Meilisearch

Database256MB+ RAM

Lightning-fast search engine with typo tolerance

Download Server Compass View Documentation

searchfull-texttypo-tolerant

Deploy Meilisearch in 3 Steps

Connect Your VPS

Add your server credentials to Server Compass

Select Meilisearch

Choose from our template library

Deploy & Configure

Fill in settings and click Deploy

No Docker knowledge required

Self-Deploy Guide

DIY Meilisearch Deployment

Learn how to self-host Meilisearch with this hands-on deployment guide.

SSH into Your Server

Launch your preferred terminal and connect to your VPS using SSH.

terminal

# Log into your server
ssh root@<your-server-ip>

# If using key-based auth
ssh -i ~/.ssh/my-key root@<your-server-ip>

First time? Docker not installed? Run: curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh

Create Working Directory

Prepare a directory for your application files and configuration.

terminal

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

Configure Your Containers

Create the Docker Compose configuration file with these contents:

docker-compose.yml

services:
  meilisearch:
    image: getmeili/meilisearch:latest
    ports:
      - "7700:7700"
    environment:
      - MEILI_MASTER_KEY=<your-master-key>
      - MEILI_ENV=production
    volumes:
      - meilisearch_data:/meili_data
    restart: unless-stopped

volumes:
  meilisearch_data:

Setup Variables

PORTHost port(default: 7700)

MASTER_KEYMaster key

Deploy with Docker Compose

Launch the application stack using Docker Compose.

terminal

# Deploy the application
docker compose up -d

# Check container health
docker compose ps

# Monitor logs
docker compose logs -f --tail=100

Open Required Ports

Enable external access by opening the necessary port.

terminal

# Allow the application port through firewall
sudo ufw allow 7700/tcp
sudo ufw reload

# Access your app at:
# http://your-server-ip:7700

Skip the Terminal

There's an easier way. Meet Server Compass.

Let Server Compass handle the complexity. Deploy Meilisearch with a simple, intuitive interface.

Intuitive dashboard
Deploy in 3 minutes
Free SSL included
Blue-green deploys
Real-time logs
Version history

Download Server Compass$29 one-time • Lifetime license

After Deployment

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

Create indexes

Index your documents

Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.

Meilisearch FAQ

Common questions about self-hosting Meilisearch

How do I deploy Meilisearch with Server Compass?

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

Meilisearch requires a minimum of 256MB RAM. We recommend a VPS with at least 1024MB RAM for optimal performance. Any modern Linux server with Docker support will work.

Can I migrate my existing Meilisearch data?

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

How do I update Meilisearch to the latest version?

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

Is Meilisearch free to self-host?

Meilisearch 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.