Choose Your Deployment
Both options are free. STING CE Server is fully open source under Apache 2.0. Nectar is free to download and use. Pick based on your use case, not your budget.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Nectar (Desktop) | STING CE Server |
|---|---|---|
| Deployment | ||
| Installation | Desktop app (manages Docker automatically) | Docker Compose |
| Runs on | Mac, Windows, Linux | Any Docker host |
| Air-gap capable | Yes | Yes |
| AI Capabilities | ||
| Bee AI assistant | Yes | Yes |
| Local LLM support (Ollama) | Yes | Yes |
| Cloud AI integration | Via STING CE Server | Yes |
| Knowledge Management | ||
| Honey Jars | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Document types | PDF, DOCX, Markdown, etc. | PDF, DOCX, Markdown, etc. |
| Vector search | Yes | Yes |
| Security | ||
| PII scrambling | Yes | Yes |
| WebAuthn/Passkey auth | Yes | Yes |
| Encryption | AES-256 | AES-256 |
| Users | ||
| User count | Single user | Multi-user |
| Team workspaces | No | Yes |
| Role-based access | No | Yes |
| Support | ||
| Support channel | Community (GitHub, Discord) | Community (GitHub, Discord) |
| License | Apache 2.0 | Apache 2.0 |
Which One Should You Use?
Use Nectar if:
- You're an individual user
- You want the simplest setup
- You need 100% offline capability
- You prefer desktop apps
- You want to try STING before deploying a server
Use STING CE Server if:
- You have a team that needs access
- You want centralized knowledge management
- You need multi-user authentication
- You're comfortable with Docker
- You want to run it on a dedicated server or VM
Can I Use Both?
Yes—that's the plan. STING CE Server sync is coming soon. When it's ready, you'll be able to:
- Start with Nectar to evaluate locally
- Deploy STING CE Server when your team is ready
- Connect Nectar to your server for a native desktop experience with shared knowledge bases
Ready to Get Started?
Both options are free. Pick the one that fits your workflow and go.