Layer 3 · self-hosting reality check
What it actually takes to self-host Syncthing
The docs say 128 MB. In practice you want 512 MB. 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 Dropbox alternatives, where Syncthing is one of the picks.
Wondering whether you need to at all? Is Dropbox free? — what the free tier actually allows, and where the wall is.
| RAM — documented minimum | 128 MB |
|---|---|
| RAM — what it really needs | 512 MB |
| CPU | 1 vCPU |
| Disk | A full copy of every folder you sync, on every device |
| Monthly cost | $0 if it runs on machines you already own; $6/mo for a small always-on VPS acting as the permanent peer |
| Setup time | 20 minutes |
| How you install it | single Go binary, or a container |
| Ongoing maintenance | Almost none. Occasional version bumps, and conflict files to clear when two devices edit offline. |
| Where it stops scaling | Dozens of devices and terabytes without complaint. Struggles with very large numbers of small files — a node_modules directory will make it miserable. |
The thing that catches people out
It is not a backup and it is not cloud storage — it is bidirectional sync. Delete a file on one device and it deletes everywhere, immediately. People discover this the expensive way. Pair it with real versioned backups, and turn on file versioning in every shared folder before you trust it.
When not to self-host Syncthing
You want web access to your files, sharing links, or a mobile app that behaves like Dropbox. Syncthing has none of those by design.
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 Syncthing actually need?
- 512 MB in practice. The documented minimum is 128 MB, which is the figure at which the process starts rather than the figure at which it works under real use. 1 vCPU alongside it.
- What does self-hosting Syncthing cost per month?
- $0 if it runs on machines you already own; $6/mo for a small always-on VPS acting as the permanent peer This is commodity VPS pricing and excludes your time, which is the larger cost for most people — budget for almost none. Occasional version bumps, and conflict files to clear when two devices edit offline.
- How long does it take to set up Syncthing?
- 20 minutes, via single Go binary, or a container.
- When should I NOT self-host Syncthing?
- You want web access to your files, sharing links, or a mobile app that behaves like Dropbox. Syncthing has none of those by design.
- What is the most common mistake when self-hosting Syncthing?
- It is not a backup and it is not cloud storage — it is bidirectional sync. Delete a file on one device and it deletes everywhere, immediately. People discover this the expensive way. Pair it with real versioned backups, and turn on file versioning in every shared folder before you trust it.