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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.
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PocketBase
Development256MB+ RAM
Open-source backend in a single file with realtime database, auth, and file storage
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Deploy PocketBase in 3 Steps
1
Connect Your VPS
Add your server credentials to Server Compass
2
Select PocketBase
Choose from our template library
3
Deploy & Configure
Fill in settings and click Deploy
No Docker knowledge required
Step-by-step deployment guide
Deploy PocketBase on a VPS with Server Compass
Use the PocketBase template in Server Compass to deploy a self-hosted backend service on your VPS, then verify the PocketBase web UI in a browser.
About 7 minutesBrowser verified
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Step 2Choose an app template
Click New App and choose the template deployment path so Server Compass can load the built-in catalog.
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Step 3Search for PocketBase
Use the template picker search to find PocketBase in the Server Compass template catalog.
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Step 4Select the PocketBase template
Choose the PocketBase template. Server Compass fills the Dockerfile build, host port, persistent data volume, and public files volume.
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Step 5Review the PocketBase settings
Confirm the app name and compose services. In this run, the app was named pocketbase-demo and used host port 8090.
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Step 6Deploy PocketBase
Review the generated environment values, confirm the port is available, and click Deploy Now.
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Step 7Watch the deployment progress
Keep the deployment modal open while Server Compass uploads the compose file, pulls the PocketBase image, starts the container, and verifies the stack.
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Step 8Confirm PocketBase is running
After deployment finishes, return to the Apps tab and confirm the PocketBase app is marked Running with its application URL available.
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Step 9Open PocketBase in the browser
Open the application URL in a browser. The PocketBase web UI confirms the site is reachable.
After PocketBase Opens
- Create the first PocketBase account; the first user becomes the administrator.
- Configure HTTPS and user access before production use.
- Add a domain and HTTPS before exposing the PocketBase backend to users.
- Back up the PocketBase data volume before relying on it for production collections.
PocketBase deployment questions
What does the PocketBase template deploy?
It deploys PocketBase with persistent data and public volumes for collections.
Which port did the tutorial use?
The tutorial used host port 8090, which maps to the PocketBase web server on container port 8090.
Why does the guide stop at the first-run web UI?
The tutorial verifies the clean first-run web UI because real collections, API rules, auth providers, and file storage depend on the production server.
Should this become a blog post?
No. The deployment guide should live on the PocketBase template detail page and be linked from the reusable template deployment docs page.
CLI Deployment
Deploy PocketBase Yourself
Want full control? Here's how to deploy PocketBase yourself using Docker Compose.
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Log into Your Server
Access your server's command line by opening a terminal and running the SSH command below.
terminal
# 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
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Prepare the Install Location
Set up the folder structure for your Docker deployment.
terminal
# Create and navigate to project directory
mkdir -p ~/apps/pocketbase
cd ~/apps/pocketbase3
Create docker-compose.yml
Set up your Docker Compose file with this configuration:
docker-compose.yml
services:
pocketbase:
build:
context: .
dockerfile: Dockerfile
ports:
- "8090:8090"
volumes:
- pb_data:/pb/pb_data
- pb_public:/pb/pb_public
restart: unless-stopped
volumes:
pb_data:
pb_public:
Required Settings
PORTHost port to expose(default: 8090)4
Run the Deployment
Start all services defined in your compose file.
terminal
# Start the containers in detached mode
docker compose up -d
# Check if containers are running
docker compose ps
# View logs
docker compose logs -f5
Configure Network Access
Open the port so you can access the application externally.
terminal
# Allow the application port through firewall
sudo ufw allow 8090/tcp
sudo ufw reload
# Access your app at:
# http://your-server-ip:8090Skip the Terminal
Want one-click deploys? Try Server Compass.
Skip the terminal and deploy PocketBase with a visual interface. Configure everything with clicks, not commands.
- Visual configuration UI
- One-click deployment
- Automatic SSL setup
- Zero-downtime updates
- Built-in monitoring
- One-click rollbacks
Download Server Compass$29 one-time • Lifetime license
After Deployment
After deploying PocketBase with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup
1
Access admin UI at /_/
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Create your admin account
3
Create collections
Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.
PocketBase FAQ
Common questions about self-hosting PocketBase
How do I deploy PocketBase with Server Compass?
Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select PocketBase 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 PocketBase?
PocketBase 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 PocketBase data?
Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard PocketBase backup and restore procedures.
How do I update PocketBase to the latest version?
Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest PocketBase image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.
Is PocketBase free to self-host?
PocketBase 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.
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