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Step 1Open the server Apps tab
Select the tutorial-vps 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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SFTPGo
Infrastructure128MB+ RAM
Full-featured SFTP, FTP/S, and WebDAV server with web admin UI
sftpftpwebdavfile-transfer
Deploy SFTPGo in 3 Steps
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Connect Your VPS
Add your server credentials to Server Compass
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Select SFTPGo
Choose from our template library
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Deploy & Configure
Fill in settings and click Deploy
No Docker knowledge required
Step-by-step deployment guide
Deploy SFTPGo on a VPS with Server Compass
Use the SFTPGo template in Server Compass to deploy an SFTP, FTP/S, and WebDAV server with a web admin UI on your VPS, then verify the admin UI in a browser.
About 10 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 SFTPGo
Use the template picker search to find SFTPGo in the Server Compass template catalog.
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Step 4Select the SFTPGo template
Choose the SFTPGo template. Server Compass fills the web admin service, SFTP port, persistent data volumes, and public ports.
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Step 5Review the SFTPGo settings
Confirm the app name and compose service. In this run, the app was named sftpgo-demo and used host port 8080 for the web admin UI.
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Step 6Deploy SFTPGo
Review the generated compose settings, confirm the SFTPGo web admin and SFTP ports are available, and click Deploy.
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Step 7Watch the deployment progress
Keep the deployment modal open while Server Compass uploads the compose file, pulls the SFTPGo image, starts the container, and verifies the stack.
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Step 8Confirm SFTPGo is running
After deployment finishes, return to the Apps tab and confirm the SFTPGo app is marked Running with its application URL available.
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Step 9Open SFTPGo in the browser
Open the application URL in a browser. The SFTPGo first-run admin screen confirms the file transfer service is reachable.
After SFTPGo Opens
- Create a strong SFTPGo admin account on first access.
- Use a VPN, IP allowlist, firewall rule, or authenticated reverse proxy for production access.
- Create SFTP users with least-privilege home directories, permissions, and quotas.
- Use the non-standard SFTP port only after adding firewall rules and access controls.
- Back up the SFTPGo data and home volumes before moving or replacing the VPS.
- Keep the SFTPGo image updated for dependency and security fixes.
Verified Result
The SFTPGo web admin interface loaded successfully from the deployed container.
SFTPGo deployment questions
What does the SFTPGo template deploy?
It deploys the SFTPGo container with persistent data and home volumes, a web admin port, and an SFTP port.
Which port did the tutorial use?
The tutorial used host port 8080, which maps to the SFTPGo web admin UI on container port 8080. The template also exposes SFTP on host port 2022 mapped to container port 2022.
Does SFTPGo create an admin user automatically?
No. Create the admin account on first access through the SFTPGo web admin UI.
Should this become a blog post?
No. The deployment guide should live on the SFTPGo template detail page and be linked from the reusable template deployment docs page.
Why Self-Host SFTPGo?
SFTPGo is a full-featured file transfer server supporting SFTP, FTP/S, WebDAV, and HTTP/S. Self-hosting gives you a secure file exchange platform for your team or clients without relying on third-party file sharing services.
Support for SFTP, FTP/S, WebDAV, and HTTP/S in one server
Web-based admin UI for managing users and virtual folders
Per-user storage quotas and bandwidth limits
Multiple storage backends: local, S3, Google Cloud, Azure
Data transfer notifications and webhook integration
SFTPGo vs Alternatives
SFTPGo vs Traditional FTP server
SFTPGo adds a web admin, virtual folders, quotas, and S3 backend support — far beyond basic FTP.
SFTPGo vs Nextcloud
Nextcloud is a full collaboration suite. SFTPGo is focused on file transfer with SFTP/FTP protocol support for automation.
SFTPGo vs AWS Transfer Family
AWS charges per protocol per hour. SFTPGo supports all protocols with a single self-hosted deployment at zero platform cost.
Why Deploy SFTPGo with Server Compass?
Server Compass deploys SFTPGo with the web admin UI enabled and persistent storage for user data and configuration. Start creating SFTP accounts for your team within minutes.
Download Server CompassAfter Deployment
After deploying SFTPGo with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup
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Access web admin UI
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Create users and virtual folders
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Configure SFTP/FTP clients
Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.
SFTPGo FAQ
Common questions about self-hosting SFTPGo
How do I deploy SFTPGo with Server Compass?
Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select SFTPGo 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 SFTPGo?
SFTPGo requires a minimum of 128MB 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 SFTPGo data?
Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard SFTPGo backup and restore procedures.
How do I update SFTPGo to the latest version?
Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest SFTPGo image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.
Is SFTPGo free to self-host?
SFTPGo 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 SFTPGo?
Download Server Compass and deploy SFTPGo to your VPS in under 3 minutes. No Docker expertise required.
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