What is VPN & Privacy?
Running your own VPN gives you complete control over your network privacy. Unlike commercial VPN providers who may log your activity, a self-hosted WireGuard server means you are the only one with access to your traffic data.
WireGuard is the modern standard for VPN tunnels — fast, secure, and simple. Pair it with Pi-hole or AdGuard Home for network-wide ad blocking and DNS privacy. Tailscale uses WireGuard underneath and makes it easy to create mesh networks between your devices.
A VPN server is one of the cheapest things you can run on a VPS. Even a $2.50/mo instance with 512MB RAM handles dozens of concurrent VPN connections.
$ apt list --installable
Popular VPN & Privacy Software
Top open-source tools you can self-host on your VPS.
WireGuard
Modern, fast VPN protocol with state-of-the-art cryptography. Minimal codebase, excellent performance, and easy configuration.
Read our guidePi-hole
Network-wide ad blocker that acts as a DNS sinkhole. Block ads on all devices without installing browser extensions.
Official siteAdGuard Home
DNS-level ad blocker with encrypted DNS support (DoH, DoT, DoQ). Modern web UI with detailed query statistics.
Official siteTailscale
Zero-config mesh VPN built on WireGuard. Connect all your devices into a secure private network. Subnet routing extends it to your VPS.
Official siteVPS Specifications
What you need to run vpn & privacy workloads.
$ top --providers --for=vpn
Best Providers for VPN & Privacy
Hand-picked based on specs, pricing, and suitability for vpn & privacy workloads.
Vultr
Cheapest plans at $2.50/mo and 25 global locations for low-latency VPN connections
Get Started
DigitalOcean
Simple setup with global coverage and consistent network performance
Get Started$ man vpn
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a self-hosted VPN better than NordVPN?
Different use cases. Self-hosted VPN gives you full control and privacy but a single exit IP. Commercial VPNs offer multiple exit locations. Self-hosted is better for privacy purists and ad blocking.
How many devices can connect to WireGuard?
A WireGuard server on even a 512MB VPS can easily handle 50+ concurrent connections. WireGuard is extremely efficient with system resources.
Will a VPN slow down my internet?
WireGuard adds minimal overhead. With a nearby VPS (same region), you'll typically see less than 5% speed reduction. Encryption is handled at line speed on modern CPUs.
Can I block ads for my entire network?
Yes. Run Pi-hole or AdGuard Home on your VPS, then point your devices' DNS to it through the VPN. All traffic gets filtered — no per-device configuration needed.
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