on Railway** — Postiz, PostgreSQL, and Redis build automatically (~2–3 minutes)
2. `JWT_SECRET`, `DATABASE_URL`, and `REDIS_URL` are auto-generated and wired between services
3. Set `MAIN_URL`, `FRONTEND_URL`, and `NEXT_PUBLIC_BACKEND_URL` to your Railway public domain
   (backend URL adds `/api`)
4. Open your Railway URL and create your admin account
5. Set `DISABLE_REGISTRATION=true` after your account is created, then connect your social channels

No SSH. No Docker Compose. No reverse proxy or SSL setup.

---

## Common Use Cases

- **Self-hosted alternative to Buffer** — schedule across 30+ platforms with no $6/channel/month
  fee; one flat Railway cost regardless of how many accounts you manage
- **Self-hosted alternative to Hootsuite** — get team collaboration, analytics, and a content
  calendar without Hootsuite's $99+/month entry price
- **Bluesky, Mastodon, and Threads scheduling** — Postiz supports the platforms most schedulers
  skip; rare coverage for creators active on decentralised and emerging networks
- **AI-agent social posting via MCP** — the MCP endpoint (`/api/mcp/{API_KEY}`) lets Claude,
  Cursor, or any AI agent draft and schedule posts programmatically
- **Marketing agency client management** — multi-user mode (`IS_GENERAL=true`) enables teams to
  collaborate, comment, and manage multiple client accounts from one instance
- **Developer automation pipelines** — publish posts from CI, n8n, Make, or Zapier via the
  public REST API; automate content distribution without manual scheduling

---

## Configuration

| Variable | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| `MAIN_URL` | ✅ Required | Primary public URL of your Postiz instance |
| `FRONTEND_URL` | ✅ Required | Public frontend URL — same as `MAIN_URL` in most setups |
| `NEXT_PUBLIC_BACKEND_URL` | ✅ Required | Public API endpoint — e.g. `https://your-domain.up.railway.app/api` |
| `JWT_SECRET` | ✅ Auto-generated | 64-char secret for signing auth tokens |
| `DATABASE_URL` | ✅ Auto-injected | Internal PostgreSQL connection string |
| `REDIS_URL` | ✅ Auto-injected | Internal Redis connection string |
| `IS_GENERAL` | ✅ Pre-set | `true` — enables multi-user mode required for self-hosting |
| `STORAGE_PROVIDER` | ✅ Pre-set | `local` — uses the mounted `/uploads` volume |
| `RUN_CRON` | ✅ Pre-set | `true` — enables background scheduled publishing |
| `DISABLE_REGISTRATION` | Recommended | Set `true` after creating your admin account |
| `NOT_SECURED` | Optional | `true` disables strict HTTPS checks (fine behind Railway's proxy) |

> Each social platform requires its own API credentials for OAuth — add them in the Postiz
> settings UI after deploy. Postiz authenticates users directly with each platform; it never
> stores or proxies your social access tokens.

---

## Postiz vs. Social Media Schedulers

| | Postiz (Railway) | Buffer | Hootsuite | Mixpost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Monthly cost** | ~$5–10 flat | $6/channel | From $99/month | Self-hosted |
| **8-channel cost** | ~$5–10 flat | $48/month | $99+/month | Self-hosted |
| **Platforms supported** | ✅ 30+ | ⚠️ ~11 | ✅ Many | ⚠️ ~10 |
| **Bluesky + Mastodon** | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ⚠️ Limited | ❌ No |
| **AI content generation** | ✅ Built-in | ⚠️ Basic | ⚠️ Add-on | ❌ No |
| **Public API + MCP** | ✅ Yes | ❌ No real API | ⚠️ Limited | ❌ No |
| **Data ownership** | ✅ Your instance | ❌ Buffer servers | ❌ Hootsuite servers | ✅ Yes |
| **Self-hostable** | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| **Open source** | ✅ AGPL-3.0 | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ MIT |

---

## Dependencies for Postiz Hosting

- Railway account — Hobby plan (~$5–10/month) covers all three services
- OAuth API credentials for each social platform you connect (created in each platform's dev portal)
- Optional: OpenAI API key for AI content generation features

### Deployment Dependencies

- [Postiz GitHub Repository](https://github.com/gitroomhq/postiz-app) — source and releases
- [Postiz Documentation](https://docs.postiz.com) — setup and platform connection guides
- [Postiz Docker Image](https://ghcr.io/gitroomhq/postiz-app) — `v2.11.3` pinned in this template
- [Railway Volumes Documentation](https://docs.railway.com/volumes) — persistent storage

### Implementation Details

This template deploys `ghcr.io/gitroomhq/postiz-app:v2.11.3` alongside PostgreSQL 17 SSL and
Redis 8.2.1 over Railway's private network. Postiz runs as a unified Next.js + Node.js app.
Uploads persist on the `/uploads` volume, database on `/var/lib/postgresql/data`, and Redis on
`/data` — all surviving redeploys.

![Postiz AI content composer](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/a27ee220-beb7-4c7e-8c1b-2c44301f82ef)

The v2.11.3 pin is deliberate: from v2.12 onward Postiz requires a Temporal workflow engine as
a fourth service. v2.11.3 handles scheduling through Redis-backed cron (`RUN_CRON=true`) with
no Temporal dependency, keeping the stack at three services and lower cost while retaining full
scheduling and publishing functionality.

---

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Why does this template pin v2.11.3 instead of the latest Postiz?**
From v2.12 onward, Postiz requires a Temporal workflow engine — a fourth service that adds
memory, cost, and operational complexity. v2.11.3 is the last release that handles scheduling
through Redis-backed cron, so you get full functionality on a lean 3-service stack. It's a
deliberate stability-and-cost choice, not an outdated build.

**How much does Postiz cost compared to Buffer or Hootsuite?**
Self-hosted Postiz is free — you pay only ~$5–10/month for Railway compute regardless of channel
count. Buffer charges $6/channel/month ($48/month for 8 channels). Hootsuite starts at $99/month.
For anyone managing more than a couple of channels, self-hosting pays for itself immediately.

**Which platforms does Postiz support?**
30+ including X, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Reddit, Threads, Bluesky,
Mastodon, Pinterest, Discord, Slack, Telegram, Dribbble, Medium, Dev.to, and WordPress. Bluesky
and Mastodon support is rare among schedulers and a key reason creators choose Postiz in 2026.

**Do I lose my scheduled posts and connections if Railway redeploys?**
No. All posts, schedules, channel connections, and analytics are stored in the PostgreSQL
database; uploads persist on the `/uploads` volume. Redeploys and updates don't affect your data.

**Can AI agents post through Postiz?**
Yes. Postiz exposes an MCP endpoint at `/api/mcp/{API_KEY}` plus a public REST API. Claude,
Cursor, or any MCP-compatible agent can draft and schedule posts programmatically, as can n8n,
Make, and Zapier workflows.

**How do I update Postiz later?**
Update the image tag in Railway service settings. Note that moving to v2.12+ will require adding
a Temporal service — staying on v2.11.x keeps the 3-service stack. Database and volumes are
unaffected by version changes within the v2.11.x line.

---

## Why Deploy and Host Postiz 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 Postiz on Railway, you get an open-source social media scheduler for 30+ platforms
— AI content tools, team collaboration, analytics, REST API, and MCP — on a lean 3-service
stack at ~$5–10/month flat, with no per-channel fees and full ownership of your content.

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