n8n

Run 24/7 automations without paying per workflow.

Minimum
1GB RAM for light workflows; 2GB RAM is the safer default.
Recommended
2 vCPU / 2GB RAM / 40GB+ SSD for a small production instance.
Upgrade when
Move up when you add queue mode, many webhooks, or database-heavy workflows.
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Vaultwarden

Self-host a lightweight password manager on a tiny VPS.

Minimum
512MB RAM can work; 1GB RAM gives more breathing room.
Recommended
1 vCPU / 1GB RAM / 20GB+ SSD with reliable backups.
Upgrade when
Upgrade only if you host multiple apps on the same VPS.
Open guide

WordPress

Host a small WordPress site with more control than shared hosting.

Minimum
1GB RAM for a small cached site; 2GB RAM is a better baseline.
Recommended
1-2 vCPU / 2GB RAM / 40GB+ SSD with backups.
Upgrade when
Move up for WooCommerce, heavy plugins, or uncached traffic spikes.
Open guide

Umami

Run privacy-friendly analytics for small sites.

Minimum
1GB RAM for a small site; database size matters more over time.
Recommended
1 vCPU / 1-2GB RAM / 25GB+ SSD with PostgreSQL backups.
Upgrade when
Upgrade when events grow, queries slow down, or you add multiple sites.
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Docker apps

Run a few small services with Docker Compose.

Minimum
1GB RAM for one or two light containers; 2GB RAM is the useful floor.
Recommended
2 vCPU / 2GB RAM / 40GB+ SSD for a small app stack.
Upgrade when
Upgrade when databases, queues, search, or multiple apps share the box.
Open guide

Telegram or Discord bot

Keep a small bot online 24/7 without running it from your laptop.

Minimum
512MB RAM can work for a simple bot; 1GB RAM is a safer baseline.
Recommended
1 vCPU / 1GB RAM / 20GB+ SSD for a bot plus logs and updates.
Upgrade when
Upgrade when the bot adds queues, databases, image work, or many concurrent users.
Open guide

Backup server

Keep offsite backups for websites, databases, and personal files.

Minimum
1GB RAM is enough for simple rsync, restic, Borg, or Syncthing jobs.
Recommended
1-2 vCPU / 1-2GB RAM / enough disk for at least two backup generations.
Upgrade when
Upgrade storage before CPU. Move up when deduplication, encryption, or many clients slow down.
Open guide

Static site plus API

Host a static frontend, reverse proxy, small API, and background jobs.

Minimum
1GB RAM is enough for a static site plus a light API.
Recommended
1-2 vCPU / 1-2GB RAM / 25GB+ SSD for a small production stack.
Upgrade when
Upgrade when API traffic, build jobs, analytics, or a database moves onto the same VPS.
Open guide

Small SaaS backend

Run an early SaaS backend before the cloud bill becomes a second product.

Minimum
2GB RAM for a small API plus database; 4GB RAM if the database is important.
Recommended
2 vCPU / 4GB RAM / 60GB+ SSD for a small but serious production backend.
Upgrade when
Upgrade when database memory, background jobs, search, or traffic spikes become visible bottlenecks.
Open guide

VPS use case FAQ

What is the safest first VPS size for self-hosting?
For most self-hosted apps, a 2GB VPS is the safest starting point. Use 1GB for light personal tools and 4GB when several apps or databases share the same server.
Should I choose the cheapest VPS first?
Only for experiments. For anything important, check RAM, disk, region, backups, support expectations, renewal price, and whether the provider fits the workload.