What is Self-Hosted Databases?
Running your own database server gives you full control over performance tuning, data residency, and backup strategies. Unlike managed database services that charge per-query or per-connection, a self-hosted database on a VPS costs a flat monthly fee regardless of usage.
PostgreSQL and MySQL are the workhorses of web applications, while Redis handles caching and real-time data. ClickHouse excels at analytical queries over large datasets. All of these run efficiently on modern VPS hardware with NVMe storage.
Self-hosting is ideal when you need predictable costs, want to avoid vendor lock-in, or need to comply with data sovereignty requirements that mandate where your data is stored.
$ apt list --installable
Popular Self-Hosted Databases Software
Top open-source tools you can self-host on your VPS.
PostgreSQL
The world's most advanced open-source relational database. Excellent for complex queries, JSONB support, and extensions like PostGIS.
Official siteMySQL / MariaDB
The most widely deployed open-source database. Powers WordPress, Drupal, and countless web applications with proven reliability.
Official siteRedis
In-memory data store used for caching, session management, real-time analytics, and message queuing. Sub-millisecond response times.
Official siteClickHouse
Column-oriented database for real-time analytics. Process billions of rows per second for dashboards, logs, and time-series data.
Official siteVPS Specifications
What you need to run self-hosted databases workloads.
$ top --providers --for=databases
Best Providers for Self-Hosted Databases
Hand-picked based on specs, pricing, and suitability for self-hosted databases workloads.
Hetzner
Best price-to-performance with fast NVMe storage and generous bandwidth
Get Started
Contabo
Huge storage allocations — perfect for large datasets at unbeatable prices
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$ man databases
Frequently Asked Questions
How much RAM does PostgreSQL need?
PostgreSQL can run on 1GB RAM for small projects, but 4-8GB is recommended for production workloads. The shared_buffers setting should typically be set to 25% of available RAM.
Should I use SSD or NVMe storage for databases?
NVMe storage is strongly recommended for databases due to significantly faster random read/write speeds. This directly impacts query performance, especially for large datasets.
Is it safe to self-host a production database?
Yes, with proper backup strategies (automated daily backups, off-site replication), monitoring, and security hardening. Many large companies run self-hosted databases in production.
Can I run multiple databases on one VPS?
Absolutely. It's common to run PostgreSQL for your main app data alongside Redis for caching on the same server. A 4GB VPS handles this well for small to medium workloads.
How do managed databases compare cost-wise?
Managed databases typically cost 3-10x more than equivalent self-hosted setups. A managed PostgreSQL instance at $50/mo can be replicated on a $10/mo VPS with identical specs.
Ready to self-host Self-Hosted Databases?
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