---
id: free-tier
title: Free tier
sidebar_label: Free tier
---

Free is a permanent tier. It is available whether we host Vantage for you or you
host it yourself.

## What you get

|                       | Free      |
| --------------------- | --------- |
| Servers               | 3         |
| Monitors              | 3         |
| Secret groups         | 1         |
| Notification channels | 1         |
| Audit retention       | 30 days   |
| Support               | Community |

Browser console and single sign-on are not included; they are per-instance
features on a paid plan.

## One per account, per deployment

The limit is enforced per account **and** deployment. A Free cloud instance does
not prevent a Free self-hosted one; they are separate slots.

## Renewing

Free licences run for a year and are renewed from the portal.

- The renew button appears **7 days before expiry**.
- It stays available **after** expiry, right up until a lapsed cloud instance is
  deleted, so the same button rescues one.
- Renewing outside that window is refused, and the message names the date it
  opens.

:::tip Put the expiry in a calendar
Warning emails go to the account address. If nobody watches that inbox, a Free
cloud instance can lapse and eventually be deleted without anyone noticing.
:::

## What happens when it lapses

**Self-hosted:** the instance goes into degraded mode after the grace period and
stays that way. Nothing is deleted, ever.

**Cloud:** the instance goes into degraded mode, and after a further period the
instance **and all its data are deleted**. Warning emails are sent first, naming
the date.

:::danger Deletion is permanent
There is no restore. If a cloud Free instance is approaching that date and you
want to keep it, renew it, or move it to a paid plan.
:::

## Moving off Free

Change the instance's configuration to a paid tier and check out. Your data
stays where it is: a tier change reissues a licence, it does not rebuild
anything.

## Relinks

Free instances get the same allowance as paid ones: three relinks per term. If
you genuinely need more, ask support.