Self-host Synapse

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

We earn commissions when you shop through the links below. Full disclosure →

The reference Matrix homeserver, maintained by Element. It hosts accounts and rooms for the Matrix protocol, which any Matrix client (such as Element) can connect to, and can federate with other Matrix servers.

Key facts

CategoryTeam chat

LicenseAGPL-3.0

StackPython, Rust, SQLite, PostgreSQL

Min RAM1024 MB

Official imageyes

Measured idle RAM110 MB

Difficulty

Sourcegithub.com/element-hq/synapse

Websiteelement-hq.github.io/synapse

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 + 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 →

Paid link — we earn a commission if you shop through it.

Install

Run these commands on your server:

# Synapse — official image: generate homeserver.yaml once, then run it (SQLite by default; Postgres for production)
# SYNAPSE_SERVER_NAME is permanent: it becomes the domain part of every user ID (@you:matrix.example.com)
docker run --rm --mount type=volume,src=synapse-data,dst=/data \
  -e SYNAPSE_SERVER_NAME=matrix.example.com -e SYNAPSE_REPORT_STATS=no \
  matrixdotorg/synapse:latest generate
docker run -d --name synapse --restart unless-stopped \
  --mount type=volume,src=synapse-data,dst=/data -p 8008:8008 \
  matrixdotorg/synapse:latest
# open http://SERVER_IP:8008  →  "Synapse is running"; create users with: docker exec -it synapse register_new_matrix_user -c /data/homeserver.yaml