# Cloud and self-hosted versions The IF Method platform is available in both cloud and self‑hosted editions. • Cloud edition Accessible in 3 different regions: | Region | URL | | --------------- | -------------------- | | London / Europe | eu.ifmethod.com | | U.S. East – NYC | us-east.ifmethod.com | | U.S. West – SF | us-west.ifmethod.com | • Self‑hosted edition Designed for deployment on your own server or cloud account. We recommend this option because it gives you maximum control over your data and the system’s uptime. The cloud edition is better suited for teams that want to avoid the extra cost and maintenance effort of managing their own infrastructure. A license key is required to use either edition. To obtain one, email . Keys are issued for 3–12 months and place no limits on the number of users. Without a key, you can only run the platform in demo mode, which is limited to one product and six functions. If you have chosen the cloud edition, you may skip the next page and proceed directly to “Creating a Workspace.” --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://handbook.swinlanes.com/getting-started/cloud-and-self-hosted-versions.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.