# Using external services with Sourcegraph

Sourcegraph by default provides versions of services it needs to operate, including:

-   A [PostgreSQL](https://www.postgresql.org/) instance for storing long-term information, such as user information when using Sourcegraph's built-in authentication provider instead of an external one.
-   A second PostgreSQL instance for storing large-volume precise code graph data.
-   A [Redis](https://redis.io/) instance for storing short-term information such as user sessions.
-   A second Redis instance for storing cache data.
-   A `sourcegraph/blobstore` instance that serves as a local S3-compatible object storage to hold user uploads before they can be processed. _This data is for temporary storage and content will be automatically deleted once processed._
-   A [Jaeger](https://www.jaegertracing.io/) instance for end-to-end distributed tracing (disabled by default).

Your Sourcegraph instance can be configured to use an external or managed version of these services:

-   Using a managed version of PostgreSQL can make backups and recovery easier to manage and perform.
-   Using a managed object storage service may decrease your hosting costs as persistent volumes are often more expensive than object storage space.

## External services guides

See the following guides to use an external or managed version of each service type.

-   See [Using your own PostgreSQL server](/self-hosted/external-services/postgres) to replace the bundled PostgreSQL instances.
-   See [Using your own Redis server](/self-hosted/external-services/redis) to replace the bundled Redis instances.
-   See [Using a managed object storage service (S3 or GCS)](/self-hosted/external-services/object-storage) to replace the bundled blobstore instance.
-   See [Using an external Jaeger instance](/self-hosted/observability/tracing#Use-an-external-Jaeger-instance) to replace the bundled Jaeger instance.

> NOTE: Using Sourcegraph with an external service is a [paid feature](https://about.sourcegraph.com/pricing). [Contact us](https://about.sourcegraph.com/contact/sales) to get a trial license.

## Cloud alternatives

-   Amazon Web Services: [AWS RDS for PostgreSQL](https://aws.amazon.com/rds/), [Amazon ElastiCache](https://aws.amazon.com/elasticache/redis/), and [S3](https://aws.amazon.com/s3/) for storing user uploads.
-   Google Cloud: [Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL](https://cloud.google.com/sql/docs/postgres/), [Cloud Memorystore](https://cloud.google.com/memorystore/), and [Cloud Storage](https://cloud.google.com/storage) for storing user uploads.
-   Digital Ocean: [Digital Ocean Managed Databases](https://www.digitalocean.com/products/managed-databases/) for [Postgres](https://www.digitalocean.com/products/managed-databases-postgresql/), [Redis](https://www.digitalocean.com/products/managed-databases-redis/), and [Spaces](https://www.digitalocean.com/products/spaces/) for storing user uploads.