Self-host Appwrite

Backend & BaaS

deployed & timed by usprices checked · Jul 2026

Batteries-included backend-as-a-service with auth, databases, storage, functions, messaging, and realtime — a self-hosted, Docker-based alternative to Firebase.

Firebase / yr$300

Self-hosted / yr~$55

You keep$245/yr

Key facts

CategoryBackend & BaaS

LicenseBSD-3-Clause

StackPHP, MariaDB

Min RAM4096 MB

Dockeryes

Difficulty

Our recommendation

Choose Appwrite when you want a batteries-included BaaS — auth, databases, storage, functions, and messaging — installed through a guided wizard rather than assembled by hand. It's PHP and MariaDB under the hood rather than Postgres, so weigh that against Supabase or Nhost if a Postgres-native data layer matters to your stack.

What you need

Any VPS with at least 4096 MB of RAM
A domain you control — most self-hosted setups need HTTPS in front of them
About an afternoon — budget time for troubleshooting

Install with Docker Compose

Save this as compose.yml and run docker compose up -d:

# Appwrite — official Docker installer wizard
docker run -it --rm \
  --volume /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock \
  --volume "$(pwd)"/appwrite:/usr/src/code/appwrite:rw \
  --entrypoint="install" \
  appwrite/appwrite:1.9.5
# follow the wizard, then open http://SERVER_IP:20080

vps picksBest VPS for self-hostingbenchmarked quarterly · re-priced monthly

What you take on

Appwrite's installer does the assembly for you, but running the result long-term is still your job:

non-negotiableThe installer wants Docker socket access. The official install runs a container that manages other containers via /var/run/docker.sock — convenient, but understand what that access grants before you run it on a shared box.

non-negotiableMariaDB is the source of truth. Back it up like the production database it is — Appwrite's own docs point to your own backup strategy, not a built-in one.

non-negotiable4 GB is the real floor. Auth, database, storage, functions, and messaging each run as their own services — comfortable on a small VPS, not on the smallest one.