Mastodon

Application2048MB+ RAM

Decentralized social network (Twitter alternative)

Download Server Compass View Documentation

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Deploy Mastodon in 3 Steps

Connect Your VPS

Add your server credentials to Server Compass

Select Mastodon

Choose from our template library

Deploy & Configure

Fill in settings and click Deploy

No Docker knowledge required

DIY Deployment

Self-Host Mastodon with Docker

Take the DIY route and deploy Mastodon on your own server using Docker.

Remote into Your Server

Initiate a secure shell connection to your server using the command below.

terminal

# Connect to your VPS
ssh root@your-server-ip

# Or with a specific SSH key
ssh -i ~/.ssh/your-key root@your-server-ip

First time? Docker required! Install it with: curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh

Create the App Directory

Organize your deployment by creating a dedicated project folder.

terminal

# Create and navigate to project directory
mkdir -p ~/apps/mastodon
cd ~/apps/mastodon

Write Your docker-compose.yml

Create a new docker-compose.yml file and paste this configuration:

docker-compose.yml

services:
  mastodon:
    image: tootsuite/mastodon:latest
    ports:
      - "3000:3000"
    environment:
      - LOCAL_DOMAIN=<your-local-domain>
      - SECRET_KEY_BASE=<your-secret-key>
      - OTP_SECRET=<your-otp-secret>
      - DB_HOST=db
      - DB_USER=mastodon
      - DB_PASS=<your-db-password>
      - DB_NAME=mastodon
      - REDIS_HOST=redis
    command: bundle exec rails s -p 3000
    volumes:
      - mastodon_data:/mastodon/public/system
    restart: unless-stopped
    depends_on:
      - db
      - redis

  sidekiq:
    image: tootsuite/mastodon:latest
    command: bundle exec sidekiq
    environment:
      - LOCAL_DOMAIN=<your-local-domain>
      - SECRET_KEY_BASE=<your-secret-key>
      - OTP_SECRET=<your-otp-secret>
      - DB_HOST=db
      - DB_USER=mastodon
      - DB_PASS=<your-db-password>
      - DB_NAME=mastodon
      - REDIS_HOST=redis
    volumes:
      - mastodon_data:/mastodon/public/system
    restart: unless-stopped
    depends_on:
      - db
      - redis

  streaming:
    image: tootsuite/mastodon:latest
    command: node ./streaming
    ports:
      - "4000:4000"
    environment:
      - LOCAL_DOMAIN=<your-local-domain>
      - SECRET_KEY_BASE=<your-secret-key>
      - DB_HOST=db
      - DB_USER=mastodon
      - DB_PASS=<your-db-password>
      - DB_NAME=mastodon
      - REDIS_HOST=redis
    restart: unless-stopped
    depends_on:
      - db
      - redis

  db:
    image: postgres:16-alpine
    environment:
      - POSTGRES_USER=mastodon
      - POSTGRES_PASSWORD=<your-db-password>
      - POSTGRES_DB=mastodon
    volumes:
      - postgres_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data
    restart: unless-stopped

  redis:
    image: redis:7-alpine
    volumes:
      - redis_data:/data
    restart: unless-stopped

volumes:
  mastodon_data:
  postgres_data:
  redis_data:

Configurable Options

PORTHost port(default: 3000)

LOCAL_DOMAINDomain

SECRET_KEYSecret key

OTP_SECRETOTP secret

DB_PASSWORDDB password

Launch the Containers

Start the services and tail the logs to verify startup.

terminal

# Spin up containers
docker compose up -d

# Verify deployment
docker compose ps

# Check logs for errors
docker compose logs -f

Open Firewall Ports

Open the required port in your firewall to allow access.

terminal

# Allow the application port through firewall
sudo ufw allow 3000/tcp
sudo ufw reload

# Access your app at:
# http://your-server-ip:3000

Skip the Terminal

Want the easy way? Try Server Compass.

Forget SSH and YAML files. Deploy Mastodon visually with Server Compass in just a few clicks.

Visual config editor
Instant deployment
Automatic HTTPS
Smooth updates
Live monitoring
Quick rollbacks

Download Server Compass$29 one-time • Lifetime license

After Deployment

After deploying Mastodon with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup

Run: tootctl db:setup

Create admin account

Configure SMTP

Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.

Mastodon FAQ

Common questions about self-hosting Mastodon

How do I deploy Mastodon with Server Compass?

Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select Mastodon 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 Mastodon?

Mastodon 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 Mastodon data?

Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard Mastodon backup and restore procedures.

How do I update Mastodon to the latest version?

Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest Mastodon image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.

Is Mastodon free to self-host?

Mastodon 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.