# Deployment options

URL: https://docs.bithuman.ai/deploy

> Where the avatar renders: pick the mode that fits your users and data.

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.

## Choosing a mode

| You want to | Start here |
|---|---|
| Build for the web, with the fewest moving parts | [bitHuman cloud](https://docs.bithuman.ai/deploy/cloud), starting with the [web embed](https://docs.bithuman.ai/platforms/web) |
| Keep audio and video on your network | [Your servers](https://docs.bithuman.ai/deploy/self-hosted) or [on the device](https://docs.bithuman.ai/deploy/on-device), with the [local conversation brain](https://docs.bithuman.ai/platforms/cli/local-brain) or your own models; what reaches bitHuman: [Data flows & privacy](https://docs.bithuman.ai/deploy/privacy) |
| Pay the lowest per-minute rate | Render on the device or on your servers ([rates](https://docs.bithuman.ai/pricing)) |
| Run with no reliable internet at the site | [Fully offline](https://docs.bithuman.ai/deploy/offline), on the Business and Enterprise plans |
| Plan for a branch, a clinic or a show floor | [Use cases](https://docs.bithuman.ai/deploy/use-cases) |

## Compare

| Compare | [bitHuman cloud](https://docs.bithuman.ai/deploy/cloud) | [Your servers](https://docs.bithuman.ai/deploy/self-hosted) | [On the device](https://docs.bithuman.ai/deploy/on-device) | [Fully offline](https://docs.bithuman.ai/deploy/offline) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **The avatar renders** | on bitHuman's servers, in the US | on your own Mac or Linux machines | on the iPhone, iPad, Mac or Android phone in front of the user, or in a WebGPU browser tab | on your Linux and macOS computers |
| **The conversation runs** | on bitHuman's voice service, or with your own provider keys | your choice: the CLI's local conversation brain, your own services, or bitHuman's | your app's choice; with the web embed, on bitHuman's servers | agreed with sales for your site |
| **What reaches bitHuman** | the session's audio and conversation, to run it | a credential check, the avatar download, and usage reports with no audio, video or text | with your own voice and language services, usage metering only, never audio, video or conversation text | usage is metered on the machine; no reconnection is required |
| **Network** | required for the whole session | to start; rendering continues through a drop of up to 5 minutes | to start; rendering continues through a drop of up to 5 minutes | off the internet; creating the avatar happens online first |
| **Price** | 4 credits per minute (Essence 2, Expression 2) | 2 credits per minute (Essence 2, Expression 2) | 2 credits per minute (Essence 2, Expression 2) | from 100,000 credits; bought in the console or through sales |
| **Products** | web embed, REST API, LiveKit plugin, cloud avatar in your room | CLI, Python SDK, LiveKit plugin (`model_path`) | Swift package, Android SDK, Flutter plugin, web embed with `render=local` | Linux PCs and terminals, Macs with Apple silicon (Python) |
| **Models** | Essence 2, Expression 2, Essence 1, Expression 1 | Essence 2, Expression 2, Essence 1 | Essence 2, Expression 2 | Essence 1 (Linux x86_64 and ARM64, macOS on Apple silicon); Essence 2 and Expression 2 (Linux x86_64) |
| **Plan** | Creator plan or higher | Creator plan or higher | Creator plan or higher | Business & Enterprise |

Both models run live on a standard Linux PC with no GPU: [CPU only (no GPU)](https://docs.bithuman.ai/deploy/cpu). Every mode bills active session time, talking or idle, to the second ([pricing](https://docs.bithuman.ai/pricing)).

## 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 and macOS computers (Apple silicon); bought in the console or through sales. [Fully offline](https://docs.bithuman.ai/deploy/offline)

The overview to share with your team is on bithuman.ai: [where AI avatars run](https://www.bithuman.ai/deployment).

**Pages in this section**

### Where it renders

- [Deployment options](https://docs.bithuman.ai/deploy.md): Where the avatar renders: pick the mode that fits your users and data.
- [bitHuman cloud](https://docs.bithuman.ai/deploy/cloud.md): bitHuman renders the avatar on its servers and streams it to you.
- [Your servers (self-hosted)](https://docs.bithuman.ai/deploy/self-hosted.md): Run the CLI, Python SDK or LiveKit plugin on your own machines.
- [CPU only (no GPU)](https://docs.bithuman.ai/deploy/cpu.md): Both models run live on a standard Linux PC with no GPU.
- [On the device](https://docs.bithuman.ai/deploy/on-device.md): Essence 2 and Expression 2 render on the device in front of the user.
- [Fully offline](https://docs.bithuman.ai/deploy/offline.md): Real-time avatars that run completely locally, off the internet.

### Privacy & compliance

- [Data flows & privacy](https://docs.bithuman.ai/deploy/privacy.md): What reaches bitHuman in each deployment mode, and what bitHuman stores.
- [Security and retention](https://docs.bithuman.ai/deploy/privacy/retention.md): How data is protected, how long it is kept, and how it is deleted.

### Use cases

- [Use cases](https://docs.bithuman.ai/deploy/use-cases.md): Which deployment mode each use case starts from.
- [Banking and ATMs](https://docs.bithuman.ai/deploy/use-cases/banking-and-atms.md): An always-on avatar on a branch screen, teller terminal or ATM.
- [Healthcare](https://docs.bithuman.ai/deploy/use-cases/healthcare.md): Keep patient audio, transcripts and video in your own environment.
- [Events and trade shows](https://docs.bithuman.ai/deploy/use-cases/events-and-trade-shows.md): Run an avatar on a show floor, even with unreliable Wi-Fi.