Docling Serve
IBM's open-source document parser — convert PDF/DOCX/PPTX/HTML/images into structured Markdown or JSON via a REST API
Deploy Docling Serve in 3 Steps
Connect Your VPS
Add your server credentials to Server Compass
Select Docling Serve
Choose from our template library
Deploy & Configure
Fill in settings and click Deploy
After Deployment
After deploying Docling Serve with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup
Open http://YOUR_SERVER_IP:{{PORT}}/ui to see the in-browser playground
Upload a sample PDF or paste a URL and convert it to Markdown
Check the /docs endpoint for the full OpenAPI spec
Wire it into your RAG / document pipeline by POSTing to /v1alpha/convert/source
Pre-warm the models by running one conversion immediately after deployment to avoid cold-start delays for real users
Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.
Docling Serve FAQ
Common questions about self-hosting Docling Serve
How do I deploy Docling Serve with Server Compass?
Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select Docling Serve from the templates list. Fill in the required configuration and click Deploy. The entire process takes under 3 minutes.
What are the system requirements for Docling Serve?
Docling Serve requires a minimum of 2048MB RAM. We recommend a VPS with at least 4096MB RAM for optimal performance. Any modern Linux server with Docker support will work.
Can I migrate my existing Docling Serve data?
Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard Docling Serve backup and restore procedures.
How do I update Docling Serve to the latest version?
Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest Docling Serve image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.
Is Docling Serve free to self-host?
Docling Serve is open-source software. You only pay for your VPS hosting (typically $5-20/month) and optionally Server Compass ($29 one-time). No subscription fees or per-seat pricing.
Related Templates
View all Development
PocketBase
Open-source backend in a single file with realtime database, auth, and file storage
Appwrite
Open-source backend-as-a-service - self-hosted Firebase alternative
Parse Server
Open-source backend framework with dashboard
Supabase
Full Supabase self-hosted with Kong, GoTrue Auth, Realtime, and Studio
Ready to Self-Host Docling Serve?
Download Server Compass and deploy Docling Serve to your VPS in under 3 minutes. No Docker expertise required.
Download Server Compass