Telebugs vs Bugsink | Self-hosted error tracking

The reality of using Bugsink

Bugsink is a Sentry-SDK-compatible error tracker built with a clear focus: self-hosted error tracking that is simpler and lighter than running full self-hosted Sentry. It emphasizes readable stack traces that include local variables, which many developers find helpful when debugging production issues.

Self-hosted Bugsink is free for unlimited users and includes all features. Event volume is limited by the hardware you run it on. They also offer a hosted service with a free evaluation tier and paid plans based on monthly event volume.

• Self-hosted is free with all features and unlimited users. The amount of traffic it can handle depends entirely on the hardware and ops work you invest. It can run on modest or inexpensive VPS instances, but scaling, storage, backups, and uptime are on you.
• The UI handles the basics well: grouping, search/tags, alerts, and sourcemaps. It is functional for getting the job done. However, the design is basic and dated, with little modern polish or attention to detail.
• Support for free self-hosted installations is community-driven through GitHub issues and Discord. Bugsink sells Premium Support separately at €15 per user per month. It includes priority email, a 1-hour onboarding session, integration help, and roadmap input. It is positioned for self-hosters who want dedicated help at moderate volumes (around 100K errors per day). Enterprise Support is custom for high-volume production teams. You still run and maintain the server either way.
• The code is on GitHub under the Polyform Shield License (source-available and free for non-competing uses, but you may not offer a competing hosted service). PR contributions require signing their CLA. It is not OSI open source.
• Installation options include a simple Docker run for evaluation, compose files, virtualenv, and community deployment manifests for various platforms. Production setups often involve choosing and managing a database.

The result is a practical, focused error tracker for teams comfortable owning their infrastructure and support, or willing to pay extra for Premium/Enterprise help on top of self-hosting.

How Telebugs is different by design

Telebugs was built for teams that want the core of error tracking - collect, group, notify, debug - without the operational overhead or unpredictable costs that come with either managing self-hosted infrastructure at scale or paying ongoing per-event fees.

Aspect	Bugsink	Telebugs
Pricing model	Self-hosted: free for all users (volume limited by your hardware). Hosted: free small tier + paid per-event plans.	One-time $299.99 purchase. Self-hosted only. Unlimited events forever, no recurring fees or hardware scaling costs for volume.
Architecture & simplicity	Docker (single or compose), virtualenv options. Can choose DB (MySQL/Postgres). More traditional multi-component setup for production.	Single Docker container. One command install that handles Docker + TLS cert. Extremely minimal operational surface.
Design & attention to detail	Basic and dated, with little modern polish or attention to detail.	Premium, modern design with user-praised attention to detail, smooth animations, thoughtful polish, and a delightful UX. Users highlight how good it feels to use every day.
Support	Self-hosted (free): community via GitHub and Discord. Premium Support add-on (€15/user/mo) for priority email + 1h onboarding (moderate volume ~100K/day). Enterprise custom for high-volume production. You still self-host.	Email support included with every purchase. No tiers, no add-ons, no upsells.
Licensing & source	Source available on GitHub under Polyform Shield License (free for non-competing use). Contributions require CLA. Not OSI open source.	Commercial one-time purchase. Full source provided after purchase under a clear license (no competing hosted services). Designed for ownership and customization by the buyer.
Key strengths	Strong emphasis on readable stack traces including local variables. Flexible install options. Search/tags. Can go hosted or self-hosted.	Extreme simplicity (one container, one command). Predictable one-time cost. Modern delightful UX. Included support. Very low resource usage and excellent ARM support from early on.

Both tools are legitimate self-hosted Sentry-compatible options for error tracking. The best choice depends on your priorities around simplicity, cost predictability, design experience, and support model.

The operational difference is real. Telebugs runs as a single Docker container with one command that can set up TLS. No database selection for the common path, no compose files to maintain, no separate services to monitor. Support is not an extra line item.

Real stories of careful engineering (for example our write-up of a large background job payload incident) come from keeping the entire system small enough for one team to fully understand and improve end to end.

When Bugsink makes sense

We are not saying Bugsink is the wrong choice for every situation. There are cases where it is reasonable:

• You want a completely free self-hosted option and are happy to manage infrastructure and community support yourself.
• You specifically want the stack trace plus local variables presentation that Bugsink emphasizes in its marketing.
• You value the ability to start self-hosted and later switch to a hosted version of the exact same product and SDK workflow without changes.

For most teams that want predictable costs, a modern experience, and support that is included rather than an add-on, the math points to a premium one-time tool like Telebugs.

What you actually get with Telebugs

Telebugs is a complete, production-grade error tracking system that is intentionally smaller:

• Full Sentry SDK compatibility. Change the DSN and your existing integrations keep working (see the Sentry SDK compatible page).
• Automatic grouping with custom fingerprinting and manual merge when you need it.
• Releases and source map support so you can actually read production stack traces.
• Notifications via email, PWA push (installable on phones), and webhooks (Slack, Discord, custom).
• Collaboration tools: error notes, ownership, bulk actions, muting/snoozing with rules.
• Data retention policies you control, a full REST API, and the ability to run completely offline if needed.
• A clean, fast UI built with Hotwire (very low JavaScript) that works well even on modest hardware.

One Telebugs license covers a single domain. You can track errors from as many projects and applications as that instance can handle. There are no per-event limits and no surprise bills in production when you sleep.

Frequently asked questions

What support does Bugsink actually offer for self-hosted?

Free self-hosted Bugsink relies on community support through GitHub issues and Discord. Bugsink offers a paid Premium Support add-on (€15 per user per month) that includes priority email replies, a one-hour onboarding session, and help with integration and config. It is marketed for self-hosters at moderate scale (up to ~100K errors/day). Enterprise Support is custom and aimed at production teams running millions of events per day. You remain responsible for hosting in all cases.

Is Bugsink open source?

No. The source code is publicly available on GitHub under the Polyform Shield License. This allows running and modifying for non-competing uses, but prohibits offering a competing hosted service. Contributions require a Contributor License Agreement (CLA). It is source-available, not OSI open source.

How does Bugsink pricing work for self-hosting vs hosted?

Self-hosted is free (unlimited users, all features) with volume limited only by the hardware and ops you provide. Their hosted service has a free 15K events/month tier and then paid plans (e.g. 75K, 600K, 3M+ events per month at increasing prices). Premium or Enterprise support are extra costs on top if you want dedicated help.

Does Telebugs show local variables in stack traces like Bugsink?

Bugsink highlights the display of local variables captured in stack traces as a core strength for debugging. Telebugs is fully Sentry SDK compatible, so it receives and displays the full error context your SDK sends (stack frames, variables, extras, user info, etc.). The emphasis in Telebugs is on a clean, fast, modern interface that makes that data pleasant and fast to work with every day, plus included support when you need it.

Want reliable self-hosted error tracking without turning it into a second job or an ongoing bill?

Read the Telebugs manual (installation usually takes under 10 minutes), watch the install video on the homepage, or get your copy and run it on your own server today. If you help other teams switch, check our affiliates program (linked from the footer too).