Self-hosting, sized honestly
How much server does your self-hosted app really need?
Official requirements, real numbers people have reported, and the cheapest VPS plans that fit, for each app. Every figure links to its source and shows the date we checked it.
App requirements
Photos & video
Immich
Machine learning ON: 6 GB RAM / 2 cores minimum, 8 GB / 4 cores recommended
Files & collaboration
Nextcloud
1 user (AIO, no extras): 2 GB works, 4 GB recommended
Automation
n8n
Official Docker Compose stack (with Assistant sandbox): At least 4 GB RAM and 2 vCPUs
New apps are added regularly. Coming next: Coolify, Jellyfin, Vaultwarden, Paperless-ngx, Home Assistant.
Cheapest VPS with at least 4 GB RAM
Ranked by ongoing monthly price (renewal price where a provider advertises an intro rate). Prices checked Oct 21, 2026. See the full table →
| Provider & plan | RAM | vCPU | Disk | Price / month | Terms | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contabo Cloud VPS 4 | 8 GB | 4 shared | 100 GB SSD | €4.40 excl. VAT · ≈ $4.93 |
24-month term (effective monthly rate) | contabo.com checked Oct 21, 2026 |
| Contabo Cloud VPS 6 | 12 GB | 6 shared | 200 GB SSD (or 100 GB NVMe) | €6.00 excl. VAT · ≈ $6.73 |
24-month term (effective monthly rate) | contabo.com checked Oct 21, 2026 |
| Hostinger KVM 1 | 4 GB | 1 AMD EPYC | 50 GB NVMe | $11.99 intro $6.49 before tax |
Prepaid intro rate; renews at $11.99/mo | hostinger.com checked Oct 21, 2026 |
| Contabo Cloud VPS 8 | 24 GB | 8 shared | 300 GB SSD (or 150 GB NVMe) | €11.20 excl. VAT · ≈ $12.56 |
24-month term (effective monthly rate) | contabo.com checked Oct 21, 2026 |
| Hostinger KVM 2 | 8 GB | 2 AMD EPYC | 100 GB NVMe | $14.99 intro $8.79 before tax |
Prepaid intro rate; renews at $14.99/mo | hostinger.com checked Oct 21, 2026 |
Why trust these numbers?
- Every number has a source. Official docs first, then community reports from GitHub, forums and Reddit, each linked with the date we checked it.
- We say what we haven't measured. Our own lab measurements are on the way. Until a page has them, it says so instead of guessing.
- We recommend the best fit, not the best payout. Some of the best-value hosts pay us nothing. They still rank where their price puts them. Disclosure.