Self-host Joomla
updated Sep 2026deployed by usprices checked · Jul 2026Install verified on Ubuntu 26.04 · Sep 2026 · how we test
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A PHP content management system for websites, with built-in multilingual support, access control and an extension directory.
Key facts
CategoryCMS & blogging
LicenseGPL-2.0-or-later
StackPHP, MySQL
Min RAM1024 MB
Official imageyes
Measured idle RAM458 MB
Difficulty
What you need
- Any VPS with at least 1024 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 + USKamaterafree trial
From $4/mo · 1 vCPU / 1 GB / 20 GB · US + EU + AsiaDigitalOceanalso works on
From $6/mo · 1 vCPU / 1 GB / 25 GB · US + EU + AsiaPaid link — we earn a commission if you shop through it.
Install
Run these commands on your server:
# Joomla — the Docker Official Image with MySQL 8; the JOOMLA_ADMIN_* variables skip the browser installer
mkdir -p joomla && cd joomla
cat > .env <<EOF
DB_PASS=$(openssl rand -hex 16)
ADMIN_PASS=$(openssl rand -hex 12)
EOF
cat > docker-compose.yml <<'EOF'
services:
joomla:
image: joomla:latest
restart: always
ports: ["8080:80"]
depends_on: [db]
environment:
JOOMLA_DB_HOST: db
JOOMLA_DB_USER: joomla
JOOMLA_DB_PASSWORD: ${DB_PASS}
JOOMLA_DB_NAME: joomla
JOOMLA_SITE_NAME: Joomla
JOOMLA_ADMIN_USER: Site Admin
JOOMLA_ADMIN_USERNAME: admin
JOOMLA_ADMIN_PASSWORD: ${ADMIN_PASS}
JOOMLA_ADMIN_EMAIL: admin@example.com
volumes: ["joomla:/var/www/html"]
db:
image: mysql:8.0
restart: always
environment:
MYSQL_DATABASE: joomla
MYSQL_USER: joomla
MYSQL_PASSWORD: ${DB_PASS}
MYSQL_RANDOM_ROOT_PASSWORD: '1'
volumes: ["db:/var/lib/mysql"]
volumes:
joomla:
db:
EOF
docker compose up -d # → http://SERVER_IP:8080/administrator (admin / ADMIN_PASS from .env)More in CMS & blogging
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