Self-host AFFiNE

updated Sep 2026deployed by usprices checked · Jul 2026Install verified on Ubuntu 26.04 · Sep 2026 · how we test

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A workspace that combines documents, whiteboards and databases on one canvas, with a local-first editor and real-time collaboration. The self-hosted server runs with PostgreSQL and Redis; upstream plans for at least 2 GB of RAM.

Key facts

CategoryNotes

LicenseMIT (client) + AFFiNE EE License (server; Community Edition parts MPL-2.0)

StackTypeScript, Node.js, Rust, PostgreSQL, Redis

Min RAM2048 MB

Official imageyes

Measured idle RAM213 MB

Difficulty

Sourcegithub.com/toeverything/AFFiNE

Websiteaffine.pro

What you need

Any VPS with at least 2048 MB of RAM
A domain you control — most self-hosted setups need HTTPS in front of them
Under an hour if you've used Docker before

Where to host itaffiliate disclosure

Hetzner Cloudrun it on

From $23.59/mo · 2 vCPU / 4 GB / 80 GB · EU + US

Get Hetzner Cloud

Kamaterafree trial

From $4/mo · 1 vCPU / 1 GB / 20 GB · US + EU + Asia

Start free on Kamatera →

DigitalOceanalso works on

From $6/mo · 1 vCPU / 1 GB / 25 GB · US + EU + Asia

Deploy on DigitalOcean →

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Install

Run these commands on your server:

# AFFiNE — the official Compose file (server + migration job + PostgreSQL + Redis)
mkdir -p affine/config && cd affine
curl -L -o docker-compose.yml https://github.com/toeverything/AFFiNE/releases/latest/download/docker-compose.yml
curl -L -o config/config.json https://github.com/toeverything/AFFiNE/releases/latest/download/config.json.example
# server.externalUrl is the base AFFiNE uses for the external links it generates; set it to the address you browse to (replace SERVER_IP with your server's public IP or domain)
sed -i 's|"externalUrl": ".*"|"externalUrl": "http://SERVER_IP:3010"|' config/config.json
docker compose up -d
# open http://SERVER_IP:3010 and create the admin account