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Umami Cloud vs Self-Hosted: How to Connect Each on Your iPhone

Published Sep 24, 2026 · 1 min read · Yichen Lab

Umami comes in two flavours: Umami Cloud, hosted by the Umami team, and self-hosted Umami that you run on your own server. Both expose the same kind of API, which is what a phone app like SiteGlance reads — but they sign in differently. (New to the app? Start with checking Umami on your iPhone.)

Umami Cloud: an API key

Cloud requests go to a fixed address, so there is no URL to type. You only need an API key.

  1. In Umami Cloud, click your profile in the side navigation and open Settings → API keys.
  2. Click Create key and copy it.
  3. In SiteGlance, add a connection, choose Umami Cloud, and paste the key.
What the app sends (for reference)
GET https://api.umami.is/v1/websites
Authorization: Bearer <your-api-key>

Self-hosted: address, username, password

For your own instance, SiteGlance signs in with the same username and password you use on the dashboard and receives a session token, exactly like the web login does.

  • HTTPS only. Plain http:// addresses are not accepted. If your instance has none, put it behind a reverse proxy with a certificate first.
  • Use the address where Umami lives. If Umami is served under a path such as https://example.com/umami, include the path.
  • The account needs read access to the websites you want to see.
SiteGlance add connection screen with self-hosted and Umami Cloud options
Adding a connection: choose self-hosted or Umami Cloud.

Common connection errors

SiteGlance tests every connection before saving it and tells you which step failed:

  • Wrong username or password — the server refused the login.
  • Logged in, but no read permission — the account works but can't read websites.
  • Host is up, but no Umami API here — usually a missing path or a reverse proxy that doesn't forward /api.
  • HTTPS certificate isn't valid — expired or self-signed certificate.
  • Can't reach this address or timed out — check the domain and your network.
  • API key is invalid or revoked — create a new key in Umami Cloud.

Once connected, either flavour works the same way in the app, including home screen widgets.

Get SiteGlance on the App Store

FAQ

Can I connect both Umami Cloud and a self-hosted instance?
Yes, with SiteGlance Pro, which lets you save multiple connections. The free version keeps one.
Why is my http:// instance rejected?
SiteGlance only connects over HTTPS so your credentials are never sent in plain text. Add a certificate, for example through a reverse proxy.
Where is my password stored?
In the iOS Keychain on your iPhone. SiteGlance has no server and never sends it anywhere except your own Umami.

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