1
Step 1Open the server Apps tab
Select your VPS, open the Apps tab, and start a new app deployment. Keep sensitive server details hidden before capturing or sharing screenshots.
Back to all templates
Lago
Application1024MB+ RAM
Open-source metering and billing for usage-based pricing
billingmeteringusage-basedsaas
Deploy Lago in 3 Steps
1
Connect Your VPS
Add your server credentials to Server Compass
2
Select Lago
Choose from our template library
3
Deploy & Configure
Fill in settings and click Deploy
No Docker knowledge required
Step-by-step deployment guide
Deploy Lago on a VPS with Server Compass
Use the Lago template in Server Compass to deploy the official quick-start Lago billing container on your VPS, then verify the Lago web UI in a browser.
About 7 minutesBrowser verified
2
Step 2Choose an app template
Click New App and choose the template deployment path so Server Compass can load the built-in catalog.
3
Step 3Search for Lago
Use the template picker search to find Lago in the Server Compass template catalog.
4
Step 4Select the Lago template
Choose the Lago template. Server Compass fills the official quick-start Lago container, frontend web port, and API port.
5
Step 5Review the Lago settings
Confirm the app name and compose services. In this run, the app was named lago-demo and used host port 4080.
6
Step 6Deploy Lago
Review the generated environment values, confirm the port is available, and click Deploy Now.
7
Step 7Watch the deployment progress
Keep the deployment modal open while Server Compass uploads the compose file, pulls the Lago image, starts the container, and verifies the app.
8
Step 8Confirm Lago is running
After deployment finishes, return to the Apps tab and confirm the Lago app is marked Running with its application URL available.
9
Step 9Open Lago in the browser
Open the application URL in a browser. The Lago web UI confirms the site is reachable.
After Lago Opens
- Sign up and create the first Lago organization.
- Retrieve the API key from the Developer section after setup.
- Add a domain and HTTPS before exposing Lago to users.
- Move to the full production Docker Compose setup with external database, Redis, storage, and backups before storing real billing data.
Lago deployment questions
What does the Lago template deploy?
It deploys Lago using the official quick-start container, exposing the web UI and API ports for first-run evaluation.
Which port did the tutorial use?
The tutorial used host port 4080, which maps to the Lago frontend web service on container port 80.
Why does the guide stop at the login or setup web UI?
The tutorial verifies the clean Lago web UI because organization setup, billable metrics, plans, and customer configuration depend on the production server.
Should this become a blog post?
No. The deployment guide should live on the Lago template detail page and be linked from the reusable template deployment docs page.
Manual Setup Guide
Set Up Lago from Terminal
Get your hands dirty: manual Lago deployment guide for developers.
1
Access Your VPS Terminal
Use your terminal to securely access your server. You'll need your server's IP address.
terminal
# Connect via SSH
ssh root@your-vps-ip
# Alternative with key file
ssh -i /path/to/key root@your-vps-ipFirst time? Make sure Docker is installed on your VPS. Run: curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh
2
Set Up the Deployment Folder
Initialize a project folder on your server.
terminal
# Create and navigate to project directory
mkdir -p ~/apps/lago
cd ~/apps/lago3
Set Up the Stack Definition
Use this Docker Compose configuration for your deployment:
docker-compose.yml
services:
api:
image: getlago/api:latest
ports:
- "3000:3000"
environment:
- DATABASE_URL=postgresql://lago:<your-db-password>@db:5432/lago
- REDIS_URL=redis://redis:6379
- SECRET_KEY_BASE=<your-secret-key>
restart: unless-stopped
depends_on:
- db
- redis
front:
image: getlago/front:latest
ports:
- "80:80"
environment:
- API_URL=http://api:3000
restart: unless-stopped
db:
image: postgres:16-alpine
environment:
- POSTGRES_USER=lago
- POSTGRES_PASSWORD=<your-db-password>
- POSTGRES_DB=lago
volumes:
- postgres_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data
restart: unless-stopped
redis:
image: redis:7-alpine
restart: unless-stopped
volumes:
postgres_data:
Environment Variables
PORTFrontend port(default: 80)API_PORTAPI port(default: 3000)SECRET_KEYSecret keyDB_PASSWORDDB password4
Start the Containers
Bring up your containers in detached mode.
terminal
# Start all services
docker compose up -d
# List running containers
docker compose ps
# Watch the logs
docker compose logs -f5
Set Up Firewall Rules
Allow the application port through your server's firewall.
terminal
# Allow the application port through firewall
sudo ufw allow 80/tcp
sudo ufw reload
# Access your app at:
# http://your-server-ip:80Skip the Terminal
Let Server Compass do the heavy lifting.
Why type commands when you can click? Deploy Lago the easy way with Server Compass.
- Beautiful interface
- One-click deploys
- Let's Encrypt SSL
- Zero downtime
- Container monitoring
- Easy rollbacks
Download Server Compass$29 one-time • Lifetime license
After Deployment
After deploying Lago with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup
1
Create organization
2
Define billable metrics
3
Create plans and customers
Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.
Lago FAQ
Common questions about self-hosting Lago
How do I deploy Lago with Server Compass?
Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select Lago 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 Lago?
Lago requires a minimum of 1024MB RAM. We recommend a VPS with at least 2048MB RAM for optimal performance. Any modern Linux server with Docker support will work.
Can I migrate my existing Lago data?
Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard Lago backup and restore procedures.
How do I update Lago to the latest version?
Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest Lago image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.
Is Lago free to self-host?
Lago 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.
Ready to Self-Host Lago?
Download Server Compass and deploy Lago to your VPS in under 3 minutes. No Docker expertise required.
Download Server Compass