Supported Platforms for Open-SEO: Docker and Cloudflare Workers Guide

Open-SEO runs natively on Docker for containerized self-hosting and Cloudflare Workers for serverless edge deployment, with both platforms loading configuration from environment variables as documented in the every-app/open-seo repository.

Open-SEO is an open-source SEO analysis tool maintained in the every-app/open-seo repository. When evaluating the supported platforms for open-seo, developers have two primary self-hosting options that provide full control over data and infrastructure. This guide details the technical requirements, configuration methods, and deployment steps for each platform based on the official documentation and source code.

Docker Self-Hosting

Docker provides the most flexible supported platform for open-seo, allowing deployment on local machines, virtual private servers, or any infrastructure running Docker Engine.

Configuration and Setup

According to docs/SELF_HOSTING_DOCKER.md, Docker deployment relies on a .env file for configuration and uses Docker Compose for orchestration. The setup requires setting the AUTH_MODE=local_noauth flag to disable authentication checks during local development, though production deployments should implement proper authentication.

The default configuration exposes the application on port 3001. For production environments, the documentation recommends placing the container behind a reverse proxy to handle SSL termination and load balancing.

Run these commands to start Open-SEO with Docker:

# Copy the example environment file and edit the DataForSEO key

cp .env.example .env

# Edit .env → set DATAFORSEO_API_KEY

docker compose up -d          # start the service

# Open http://localhost:3001 in a browser

The README.md in the repository root provides additional context on Docker as a primary deployment method for teams requiring full infrastructure control.

Cloudflare Workers Deployment

Cloudflare Workers represents the second supported platform for open-seo, enabling serverless deployment at the edge with automatic scaling and global distribution.

Deployment Process

As documented in docs/SELF_HOSTING_CLOUDFLARE.md, this platform requires Wrangler, Cloudflare's official CLI tool. The deployment process authenticates with your Cloudflare account, builds the worker, and publishes it to Cloudflare's edge network.

Deploy Open-SEO to Cloudflare Workers using:

# Install Wrangler (Cloudflare's CLI)

npm install -g @cloudflare/wrangler

# Authenticate with your Cloudflare account

wrangler login

# Build and publish the worker

wrangler publish

# The worker will be reachable at the URL provided by Cloudflare

This platform reads configuration from environment variables defined in your Cloudflare dashboard or wrangler.toml file. The Workers deployment makes the application internet-facing immediately, making it suitable for teams requiring access across multiple devices without VPN configuration.

Hosted Service Alternative

While the supported platforms for open-seo focus on self-hosting, the project also maintains a hosted SaaS version at https://openseo.so. This managed option requires no infrastructure setup but does not provide the source code customization available through Docker or Cloudflare Workers self-hosting.

Summary

• Docker is the recommended platform for local development or private server deployment, using docker compose with port 3001 mapping and .env file configuration as detailed in docs/SELF_HOSTING_DOCKER.md.
• Cloudflare Workers provides a serverless edge deployment option using the Wrangler CLI and environment variable management, documented in docs/SELF_HOSTING_CLOUDFLARE.md.
• Both platforms require a valid DATAFORSEO_API_KEY and support reverse proxy configurations for production use.
• The README.md at the repository root offers architectural overview and platform selection guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Open-SEO support traditional VPS hosting without Docker?

While Docker is the recommended containerized approach, you can run Open-SEO on any VPS that supports Docker Engine. The repository does not provide native support for bare-metal installation without containerization, as the docker compose setup in docs/SELF_HOSTING_DOCKER.md handles dependency management and service orchestration.

What authentication options are available for self-hosted Open-SEO?

The Docker platform supports the AUTH_MODE=local_noauth flag for development environments, disabling authentication checks entirely. For production Docker deployments and Cloudflare Workers setups, implement authentication through reverse proxy configurations or Cloudflare Access, as the open-source codebase expects external authentication handling when not in local development mode.

Can I deploy Open-SEO to other serverless platforms besides Cloudflare Workers?

The repository officially supports Cloudflare Workers as the serverless platform, with deployment instructions documented in docs/SELF_HOSTING_CLOUDFLARE.md. While the underlying code could theoretically adapt to other serverless environments, the Wrangler CLI configuration and edge-specific optimizations target Cloudflare's infrastructure specifically.

Where are environment variables configured for each supported platform?

Docker deployments use a .env file in the project root, copied from .env.example, as specified in docs/SELF_HOSTING_DOCKER.md. Cloudflare Workers deployments store environment variables in the Cloudflare dashboard or via the wrangler secret command, with configuration details available in docs/SELF_HOSTING_CLOUDFLARE.md. Both methods require setting the DATAFORSEO_API_KEY for API functionality.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instagit": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "instagit@latest"]
    }
  }
}