# Overview of answer.cloud Features and On-Site Chat

> Canonical source: [Overview of answer.cloud Features and On-Site Chat](https://www.answer.cloud/pages/overview-of-answer-cloud-features-and-local-chat-experience-hosted/)

Publish a hosted website or companion, maintain CMS content, configure chat, and interpret available analytics.

answer.cloud supports a full hosted website and an AI companion for a website that stays on its current host. Both workflows focus on maintaining a useful public source of information.

## Publishing and maintenance

Build a hosted site in Astro or prepare the companion’s CMS templates. The MCP tools manage sites, deploys, collections, and entries. GitHub integration can automate supported deploy workflows. Custom-domain capabilities depend on the plan.

## On-site chat

Configured chat is generated on hosted and companion pages. External websites can use the supported embed. Customize the verified labels and scoped theme through the [widget reference](https://www.answer.cloud/pages/window-aeosettings-configuration-reference-hosted/), rather than assuming an undocumented custom-chat API.

## Analytics

Use observed requests, human referrals, and on-site questions as distinct signals. They do not form a complete record of all third-party AI answers or citations. Read the [metrics guide](https://www.answer.cloud/pages/llm-visibility-metrics-the-kpi-playbook-for-seo-and-marketing-leaders-hosted/).

Start with [answer.cloud](https://www.answer.cloud/) and the [setup guide](https://www.answer.cloud/pages/how-to-set-up-your-answer-cloud-answer-engine-hosted/).