Where to run a self-hosted app
Most self-hosted tools give you a Docker Compose file. Starting the app is usually the easy part.
Your main job is protecting the data during updates, restarts, and server failures.
A small virtual server is usually cheaper. A managed container platform needs less maintenance, but storage and databases can raise the price.
Recommended hosts
Fly.io Machines
About $5.92/month in Amsterdam, plus egress at $0.02/GB.
- Why it fits
- Dockerized apps that want low cost, fine control, or multi-region placement.
- How deploys work
- fly launch builds the image and deploys it; configuration lives in fly.toml and the flyctl CLI.
- The tradeoff
- You operate more of the stack yourself unless you pay for Managed Postgres.
Vultr Cloud Compute
Fine for steady modest traffic; move up when RAM gets tight.
- Free option
- Limited early-access plan: 1 vCPU, 512 MB RAM, and 10 GB disk in Seattle, Frankfurt, or Miami. Confirm access in your account before relying on it.
- Why it fits
- Developers who want a cheap server near their users, wherever those users are.
- How deploys work
- You get root on a fresh Linux server; setup and deploys are yours to script.
- The tradeoff
- Fully self-managed, and the hour-based billing model is less forgiving than per-second rivals.
- You install, secure, and back up the database yourself.
DigitalOcean Droplet
A single small Droplet handles steady modest traffic; resize when it stops being enough.
- Why it fits
- Developers comfortable with a Linux server who want predictable pricing and full control.
- How deploys work
- You get root on an Ubuntu server: install your runtime, or start from a 1-click image.
- The tradeoff
- You are the ops team — security updates, backups, and monitoring are on you.
- You install, secure, and back up the database yourself.
Before you deploy, decide where the data lives and how you'll restore it. A snapshot doesn't replace a tested application backup.
We rank providers by deployment ease first, then monthly cost. Commission payments don't affect the rank. If your project is different, answer four questions and get a specific recommendation.