# Managed or Self-managed

> Both options use Composio, the sign-in service 1Helm uses for apps. The only difference is whose account it runs on. Both are free, and you can switch any time.

Section: Apps

## The choice

The last step of signing up asks how your apps should connect. Nothing connects until you ask your helper to use an app.

|  | Managed | Self-managed |
|---|---|---|
| Whose Composio account | 1Helm's | Yours |
| Setup | Nothing. Tap Connect when you want an app. | Your own Composio account. Free, and set up takes about 10 seconds with a Google Account. |
| Who can see the activity record | Composio and 1Helm | Composio and you, in your own Composio dashboard |
| If you leave 1Helm | We delete your connections | They stay in your Composio account |
| Cutting access | Disconnect apps in 1Helm, or remove access in the app's own account settings | The same, plus remove any app in your own Composio dashboard |
| App's own API, file attachments, [When something happens](https://1helm.com/docs/apps/events/) | Yes | Not available |

**Pick Managed if you just want it to work.** Most people should. Pick Self-managed if you already use Composio, or you want your connections to live in an account only you control.

## The same either way

- Both are free and reach the same apps.
- Composio does the signing in. When you connect Gmail, Google's screen says "Composio". 1Helm never sees your app passwords.
- Your helper only touches an app when you ask, or when a task you set up needs it.
- Composio keeps the sign-ins and a record of app activity (what was asked and what came back) so it can run the service.
- Composio holds sign-in tokens to act for you and, on our plan, keeps copies of app requests and responses for up to a year; never used for ads, selling or AI training.

## What Self-managed doesn't have

A few things need 1Helm's side of Composio and don't work with your own account:

- **Calling an app's own API.** Your helper uses the app's actions instead.
- **Attaching files** from your Library to an app action. Your helper offers another way, like a link or the text itself. Files an app returns are still saved to your Library.
- **When something happens** workflows. Your helper offers a scheduled check instead.

## How signing in works

Pick Self-managed and 1Helm shows these steps (you can open them again from **How signing in works** next to the sign-in button). Composio's page opens in a new tab:

1. You'll see a page that asks you to sign in with GitHub, with Google, or with email.
2. Under it is **Sign up**. Click **Sign up** (or sign in if you already have an account).
3. Choose Google, GitHub or email. Google and GitHub are quickest.
4. With email: create a password of at least 10 characters, then hit **Confirm**.
5. You'll get a 6-digit code by email. Enter it, and you're back in 1Helm.

When you come back to the 1Helm tab, it notices the sign-in finished and shows **✓ Connected as** your account. If it doesn't, tap **I've signed in, check again**.

## Switching later

**Settings → Connected accounts → How apps connect** switches between Managed and Self-managed. You reconnect each app once on the new side, and until you do, your helper can't use it. Apps connected on 1Helm's account before you switched to Self-managed aren't used; **Remove them** clears them out.

- With Self-managed, connecting an app opens Composio's own page in a new tab and finishes when you come back to 1Helm.
- If your Composio sign-in ends, no app works until you sign in again: your helper shows a **Reconnect Composio** card, and Settings shows **Sign in again**.

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Web page: https://1helm.com/docs/apps/managed/