Parse Server

Development512MB+ RAM

Open-source backend framework with dashboard

Download Server Compass View Documentation

baasbackendmobile

Deploy Parse Server in 3 Steps

Connect Your VPS

Add your server credentials to Server Compass

Select Parse Server

Choose from our template library

Deploy & Configure

Fill in settings and click Deploy

No Docker knowledge required

Command Line Setup

Install Parse Server Manually

Set up Parse Server yourself using Docker Compose and the command line.

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-ip

First time? Make sure Docker is installed on your VPS. Run: curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh

Set Up the Deployment Folder

Initialize a project folder on your server.

terminal

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

Set Up the Stack Definition

Use this Docker Compose configuration for your deployment:

docker-compose.yml

services:
  parse:
    image: parseplatform/parse-server:latest
    ports:
      - "1337:1337"
    environment:
      - PARSE_SERVER_APPLICATION_ID=<your-app-id>
      - PARSE_SERVER_MASTER_KEY=<your-master-key>
      - PARSE_SERVER_DATABASE_URI=mongodb://mongo:27017/parse
      - PARSE_SERVER_URL=http://localhost:1337/parse
    restart: unless-stopped
    depends_on:
      - mongo

  parse-dashboard:
    image: parseplatform/parse-dashboard:latest
    ports:
      - "4040:4040"
    environment:
      - PARSE_DASHBOARD_SERVER_URL=http://parse:1337/parse
      - PARSE_DASHBOARD_APP_ID=<your-app-id>
      - PARSE_DASHBOARD_MASTER_KEY=<your-master-key>
      - PARSE_DASHBOARD_APP_NAME=Parse
      - PARSE_DASHBOARD_USER_ID=admin
      - PARSE_DASHBOARD_USER_PASSWORD=<your-dashboard-password>
    restart: unless-stopped
    depends_on:
      - parse

  mongo:
    image: mongo:6
    volumes:
      - mongo_data:/data/db
    restart: unless-stopped

volumes:
  mongo_data:

Configuration Options

PORTParse Server port(default: 1337)

DASHBOARD_PORTDashboard port(default: 4040)

APP_IDApp ID

MASTER_KEYMaster key

DASHBOARD_USERDashboard user(default: admin)

DASHBOARD_PASSWORDDashboard password

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 -f

Set Up Firewall Rules

Allow the application port through your server's firewall.

terminal

# Allow the application port through firewall
sudo ufw allow 1337/tcp
sudo ufw reload

# Access your app at:
# http://your-server-ip:1337

Skip the Terminal

Let Server Compass do the heavy lifting.

No terminal needed. Deploy Parse Server through a visual dashboard with automatic configuration.

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 Parse Server with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup

Access Parse Dashboard

Create classes and schemas

Configure cloud functions

Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.

Parse Server FAQ

Common questions about self-hosting Parse Server

How do I deploy Parse Server with Server Compass?

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

Parse Server requires a minimum of 512MB 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 Parse Server data?

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

How do I update Parse Server to the latest version?

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

Is Parse Server free to self-host?

Parse Server 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.