# Cue vs Postiz: Managed Simplicity vs Self-Hosted Control

Postiz is a fantastic open-source option if you want to self-host. Cue is for those who'd rather focus on content than infrastructure.

Comparison

## Feature comparison

See how Cue stacks up against Postiz.

| Feature                     | Cue                     | Postiz          |
|----------------------------|------------------------|------------------|
| Pricing                    | From $19/mo           | Free (self-host) |
| Hosting                    | Managed                | Self-hosted      |
| Setup time                 | Minutes                | Hours to days    |
| Maintenance                | None                   | Ongoing          |
| AI content generation       | Included               | Bring your own API key |
| MCP (Claude/ChatGPT)      |                        | —                |
| n8n integration            | Official node          | API only         |
| Updates                    | Automatic              | Manual           |
| Support                    | Included               | Community        |
| Uptime guarantee           |                        | Self-managed     |
| Data control               | Our servers            | Your servers     |

Advantages

## Where Cue excels

Key areas where Cue offers a better experience.

### Zero infrastructure

No servers to manage, no Docker to configure, no databases to maintain. Sign up and start scheduling.

### MCP for AI Assistants

Schedule posts directly from Claude or ChatGPT. No setup required, it just works.

### Built-in AI

AI features work out of the box. No need to set up OpenAI API keys or manage credits separately.

### Official n8n node

One-click install n8n integration with visual interface. No API configuration needed.

### Real support

Actual humans to help when something goes wrong. Not just community forums.

Honest assessment

## Where Postiz might be better

We believe in being upfront about trade-offs.

### Free and open source

No subscription costs. If you have server resources, ongoing cost is just hosting.

### Self-hosted control

Your data stays on your servers. Full control over privacy and data location.

### Customizable

Modify the source code to add features or change behavior. Make it exactly what you need.

### No vendor lock-in

Own your setup. If you don't like something, fork it and change it.

### Learning opportunity

Great way to learn about infrastructure, Docker, and self-hosting.

## Which is right for you?

Here's our honest recommendation based on your needs.

### Choose Cue if you...

- Want to schedule from Claude or ChatGPT
- Want to focus on content, not infrastructure
- Don't have DevOps experience or time
- Prefer predictable monthly costs
- Want AI and integrations that just work

### Choose Postiz if you...

- Have DevOps experience and enjoy self-hosting
- Require full data control on your own servers
- Want to customize the source code
- Have existing server infrastructure
- Prefer one-time setup cost over subscriptions

## Questions & Answers

**What's the total cost of self-hosting vs Cue?**

Self-hosting Postiz requires server costs ($5-20/mo for a VPS), time for setup (hours), ongoing maintenance, and your own AI API keys. Cue's $19/mo includes everything.

**Can I export my data from Cue?**

Yes. You can export your posts and data. We don't lock you into our platform.

**Is Cue open source?**

No. Cue is a proprietary managed service. If open source is important to you, Postiz is a great choice.

**How does Cue's API compare to running my own instance?**

Cue's API gives you full programmatic access to scheduling. Self-hosting gives you database access too, but requires you to maintain it.

**What if Cue shuts down?**

We're building a sustainable business, but we understand the concern. You can always export your data, and your social accounts remain yours.