Best Self Hosting Explore guides

Your corner of the internet starts here.

Straightforward guides to help you claim a domain, choose a VPS, set up your server, and run useful apps — even if you’re just getting started.

Start self-hosting Compare VPS plans
Your deviceManage from anywhere
Your VPSA server in the cloud
Your appsTools you actually use
$ ssh your-user@your-server-ip
$ sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
$ sudo ufw allow OpenSSH
$ sudo ufw enable

A practical path from first domain to your own stack

Claim your name, rent a server, and get your apps running with clear, step-by-step guidance.

1

Claim a domain

Pick a name you can say out loud and point it at your server.

Find a domain →
2

Choose a VPS

Compare providers and find a plan that fits your projects and budget.

Compare providers →
3

Set up your server

Start with updates, a non-root account, SSH access, and a firewall.

See the first steps →
4

Install and run apps

Learn how to deploy, maintain, and back up the tools you use.

Explore guides →

Domains

Every server needs a name

Before you rent a server, grab a domain. It’s the address people type to reach you — and it stays yours even if you switch VPS providers later.

Domain partner

Spaceship for your domain

Spaceship is a no-nonsense registrar: search for a name, see the real price, and manage DNS records from a clean dashboard. Everything you need to point a domain at your VPS — and re-point it whenever you migrate.

Search domains on Spaceship

(draft link — replace with your approved Spaceship affiliate tracking URL)

Why register a domain first

  • Switch VPS providers without changing your address
  • Point A/AAAA records at any server IP in minutes
  • One name for every app you host

Before you buy

  • Check the renewal price, not just year one
  • Confirm WHOIS privacy is included
  • Keep your domain at a different company than your VPS
How to point your domain at your VPS
  1. In your registrar’s DNS panel, add an A record for your hostname pointing to your VPS’s IPv4 address — and an AAAA record for IPv6.
  2. Wait for DNS to propagate: anywhere from minutes to a few hours.
  3. Verify with dig +short yourdomain.com or an online DNS checker.
  4. Once the name resolves, set up HTTPS on the server (Caddy and certbot are the usual choices).

Registrar DNS is fine to start. If you later want faster changes or CDN features, you can move DNS hosting without moving the domain itself.

Affiliate disclosure: Links to Spaceship, Contabo, and GitHub on this page are intended as affiliate links. If you purchase or sign up through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Tracking links are still being added in this draft; recommendations remain independent of any commission.

Comparison

Choose the right server

Three popular providers with different strengths. The right choice depends on your budget, location, and how much setup you want to manage.

Provider
Value for RAMMemory for the money
Dedicated optionsFor higher power workloads
SimplicityGetting started
ContaboHigh capacity plans
A strength

Often attractive when RAM is the priority.

Available

VPS and dedicated server options.

Some learning required

Unmanaged hosting needs server administration.

HetznerDeveloper-focused
Strong value

Compare current regions and configurations.

Available

Cloud and dedicated options.

Straightforward

Clean tools, with Linux knowledge still useful.

DigitalOceanAccessible cloud platform
Different tradeoff

Often chosen for its tools and documentation.

Cloud focus

Compute products rather than typical bare metal.

Beginner friendly

Extensive tutorials and an approachable dashboard.

A directional overview, not a live price quote. Check each provider’s current plans, regions, fees, and terms before ordering.

Get started

Build something useful

The foundations to learn first, then practical projects to make the server yours.

FIRST STEPS

Secure a new VPS

Create a regular user, update packages, configure SSH, and turn on a firewall before deploying apps.

Read the steps →
NEXT SKILL

Install Docker

Learn containers and Compose so your services are easier to install and update.

Read the steps →
PROJECT IDEA

Host your own cloud

Run a private file service like Nextcloud after you have backups and HTTPS in place.

Read the steps →
ESSENTIAL HABIT

Set up backups

Keep a separate copy of important data and test that you can restore it.

Read the steps →
Open the first-server checklist

Before you deploy an app

  1. Choose a supported Linux release and keep its packages current.
  2. Create a regular account with sudo access and use SSH keys.
  3. Keep SSH accessible before enabling your firewall; allow only the ports you need.
  4. Turn on automatic security updates where appropriate.
  5. Make a backup and confirm that you can restore it.

Commands differ by distribution. Follow your operating system’s current documentation before pasting commands into a production server.

Open the Docker guide outline

Install Docker Engine and the Compose plugin using Docker’s official instructions for your Linux release. Start with one service, store persistent data in volumes, and keep your Compose file in version control without passwords or secrets.

Open the private cloud guide outline

Give your cloud app a dedicated domain, enable HTTPS, put its data on storage you monitor, and arrange backups before inviting other users.

Open the backup guide outline

Back up application files and databases to a separate location. Schedule the backup, monitor failures, and practice restoring to a fresh server. A VPS snapshot alone is not your entire backup plan.

Workflow

Version control your server

The habit that separates a fragile server from one you can rebuild and improve with confidence: every config change tracked, reviewed, and reversible.

Partner spotlight

GitHub for self-hosters

Keep every Compose file, config, and script in Git. Review changes before they touch your server, roll back a bad deploy in seconds, and let Actions ship updates for you. Draft YAML and shell scripts faster with GitHub Copilot.

Get started on GitHub

(draft links — replace with your approved GitHub partner tracking URLs)

Why it earns its place

  • Every change to your server is reviewed and reversible
  • GitHub Actions can deploy on every push — no more manual copy-paste
  • Free private repositories cover most self-hosting setups

Before you push

  • Never commit secrets, keys, or passwords — use repository secrets and environment variables
  • Start every infrastructure repo as private
  • A good .gitignore beats cleaning history later
Automate deploys with GitHub Actions — the outline
  1. Store your Compose files and configs in a private repository.
  2. Create a fine-grained personal access token or deploy key, and add it under the repository’s Secrets — never in the code.
  3. Add a workflow that connects over SSH on every push, pulls the latest commit, and restarts your services.
  4. Test on a throwaway service first, and keep an easy path back: Git history is your undo button.

Start with a manual deploy you can repeat by hand, then automate it. If a workflow fails at 2 a.m., you want your last working config one git revert away.

Affiliate disclosure: Links to GitHub and GitHub Copilot in this section are intended as affiliate links. If you sign up through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Tracking links are still being added in this draft; recommendations remain independent of any commission.

Featured review

Our Contabo VPS review

Contabo is worth a closer look if you want substantial RAM and storage for self-hosted projects. Weigh the full checkout cost, region, support model, and your comfort managing Linux before you choose a plan.

Read the review

Reasons to consider it

  • Capacity-oriented VPS options
  • Room for multiple small apps
  • VPS and dedicated server choices

Tradeoffs to plan for

  • You manage security, updates, and backups
  • Total cost depends on configuration and term
  • Check performance and support against your needs

Who is Contabo a fit for?

It suits builders who want to run several services and are comfortable learning server administration. If this is your first VPS, budget time for SSH, a firewall, monitoring, and a restore test. Compare total checkout prices and location options with other providers; capacity alone does not tell you how an app will perform.

View current Contabo plans ↗ (draft link — replace with your approved affiliate tracking URL)

Affiliate disclosure: Links to Contabo, Spaceship, and GitHub on this page are intended as affiliate links. If you purchase or sign up through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Tracking links are still being added in this draft; recommendations remain independent of any commission.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

A few things to know before renting your first server.

What is self-hosting?

It means running software on a server or device you control. That can be a machine at home or a rented VPS in a data center.

Do I need a dedicated server?

Usually no. A small VPS can run a website or a few lightweight services. Move to dedicated hardware when you have a measured need for more predictable resources.

Where should I buy my domain?

Any established registrar works. Compare the renewal price (not just the first-year deal), confirm WHOIS privacy is included, and make sure DNS records are easy to edit. We partner with Spaceship — see the labeled link in the domains section — but the checklist matters more than the brand.

Do I need Git or GitHub to self-host?

No — but version control is the cheapest insurance you can add. A private repo gives you a full history of every config change and a one-command rollback when something breaks. See the workflow section for how we set it up.

Can I switch providers later?

Yes, if you keep your data backed up and document your setup. Migration still takes planning for DNS, databases, files, and downtime.

What should I back up?

Back up databases, persistent app data, configuration, and any secrets you need to restore the service securely. Keep a copy outside the VPS and test a restore.

How does this site make money?

The site may earn a commission from clearly labeled affiliate links, including VPS providers like Contabo, domain registrars like Spaceship, and developer tools like GitHub. Recommendations should still account for price, performance, ease of use, and the needs of each project.