Everything you need to know about openElara's self-hosted services. Can't find your answer? Contact us or call us.
🚀Getting Started
What is openElara?
openElara is a managed open-source platform that helps UK businesses replace expensive per-user SaaS subscriptions with self-hosted alternatives. We provide managed hosting, migration, and ongoing support.
How do I get started?
Simply contact us via our form or email hello@openelara.org. We'll schedule a free discovery call to understand your needs and recommend the right tools and plan.
Do I need technical knowledge?
No! That's our job. We handle all the technical setup, configuration, and maintenance. You just use the tools.
How long does setup take?
Most individual services are live within 24-48 hours. Business Suite setups take 1-2 weeks. Enterprise implementations take 2-4 weeks.
💰Pricing
Are there any hidden fees?
No. The price you see is the price you pay. No setup fees (unless custom development is needed), no per-user charges, no surprise bills.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. No contracts, no penalties. You can export all your data and leave whenever you want.
Do you offer charity discounts?
Yes! Registered charities and non-profits receive a 20% discount on all services. Just mention your charity registration when you get in touch.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept bank transfer and card payments. Invoices are issued monthly.
⚙️Technical
Where is my data stored?
Your data is stored on your own dedicated server. Not shared with anyone else, not accessible by us unless you ask for support.
How do backups work?
We perform daily automated backups with 7-day retention (30-day for Enterprise). You can also export your data at any time.
What about security updates?
We apply security patches automatically as they become available. Critical patches are applied within 24 hours.
Can I access the server directly?
Self-Managed plans include full server access. Semi-Managed and Fully-Managed plans include application-level access.
📞Support
What support do you offer?
All plans include email support. Semi-Managed plans have 24-hour response. Fully-Managed plans have 60-minute critical response. Enterprise plans have 15-minute critical response.
Do you offer phone support?
We primarily offer email and forum support. For Enterprise clients, we provide scheduled calls as part of the consulting hours.
What happens if something breaks?
We monitor uptime 24/7. If something goes wrong, we're alerted automatically and start fixing it immediately. Critical issues are resolved as fast as possible.
Can I get help with custom workflows?
Yes! Consulting is available at £25/hour. We can help with n8n workflows, Dolibarr customization, integrations, and more.
🔄Migration
Can you migrate my data from SaaS tools?
Yes! We can migrate data from Salesforce, HubSpot, QuickBooks, Google Workspace, Zendesk, and most other platforms. Data migration is included in our setup service.
Will there be downtime during migration?
We plan migrations to minimize downtime. Most migrations happen with zero downtime — we set up the new system, migrate data, then switch over.
What if I want to move back?
You can export all your data at any time. No lock-in, no penalties. We believe you should stay because you want to, not because you have to.
🤝Trust & Privacy
Can you see my data?
No. Your data is on your server. We only access it when you explicitly ask us to for support purposes.
Do you sell my data?
Absolutely not. We never sell, share, or monetize your data. Ever.
Are you GDPR compliant?
Yes. Since your data is self-hosted on your own server, you have full control over data processing. We act as a data processor only when providing support.
What happens to my data if openElara closes?
Your data is on your server. Even if openElara ceased to exist, your tools and data would continue running. You own everything.