Choosing between TestRail Cloud and TestRail Server comes down to who runs the infrastructure and which capabilities you need. This article compares both deployment options, including feature availability by version, AI capabilities, and the infrastructure required to host TestRail Server.
At a glance
- TestRail Cloud is hosted and maintained by TestRail. You get new features first (including TestRail AI and the TestRail MCP Server), automatic upgrades, daily backups, and data residency in US East, EU, or APAC.
- TestRail Server runs on your own infrastructure (Windows, Linux, or Docker). You control upgrades, backups, and network access, and can use Server-only options such as AD/LDAP authentication and custom report and defect plugins.
Considering a move from Server to Cloud? See Migrate from TestRail Server to TestRail Cloud.
TestRail Server & Cloud functional differences
Features by Server version
Each Server column shows features available from that version onward.
| Feature | Server 7.0 |
Server 7.4 |
Server 7.5 |
Server 8.0 |
Server 9.5 |
Server 10.0 |
Server 10.8+ |
Cloud |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shared Test Steps | ✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
| Media Library | ❌ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
| Interactive Charts | ❌ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
| Test Case Versioning & Review (Enterprise) | ❌ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
| Webhooks | ❌ |
❌ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
| Single Sign-On & Multi-Factor Authentication (Enterprise) | ❌ |
❌ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
| PHP 8.1 compatibility | ❌ |
❌ |
❌ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
| Customizable Dashboard Charts | ❌ |
❌ |
❌ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
| Result Exclusions | ❌ |
❌ |
❌ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
| Improved Reporting | ❌ |
❌ |
❌ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
| Cassandra no longer required (see below) | ❌ |
❌ |
❌ |
❌ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
| PHP 8.3 compatibility | ❌ |
❌ |
❌ |
❌ |
❌ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
| API Management Dashboard | ❌ |
❌ |
❌ |
❌ |
❌ |
❌ |
✅ |
✅ |
TestRail AI
Administrators can enable or disable TestRail AI features at instance, project, and role level in the AI Hub.
| Feature | Server | Cloud | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test Case Generation | ❌ |
✅ |
Generate structured test cases from requirements, user stories, or Jira issues. |
| Automated Test Script Generation | ❌ |
✅ |
Generate automation script scaffolding from existing test cases in your framework. |
| Test Prioritization | ❌ |
✅ |
Rank tests in a run by risk using execution history, linked defects, and labels. |
| AI Evaluation Template | ✅ |
✅ |
Score non-deterministic AI features across multiple dimensions, with a Quality Insights dashboard. |
| TestRail MCP Server | 🗓️ Planned |
🧪 Closed Beta |
Connect AI coding assistants to TestRail via the Model Context Protocol. A locally hosted MCP Server for TestRail Server is planned for Q4 2026. |
| Intelligent Search (MCP) | ❌ |
🧪 Closed Beta |
Part of the TestRail MCP Server on Cloud. Intelligent Search makes MCP-based searches across your TestRail data faster, more token-efficient, and more accurate, so AI assistants find the right test cases, runs, and results with fewer requests. It also powers advanced MCP capabilities such as Gap Analysis (upcoming). |
Other key differences
| Area | Server | Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting & maintenance | Installed and maintained by your team on Windows, Linux, or Docker | Hosted, monitored, and maintained by TestRail |
| Upgrades | Manual. You choose when to upgrade. | Automatic. New features arrive on Cloud first. |
| Backups | Managed by your team | Automatic daily backups. Configurable restore on Enterprise. |
| Data residency | Data stays on your own infrastructure | US East, EU, or APAC |
| Private Cloud | 🔜 Coming soon |
|
| API rate limits | No TestRail-imposed limit. Throughput depends on your infrastructure. | Essentials: 100 requests/min Professional: 180 requests/min Enterprise: 300 requests/min |
| Authentication | Same as Cloud, plus AD/LDAP authentication | TestRail login, SSO via SAML 2.0 (Enterprise), MFA (Enterprise) |
| Custom report plugins & custom defect plugins |
✅ (Requires file system access to the TestRail installation) |
❌ |
| Search | Database search. Elasticsearch support is planned for Q1 2027. | Elasticsearch-powered search. Can be more performant for large databases. |
| Available plans | Professional, Enterprise (minimum 10 seats, 12-month term) | Essentials, Professional, Enterprise |
TestRail Server footprint
When choosing between Server and Cloud, consider the infrastructure and hosting requirements. A TestRail Server installation consists of the components below, with some differences depending on whether you use a Windows or Linux environment.
- Windows: IIS serves the application, with Microsoft SQL Server as the database.
- Linux: Apache or Nginx serves the application, with MySQL or MariaDB as the database.
- Docker: TestRail Server can also be deployed as containers on Windows or Linux hosts.
For supported operating systems, database and PHP versions, and hardware sizing, see Installation Requirements (9.4.1 to 10.7.1).
Cassandra deprecation (TestRail 9.5 and later)
Cassandra, previously used to store attachment metadata, is deprecated as of TestRail 9.5 Server and is no longer required. This simplifies installation, upgrades, and support for Server customers.
Important: Before upgrading to TestRail 9.5 or later, migrate your Cassandra data on TestRail 9.4.1. Upgrades are blocked until the migration has been completed. See Cassandra Deprecation for the steps for Windows, Linux, and Docker.
Related articles
- Migrate from TestRail Server to TestRail Cloud
- Installation Requirements (9.4.1 to 10.7.1)
- Cassandra Deprecation
- Quick Start: Generate Test Cases with AI
- Getting started with Automate Test Cases with AI
- Getting started with Prioritize tests with AI
- AI Evaluation Template with Quality Insights Dashboard