When you buy a self-hosted eCommerce Site from Djangify, you are not renting a tool you are receiving a complete eCommerce system that you own outright. That ownership gives you full control of your store, your data, and your future. This article explains what that means in practice and how hosting works once your site is ready to go live.
What It Means to Own Your System
Most online platforms operate on a rental model: you pay a monthly fee, use their tools, and your site exists only as long as your subscription does. If the company changes its pricing or shuts down your account, your business goes with it.
Djangify works differently. When you purchase an eCommerce Site, you receive:
- The complete system including all apps, templates, and configuration files.
- Access to your database and media files.
- A fully configured site branded to your business and ready for production.
- You own the code, content, and database.
That means you can move your site and back it up anytime you want. Your business runs independently of any third-party platform.
How Hosting Works
Hosting is where your site lives on the internet. Your Djangify system is delivered pre-configured and ready to host on any modern Django-compatible environment.
Djangify Setup Process
The setup process will differ depending on whether you are self-hosting (you put your site up yourself), managed hosting (I look after your site) or a complete custom build of your site where I install it for you on your own hosting. After purchase of a complete custom build, you complete a questionnaire providing your domain, colours, logo, and product information.
Djangify configures your eCommerce Site and prepares it for deployment.
The final version is installed on our own hosting server for three months free. During and after that time you can then move the site wherever you choose or keep it with djangify and pay a small monthly hosting fee.
Everything is set up for you. There are no manual installation steps required.
The newest option is managed hosting. For a monthly fee your ecommerce site is managed for you, so you don't have to worry about servers and updates or backups.
Self-Hosted: Complete Ownership
When you choose self-hosted eBuilder, you are purchasing the complete software package. You receive the full source code, all applications, documentation, and the right to deploy it on any server you control.
This means you handle your own hosting (a VPS from providers like Hetzner, or similar typically costs £5-20 per month depending on your needs). You are responsible for server maintenance, updates, and security. You have complete freedom to modify the code, add features, and change every aspect of how the platform works.
Self-hosted is right for you if:
You are comfortable with basic server administration or willing to learn. You want complete control over your platform and data. You plan to change the software beyond standard configuration. You are building a long-term business and want to eliminate recurring platform fees. You have specific hosting requirements or compliance needs.
Managed Hosting: Simplicity and Support
Managed hosting means we run eBuilder for you. Your store lives on our infrastructure. We handle server maintenance, security updates, backups, and technical issues. You focus entirely on your business – creating products, serving customers, and growing sales.
This is a service subscription with a monthly fee. You are paying for ongoing hosting and management, not purchasing software to download.
A crucial point to understand: With managed hosting, you use the platform but you don't receive the source code or the ability to run eBuilder independently. You are a customer of our hosting service, not a software owner.
This isn't a trick or a limitation – it's simply how service businesses work. Netflix doesn't give you their streaming platform when you subscribe. Managed hosting works the same way: you are paying for access to a service we operate on your behalf.
Managed hosting is right for you if:
You want to start selling quickly without technical setup. Server administration isn't something you want to learn or manage. You prefer predictable monthly costs to upfront software purchases. You are testing the market and want low commitment to start. You value having support handle technical issues.
Recommended Hosting Option: VPS
If you are self-hosting (putting it up yourself) a Virtual Private Server (VPS) is the preferred choice for this system because it provides:
- Full ownership and control.
- Direct file access and SSH management.
- Built-in SSL encryption and automated backups.
- Consistent performance without shared hosting limitations.
For self-managed hosting and the full custom build I use my own VPS Hosting. I put your site up and you receive your credentials and site details once setup is complete, allowing you to manage and update your store.
Backup and Migration
Every Djangify eCommerce Builder Site is hosted on its own secure VPS (Virtual Private Server)
With managed hosting your site is backed up and the infrastructure is maintained for you.
The custom build option includes three months of managed hosting. During this time Djangify will handle updates and backups.
Your data belongs entirely to you and you always have the option to take a full copy of your site whenever you wish.
Your VPS hosting includes:
- Automatic weekly backups (server-level).
- Database backups
- Media and uploaded files stored in your /home/ directory.
These backups protect your products, pages, and orders in case of data loss.
If anything ever goes wrong, Djangify Support can restore your site from one of these backups during your hosting period.
Accessing Your eCommerce Login
You will receive your eCommerce login details if you decide to continue hosting your site with Djangify. Obviously, if you choose to move your site then we no longer have access to your domain or site and it is now the responsibility of your new hosting company.
However, if you choose to remain and pay monthly for your hosting you will receive log in details to your eCommrece admin area.
Exporting Your Site Data
If you decide to move your site to a new host or manage it independently, you can request your database which will include a complete export of your database and media files, which allows another server to recreate your site exactly as it is.
- The datadump includes:
- All product and order data
- All Info Pages and documentation
- Uploaded media and digital files
- Site settings and structure
To generate this export, you can either ask Djangify Support to prepare it for you.
Moving Your Site to Another Host
Your site is built with Django, SQLite3, and Tailwind CSS V4.
To move it elsewhere, your new host must support:
Python 3.12 or later
A Django-compatible environment
Because migration involves moving both files and databases, you might want to get your new hosting company to do this for you. Many of them offer that service.
Data Privacy and Control
Because your system is self-hosted, your customer information and sales data remain entirely under your control.
No third-party service can access or share your data. All sensitive details, including passwords and payment confirmations, are handled securely by Django and Stripe.
This setup protects both you and your customers while meeting GDPR compliance standards for UK and EU users.
Updates and Maintenance
Djangify provides clear documentation for routine maintenance. Most updates are handled automatically during your hosting setup for managed and custom created sites. For system or security updates:
You can follow provided instructions if you are self-hosting.
Your store continues running during updates - no downtime or reconfiguration required.
Because the system has no plugins or third-party integrations, maintenance remains simple and predictable.
Why Ownership Future-Proofs Your Business
Owning your system gives you independence. If you grow beyond your current plan, you can scale the same codebase to a new server or add new functionality without rebuilding from scratch. Your store becomes a long-term business asset, not a temporary subscription.