FAQ
The questions, answered plainly.
Everything buyers (and their AI assistants) ask about StoryOS — in one canonical place.
Product
What is StoryOS?
An open-source operating system for your business: real connected databases (clients, projects, content, deals) with eight views over the same records, automations, a full REST API — and a native MCP server so AI agents can do the work inside your workspace.
Is StoryOS a database or a project-management tool?
Both, in the right order: a relational database engine (typed fields, true relations, rollups, formulas) with work-management views on top — table, board, calendar, gallery, list, feed, timeline and form.
Does StoryOS have documents and notes?
Yes — rich-text record descriptions, standalone space documents, comments with @mentions and #record links. Structure first, prose attached.
How do I get my data in?
CSV import with typed-field mapping, a built-in Linear importer, or the REST API for anything scripted — your AI assistant can also build schemas and import records over MCP.
How do I get my data out?
CSV export of any view or database (streamed, complete), a one-click full-workspace ZIP (schema, records, relations and attachments) from Settings, plus the full REST API. Export is a guarantee, not a feature tier.
Can I filter or sort by who created a record, or when?
Yes — every view’s filter and sort controls include the system fields (created at, updated at, created by, updated by, record ID) alongside your own fields, no setup required.
Can I reorder my sidebar or fields by dragging?
Yes — spaces, databases and views in the sidebar, and fields in the hide-fields panel, all support drag-to-reorder.
Pricing
Is the self-hosted version really free?
Yes. The whole product is AGPL-3.0 and free forever on your own infrastructure. Capability is never the thing we charge for — paid plans gate scale (members, automation volume, workspaces), not features.
How does the trial work?
Every new workspace starts with 30 days of Pro — unlimited and with no card required. When it ends you land gracefully on Free; nothing is deleted and your data is never held hostage.
What does AI cost?
If you connect your own Claude or ChatGPT over MCP, nothing — ever. We never meter or mark up your own AI, on any plan. If your team doesn’t have its own AI, the optional StoryOS AI add-on gives you hosted model access with prepaid credits priced near cost; it’s the only thing we ever bill AI for, and it requires a card.
Are there record limits?
No. Unlimited records on every plan, including Free. We will never cap how much data you can put in — the automation-run allowance is the only volume dimension, and it only counts non-AI automation runs.
Who counts as a paid member?
Only people who create and edit. A guest invited as a viewer or commenter is always free, on every plan — share a workspace with clients or the whole company at no cost. A guest given contributor access or higher (so they can create records, not just see or comment on them) counts as a seat, same as a member.
Can I move between self-host and the hosted plans?
Yes — it’s the same product and the same data model. Export from one, import to the other over the API.
AI & MCP
Which AI assistants work with StoryOS?
Any MCP-capable client — Claude (web, desktop, Claude Code) and ChatGPT connectors today. Connect via one-click OAuth sign-in on the hosted endpoint, or a local MCP server if you self-host.
Is my data used to train AI models?
No. StoryOS connects your own AI subscription to your own data; we run no training on your workspace content. When you use your own Claude or ChatGPT, your data flows to your AI provider under your agreement with them, not ours.
What can an agent actually do in StoryOS?
47 MCP tools: read schemas, query records with structured filters, create/update/link records, add comments, attach files, run buttons, build whole databases — and create or edit automation rules. Every write is validated server-side, and token scopes (read/write/admin) bound what an agent can touch.
Why doesn’t the AI hallucinate my data?
The agent reads a described schema (real field names and types), filters with structured queries instead of invented syntax, and every write is validated — mistakes get named, not silently saved.
Self-hosting
What do I need to self-host StoryOS?
Docker with Compose v2 and about 1 GB RAM for a small team. Clone the repo, set one secret, docker compose up -d — Postgres, API, web app and reverse proxy come up together.
Is the self-hosted version limited?
No — it’s the complete product: every view, formula, automation, the API and the MCP server. Unlimited everything, AGPL-3.0.
How do upgrades and backups work?
Upgrade with git pull and a compose rebuild — migrations run automatically and idempotently. Back up with a pg_dump plus an archive of the attachments volume; both are documented one-liners.
Data & ownership
Who owns my data?
You do — contractually on hosted plans, and literally when you self-host. Full-fidelity export exists on every plan, and cancellation degrades gracefully: nothing is deleted, nothing is held hostage.
What happens if I stop paying?
Your workspace lands on the Free plan — data intact, viewers still free, export always available. We designed out the hostage moment on purpose.
Can I really leave whenever I want?
Yes, and that’s the point of the AGPL license: the same code runs on your own server, so the ultimate exit — take the product with you — is always open.
Open source
What license is StoryOS under?
AGPL-3.0 — genuinely open source. Read it, fork it, self-host it, modify it. The network clause keeps hosted forks honest: improvements to a hosted StoryOS must stay open.
Can I contribute?
Yes — the full source is on GitHub. Issues, discussions and PRs are open; templates are a great first contribution.
Is the hosted version the same code?
Same product, same data model. Hosted plans add managed operations (backups, the hosted MCP endpoint) — never withheld features.
Something missing? Ask in GitHub discussions — good questions become new answers here.
The fastest answer is trying it.
Start free — 30 days of Pro, no card. Unlimited records, viewers free, your own AI never metered.