Qdrant Deployment Options

---
name: qdrant-deployment-options
description: "Guides Qdrant deployment selection. Use when someone asks 'how to deploy Qdrant', 'Docker vs Cloud', 'local mode', 'embedded Qdrant', 'Qdrant EDGE', 'which deployment option', 'self-hosted vs cloud', or 'need lowest latency deployment'. Also use when choosing between deployment types for a new project."
---

# Which Qdrant Deployment Do I Need?

Start with what you need: managed ops or full control? Network latency acceptable or not? Production or prototyping? The answer narrows to one of four options.


## Getting Started or Prototyping

Use when: building a prototype, running tests, CI/CD pipelines, or learning Qdrant.

- Use local mode (Python only): zero-dependency, in-memory or disk-persisted, no server needed [Local mode](https://skills.qdrant.tech/md/documentation/quickstart/)
- Local mode data format is NOT compatible with server. Do not use for production or benchmarking.
- For a real server locally, use Docker [Quick start](https://skills.qdrant.tech/md/documentation/quickstart/?s=download-and-run)


## Going to Production (Self-Hosted)

Use when: you need full control over infrastructure, data residency, or custom configuration.

- Docker is the default deployment. Full Qdrant Open Source feature set, minimal setup. [Quick start](https://skills.qdrant.tech/md/documentation/quickstart/?s=download-and-run)
- You own operations: upgrades, backups, scaling, monitoring… load the full skill through Skill Me