Self-host HyCanvas
v0.3.18AI-native design platform for graphics, presentations, video
- Stars
- 255
- Port
- 8005 (HTTP API, WebSocket, and embedded frontend)
- Requires
- PostgreSQL
hycanvas/hycanvas
What is HyCanvas?
This free, open-source design platform lets you create social graphics, presentations, videos, whiteboards, documents, and spreadsheets in a single web-based editor. It positions itself as a self-hostable Canva alternative with no paywalls, watermarks, or feature gates. The software runs as one self-contained Go binary embedding a Next.js frontend, serving the REST API and realtime WebSocket on a single port, with PostgreSQL as the only required external service. Users supply their own AI provider keys (OpenAI, Anthropic, DeepSeek, or custom endpoints) which are encrypted per workspace. Capabilities include a professional vector editor with infinite canvas, rich typography with variable fonts, brand kits, built-in templates, real-time collaboration with presence cursors, comments and approvals, and export to PNG, PDF, and video. The AGPL-3.0 licensed code can be self-hosted via Docker, prebuilt binaries for Linux, macOS, and Windows, or built from source. A first-run setup wizard handles database, storage (local or S3), SMTP, and optional OIDC SSO with TOTP MFA configuration.
Should you self-host HyCanvas?
HyCanvas scores 49/100 on selfhost.directory (how scoring works) and ranks #6 of 7 in Design. It has 255 GitHub stars.
It shipped 10 stable releases in the past year. The latest, v0.3.18, came out on 26 October 2026. New versions land roughly every 5 days.
Setup is moderate: expect some configuration beyond a single command. An official Docker image is available. It is AGPL-3.0-licensed and written mostly in Typescript.
Its closest alternative on selfhost.directory is penpot (84/100, 61 794 stars). It scores higher overall, so compare the two before you pick. See HyCanvas vs penpot side by side.
Features
- AI generation (bring your own key)
- Brand kits
- Built-in templates
- Export to PNG, PDF, video
- Generation API
- Magic Link Authentication
- MCP (Model Context Protocol) endpoint
- Multi-format design
- OIDC/SSO Authentication
- Open design format (.hyc)
- Real-Time Collaboration
- Rich typography
- TOTP MFA
- Vector graphics editor
- Web push notifications
HyCanvas README
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