Vaultwarden hosting on your own server: VPS hosting offers compared
Do you want to run Vaultwarden on your own server? Here you compare affordable VPS hosting plans with at least 1 GB RAM and 5 GB storage for the lightweight, self-hosted password manager.
Storage Space
RAM
Number of vCores
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Save 36% on VPS
VPS L Save 36 % £10.80 /month for 24 months incl. VAT NO Setup nor...
Storage Space
RAM
Number of vCores
-
Save 36% on VPS
VPS L Save 36 % £10.80 /month for 24 months incl. VAT NO Setup nor...
Storage Space
RAM
Number of vCores
Storage Space
RAM
Number of vCores
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Start tenderVaultwarden hosting on your own VPS
Vaultwarden is a resource-efficient, Bitwarden-client-compatible server implementation. A small, affordable Virtual Private Server is usually sufficient for private installations and small teams. The plans shown here provide at least 1 GB RAM and 5 GB storage.
Because a password manager contains particularly sensitive data, the choice should not be made on price alone. Reliable backups, HTTPS, timely updates and a secure server configuration are more important than particularly high computing power.
What is Vaultwarden?
Vaultwarden is an independent open-source project that implements the Bitwarden server protocol and can be used with the common Bitwarden apps and browser extensions. It is aimed especially at users who want to self-host their password vault using a compact server application.
Vaultwarden is not equivalent to the official Bitwarden server. If you specifically want to deploy the official self-hosting solution, the Bitwarden hosting comparison lists offers with higher resource requirements.
What are Vaultwarden's server requirements?
Vaultwarden requires comparatively little RAM and storage. For a small instance, a Linux VPS with 1 GB RAM and 5 GB SSD storage is a practical entry point. Additional headroom is sensible if many users, numerous attachments, an external database server or further applications are run on the same VPS.
- RAM: 1 GB is usually sufficient for small installations; more RAM provides headroom for the database, reverse proxy and updates.
- Storage: The password vault itself is small. Attachments, logs and backups increase the requirement.
- CPU: A few virtual cores are normally enough for a small number of users.
- Operating system: A recent Linux VPS is the usual basis.
- Root access: It enables secure setup of Docker, firewall, reverse proxy and automatic updates.
Running Vaultwarden with Docker
The project provides container images, which is why a Docker-capable VPS is particularly suitable. The data directory must be mounted as a persistent volume and included in the backup strategy. Containers simplify deployment, but do not replace regular security updates.
HTTPS and server hardening are essential
The web vault requires a secure HTTPS context. In practice, Vaultwarden is therefore run behind a reverse proxy with a TLS certificate. Free certificates are available, for example, via Let's Encrypt; background is explained in the guide Free SSL with Let's Encrypt.
Before production use, registration and administrative access should be appropriately restricted, strong credentials used and two-factor authentication enabled. The basic guide to Setting up and securing a VPS is also recommended.
Backups for the password vault
A backup should at minimum include the persistent Vaultwarden data directory and, if used, the external database. Backups must be encrypted, regularly tested and stored separately from the production server. Offers with suitable backup features can be found in the VPS comparison with backup storage.
Snapshots are useful before updates but do not replace an independent backup. Organisations using the password vault for business should also document recovery procedures and regularly review access rights.
Vaultwarden or the official Bitwarden self-hosting?
Vaultwarden is notable for its low resource requirements and simple container deployment. The official Bitwarden server, by contrast, comes directly from the vendor and follows its own self-hosting architecture. Which variant suits better depends on support needs, feature requirements, organisational policies and the desired operational responsibility.
For private users and technically proficient small teams, Vaultwarden can be a lean choice. Organisations should check in advance which support, compliance and operational requirements apply.
What to look for in a Vaultwarden host?
- reliable SSD or NVMe storage technology
- snapshots and external backup options
- root access and Docker support
- firewall and optional DDoS protection; suitable offers are shown in the VPS comparison with DDoS protection
- clear server location and transparent data protection terms
- easy scaling if the number of users or data volume grows
Conclusion: Self-hosting Vaultwarden with low resource usage
Vaultwarden can be run economically on a small VPS. 1 GB RAM and 5 GB storage are a sensible starting point for a simple installation. What matters is not maximum hardware performance but HTTPS, a hardened configuration, up-to-date software and reliable external backups.
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