Deployment options

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The avatar renders in one of five places. Pick the one that matches where your users are and what may leave their device.

Every mode uses the same avatar and the same API secret. What changes is where the avatar renders, where the conversation runs, and what reaches bitHuman.

Compare the modes

bitHuman cloudCreator plan or higher
The avatar renders
on bitHuman's servers, in the US
The conversation runs
on bitHuman's voice service, or with your own provider keys
What reaches bitHuman
the session's audio and conversation, to run it
Network
required for the whole session
Price
4 credits per minute (Essence 2, Expression 2)
Products
web embed, REST API, LiveKit plugin, cloud avatar in your room
Models
Essence 2, Expression 2, Essence 1, Expression 1
Your serversCreator plan or higher
The avatar renders
on your own Mac or Linux machines
The conversation runs
your choice: the CLI's local conversation brain, your own services, or bitHuman's
What reaches bitHuman
a credential check, the avatar download, and usage reports with no audio, video or text
Network
to start; rendering continues through a drop of up to 5 minutes
Price
2 credits per minute (Essence 2, Expression 2)
Products
CLI, Python SDK, LiveKit plugin (model_path)
Models
Essence 2, Expression 2, Essence 1
On the deviceCreator plan or higher
The avatar renders
on the iPhone, iPad, Mac or Android phone in front of the user, or in a WebGPU browser tab
The conversation runs
your app's choice; with the web embed, on bitHuman's servers
What reaches bitHuman
with your own voice and language services, usage metering only, never audio, video or conversation text
Network
to start; rendering continues through a drop of up to 5 minutes
Price
2 credits per minute (Essence 2, Expression 2)
Products
Swift package, Android SDK, Flutter plugin, web embed with render=local
Models
Essence 2, Expression 2
CPU only (no GPU)Creator plan or higher
The avatar renders
on a standard Linux PC's CPU, with no GPU
The conversation runs
your choice: the CLI's local conversation brain, your own services, or bitHuman's
What reaches bitHuman
a credential check, the avatar download, and usage reports with no audio, video or text
Network
to start; rendering continues through a drop of up to 5 minutes
Price
2 credits per minute (Essence 2, Expression 2)
Products
CLI, Python SDK on Linux x86_64 or arm64
Models
Essence 2, Expression 2, Essence 1
Fully offlineBusiness & Enterprise
The avatar renders
on your Linux PCs and terminals
The conversation runs
agreed with sales for your site
What reaches bitHuman
usage is metered on the machine; no reconnection is required
Network
off the internet; creating the avatar happens online first
Price
from 100,000 credits; arranged through sales
Products
Linux PCs and terminals
Models
Essence 1 (Linux x86_64 and ARM64); Essence 2 and Expression 2 later

Every mode bills active session time, talking or idle, to the second (pricing).

bitHuman cloud

bitHuman renders the avatar in the US and streams it to your page, app or LiveKit room. bitHuman cloud

Your servers (self-hosted)

The CLI, Python or the LiveKit plugin on your own Mac or Linux machines. When the avatar renders on your hardware, its audio and video stay there. Your servers

On the device

Essence 2 and Expression 2 render on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Android, or in a WebGPU browser tab. On the device

CPU only (no GPU)

Both models run live on a standard Linux PC with no GPU. CPU only (no GPU)

Fully offline

Offline license is only available to Business and Enterprise clients who want to run realtime avatars completely locally, off the internet — e.g. kiosks, trade shows, ATM machines, embedded screens. Linux PCs and terminals; arranged through sales. Fully offline

Choosing a mode

Building for the web, or want the fewest moving parts? The bitHuman cloud, starting with the web embed.
Must audio and video stay on your network? Your servers or on the device, with the local conversation brain or your own models. What reaches bitHuman in each: Data flows & privacy.
Want the lowest per-minute rate? Render on the device or on your servers (rates).
No reliable internet at the site? Fully offline, on the Business and Enterprise plans.
Planning for a branch, a clinic or a show floor? Start from Use cases.

Try it

Talk to a sample avatar streamed from the bitHuman cloud: the same web embed a customer puts on a site.

Live in your browser, no account. Up to 3 minutes; allow the microphone when asked.

The avatar renders in the bitHuman cloud, and the conversation runs on bitHuman's servers.