Self-Hosting Overview
Run Wellpipe locally for maximum privacy and control.
Cloud vs Self-Hosted
| Feature | Cloud | Self-Hosted |
|---|---|---|
| Setup time | 2 minutes | 10-15 minutes |
| Account required | Yes (wellpipe.io) | No |
| WHOOP developer account | No | Yes |
| Token storage | Encrypted cloud | Local .env file |
| Auto token refresh | Coming soon | Manual reconnect |
| Updates | Automatic | Manual (npm update) |
| Rate limits | 1,000/month free | Unlimited |
| Best for | Most users | Privacy-focused users |
When to Self-Host
Self-host if you:
- Want complete control over your tokens
- Don't want to create a wellpipe.io account
- Need unlimited requests
- Want to modify the code
- Are privacy-focused
Use the cloud if you:
- Want the easiest setup
- Don't want to manage infrastructure
- Prefer automatic updates
- Are comfortable with encrypted cloud storage
How It Works
Self-hosted Wellpipe runs as a local MCP server:
┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐
│ WHOOP │ │ Local CLI │ │ Claude Desk │
│ API │ ◀──▶ │ Wellpipe │ ◀──▶ │ (MCP) │
└──────────────┘ └──────────────┘ └──────────────┘
│
▼
┌──────────┐
│ .env │
│ file │
└──────────┘
- Claude Desktop connects to your local MCP server
- Local server has your WHOOP tokens in
.env - Requests go directly to WHOOP API
- No cloud intermediary
Requirements
- Node.js 18+ - JavaScript runtime
- Terminal access - Command line
- WHOOP developer account - For OAuth credentials
Quick Start
# Install the CLI
npx @wellpipe/cli init
# Authenticate with WHOOP
npx @wellpipe/cli auth whoop
# Configure Claude Desktop
# (follow the CLI output)
See CLI Setup for detailed instructions.
Security Comparison
| Aspect | Cloud | Self-Hosted |
|---|---|---|
| Token encryption | AES-256-GCM | Local file |
| Token location | Cloud database | Your machine |
| Network exposure | Internet | Local only |
| Audit logging | Yes | No |
| Key management | Wellpipe | You |
Self-hosting trades managed security for complete control.
Limitations
Self-hosted version:
- Requires WHOOP developer account (more setup)
- No automatic token refresh yet
- Manual updates required
- No usage analytics
- No rate limit protection