Pixelfed
Decentralized photo sharing (Instagram alternative)
Deploy Pixelfed in 3 Steps
Connect Your VPS
Add your server credentials to Server Compass
Select Pixelfed
Choose from our template library
Deploy & Configure
Fill in settings and click Deploy
Self-Host Pixelfed with Docker
Take the DIY route and deploy Pixelfed on your own server using Docker.
Log into Your Server
Access your server's command line by opening a terminal and running the SSH command below.
# SSH into your server
ssh root@your-server-ip
# Using a custom SSH key
ssh -i ~/.ssh/id_rsa root@your-server-ipFirst time? Need Docker? Install it: curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh
Prepare the Install Location
Set up the folder structure for your Docker deployment.
# Create and navigate to project directory
mkdir -p ~/apps/pixelfed
cd ~/apps/pixelfedCreate docker-compose.yml
Set up your Docker Compose file with this configuration:
services:
pixelfed:
image: pixelfed/pixelfed:latest
ports:
- "8080:80"
environment:
- APP_URL=<your-app-url>
- APP_DOMAIN=<your-app-domain>
- DB_CONNECTION=pgsql
- DB_HOST=db
- DB_DATABASE=pixelfed
- DB_USERNAME=pixelfed
- DB_PASSWORD=<your-db-password>
- REDIS_HOST=redis
- APP_KEY=<your-app-key>
volumes:
- pixelfed_storage:/var/www/storage
restart: unless-stopped
depends_on:
- db
- redis
db:
image: postgres:16-alpine
environment:
- POSTGRES_USER=pixelfed
- POSTGRES_PASSWORD=<your-db-password>
- POSTGRES_DB=pixelfed
volumes:
- postgres_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data
restart: unless-stopped
redis:
image: redis:7-alpine
restart: unless-stopped
volumes:
pixelfed_storage:
postgres_data:
PORTHost port(default: 8080)APP_URLApp URLAPP_DOMAINDomainAPP_KEYApp keyDB_PASSWORDDB passwordRun the Deployment
Start all services defined in your compose file.
# Start the containers in detached mode
docker compose up -d
# Check if containers are running
docker compose ps
# View logs
docker compose logs -fConfigure Network Access
Open the port so you can access the application externally.
# Allow the application port through firewall
sudo ufw allow 8080/tcp
sudo ufw reload
# Access your app at:
# http://your-server-ip:8080Want one-click deploys? Try Server Compass.
Forget SSH and YAML files. Deploy Pixelfed visually with Server Compass in just a few clicks.
- Visual configuration UI
- One-click deployment
- Automatic SSL setup
- Zero-downtime updates
- Built-in monitoring
- One-click rollbacks
After Deployment
After deploying Pixelfed with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup
Complete installation wizard
Register admin account
Configure federation
Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.
Pixelfed FAQ
Common questions about self-hosting Pixelfed
How do I deploy Pixelfed with Server Compass?
Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select Pixelfed 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 Pixelfed?
Pixelfed 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 Pixelfed data?
Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard Pixelfed backup and restore procedures.
How do I update Pixelfed to the latest version?
Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest Pixelfed image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.
Is Pixelfed free to self-host?
Pixelfed 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 Pixelfed?
Download Server Compass and deploy Pixelfed to your VPS in under 3 minutes. No Docker expertise required.
Download Server Compass


