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Impact
Layer

Open Source

The full Impact Layer platform, community-supported and free to self-host. No vendor lock-in. No usage limits. Deploy on your own infrastructure.

Start on GitHub
$ docker pull impactlayer/core:latest
latest: Pulling from impactlayer/core
Status: Downloaded newer image
 
$ docker run -d -p 3000:3000 \
-e DATABASE_URL=postgres://user:pass@host/db \
impactlayer/core
 
✓ Impact Layer running at http://localhost:3000
✓ Admin setup available at /setup
2,800+GitHub Stars
340+Contributors
12K+Self-Hosted Instances
v1.0.1Latest Release

Why Self-Host?

Full Platform Access

Every feature available to paid users — self-hosted with no restrictions.

No Vendor Lock-in

Own your data. Deploy anywhere. Migrate out any time.

Unlimited

No user caps, no program limits, no storage quotas.

Active Community

340+ contributors, active Discord, and weekly office hours.

MIT Licensed

Use, modify, and redistribute freely. Commercial use permitted.

Docker & npm Install

Get running in under 5 minutes with a single command.

Ready to get started?

Clone the repo and deploy when it suits you.

Start on GitHub

Quick Start Guide

Get Impact Layer running on your own server.

Step 1 — Install via Docker

$ docker pull impactlayer/core:latest
$ docker run -d -p 3000:3000 \
-e DATABASE_URL=postgres://user:pass@host:5432 \
impactlayer/core

Step 2 — Configure Environment

# Copy the example config
$ cp .env.example .env
# Edit required variables
DATABASE_URL=postgres://user:pass@host:5432
SECRET_KEY=your-secret-key-here
APP_URL=https://your-domain.com

Step 3 — Create Your Admin Account

# Open your browser at
http://localhost:3000
# Follow the on-screen setup wizard
# to create your first admin account.
1

Fork the repo

Click Fork on GitHub to get your own copy of the codebase.

2

Create a branch

git checkout -b feature/your-feature — keep changes focused.

3

Make your changes

Write code, add tests, and update the relevant docs.

4

Open a Pull Request

Submit for review. Our team responds within 48 hours.

Open Source FAQ

Common questions about the free, self-hosted edition of Impact Layer.

Is the open source version really free?

Yes, completely. The Community Edition is licensed under an open source license and is free to download, use, and modify. There are no usage limits, no hidden fees, and no time restrictions. You only pay for the infrastructure you choose to host it on.

What do I need to self-host Impact Layer?

You need a Linux server with Docker installed. The quick start guide walks you through setup in under 10 minutes. Impact Layer runs on any cloud provider (AWS, GCP, Azure, DigitalOcean) or on your own on-premise hardware.

Can I contribute to Impact Layer?

Yes, we welcome contributions from the community. You can report bugs, submit feature requests, improve documentation, or contribute code through our GitHub repository. Check out the contributing guide to get started.

What is the difference between the open source and enterprise versions?

The open source Community Edition includes all core platform features. The Enterprise version adds managed hosting, SSO, dedicated support, advanced security controls, on-premise deployment options, and a 99.99% uptime SLA — designed for organizations that need guaranteed reliability and hands-off infrastructure management.