Layer 3 · self-hosting reality check
What it actually takes to self-host Plausible
The docs say 2 GB. In practice you want 4 GB. Here is the honest version — real requirements, real monthly cost, what you will be maintaining, and the one thing that catches people out.
Usually reached from Google Analytics alternatives, where Plausible is one of the picks.
| RAM — documented minimum | 2 GB |
|---|---|
| RAM — what it really needs | 4 GB |
| CPU | 2 vCPU |
| Disk | Small — ClickHouse compresses pageview data extremely well |
| Monthly cost | $15–25/mo, against their cloud from $9/mo. Self-hosting is about data ownership here, not saving money. |
| Setup time | 1 hour |
| How you install it | docker compose — app, PostgreSQL and ClickHouse |
| Ongoing maintenance | Low. Two databases to keep happy rather than one. |
| Where it stops scaling | Millions of pageviews a month on modest hardware, thanks to ClickHouse. |
The thing that catches people out
The honest arithmetic: for a small site, Plausible Cloud costs less than a VPS capable of running ClickHouse. Self-host it because you want the data on your own infrastructure or you are running many sites — not because you expect to save money, which at low volume you will not.
When not to self-host Plausible
You need funnels, cohorts or session recordings. Plausible is deliberately simple, and that simplicity is the product.
Every guide here carries this section. A site that only ever tells you to self-host is selling something — the useful answer is sometimes no.
Other Layer 3 self-hosting guides
Common questions
- How much RAM does Plausible actually need?
- 4 GB in practice. The documented minimum is 2 GB, which is the figure at which the process starts rather than the figure at which it works under real use. 2 vCPU alongside it.
- What does self-hosting Plausible cost per month?
- $15–25/mo, against their cloud from $9/mo. Self-hosting is about data ownership here, not saving money. This is commodity VPS pricing and excludes your time, which is the larger cost for most people — budget for low. Two databases to keep happy rather than one.
- How long does it take to set up Plausible?
- 1 hour, via docker compose — app, PostgreSQL and ClickHouse.
- When should I NOT self-host Plausible?
- You need funnels, cohorts or session recordings. Plausible is deliberately simple, and that simplicity is the product.
- What is the most common mistake when self-hosting Plausible?
- The honest arithmetic: for a small site, Plausible Cloud costs less than a VPS capable of running ClickHouse. Self-host it because you want the data on your own infrastructure or you are running many sites — not because you expect to save money, which at low volume you will not.