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  • AI
  • Linux VPS
  • Ubuntu 24.04

Self-host Dify on a VPS

Dify runs well on a GhostRDP Linux VPS Standard plan with 4 vCPU and 8 GB RAM in Germany or the Netherlands, from €12.99/mo.

Dify is an open-source platform for building AI chatbots, agents and workflows on top of the model providers you choose. Self-hosting keeps your apps, prompts and knowledge base on your own server. It runs as a set of Docker containers.

Order Standard · €12.99/moInstall steps

  • Chatbots and agents

    Build AI apps with a visual editor and publish them.

  • Knowledge bases

    Upload documents and let your apps answer from them.

  • Your server, your data

    Apps, logs and documents stay on your VPS.

Plans for Dify

Dify asks for at least 2 CPU cores and 4 GB of RAM. Standard covers that with room to spare; pick Pro for bigger knowledge bases or many users.

  • Linux VPS Standard

    Recommended

    €12.99/mo

    €11.04/mo billed yearly, save €23/year

    • 4 vCPU
    • 8 GB ECC RAM
    • 70 GB NVMe
    • 1 Gbps port
    Order Standard

  • Linux VPS Pro

    €25.99/mo

    €22.09/mo billed yearly, save €46/year

    • 6 vCPU
    • 12 GB ECC RAM
    • 90 GB NVMe
    • 1 Gbps port
    Order Pro

  • Linux VPS Advanced

    €34.99/mo

    €29.74/mo billed yearly, save €62/year

    • 12 vCPU
    • 24 GB ECC RAM
    • 150 GB NVMe
    • 1 Gbps port
    Order Advanced

What you need

  • Operating system
    Linux VPS with Ubuntu 24.04
  • Minimum resources
    2 vCPU and 4 GB RAM (Dify's own minimum)
  • Models
    API keys for the model providers you use, or a local model server such as Ollama

Official site: docs.dify.ai

How to install Dify

Written for Ubuntu 24.04 from the official instructions. Run the commands as root and replace YOUR_SERVER_IP with your server's address.

  1. 1

    Connect to your server over SSH

    Use the IP address and root password from your welcome email (the server page has a Copy SSH command button). Windows 10 and 11, macOS and Linux all include an SSH client in the terminal.

    Shell
    ssh root@YOUR_SERVER_IP
  2. 2

    Update the system

    Install the latest security updates before you add anything else.

    Shell
    apt update && apt -y upgrade
  3. 3

    Install Docker

    Docker's official convenience script adds Docker's own package repository and installs Docker Engine with the Compose plugin.

    Shell
    curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com -o get-docker.sh
sh get-docker.sh
docker --version
  4. 4

    Download the latest Dify release

    Dify's documented command clones the latest release; it needs git and jq.

    Shell
    apt install -y git jq
git clone --branch "$(curl -s https://api.github.com/repos/langgenius/dify/releases/latest | jq -r .tag_name)" https://github.com/langgenius/dify.git
  5. 5

    Start Dify

    Copies the example settings and starts all of Dify's containers.

    Shell
    cd dify/docker
cp .env.example .env
docker compose up -d
docker compose ps
  6. 6

    Create the admin account

    Open http://YOUR_SERVER_IP/install and set up the administrator account right away. Then add your model providers under Settings.

After installing

  • Ports
    80 for the web interface. For HTTPS, point a domain at the server and follow Dify's docs for certificates, or put a reverse proxy in front.
  • Updating
    Follow the upgrade notes of each Dify release: pull the new version, compare .env with .env.example, then docker compose up -d.
  • Backups
    Server backups are not included. Back up dify/docker/volumes and your .env file.

Dify questions

Which plan do I need for Dify?

Standard meets Dify's minimum of 2 CPU cores and 4 GB RAM with headroom. Choose Pro for many users or large knowledge bases.

Can Dify use local models?

Yes. Dify can connect to Ollama, which you can run on the same server (see our Ollama guide). Our servers have no GPU, so local models run on the CPU.

Is Dify free to self-host?

Dify's community edition is open source and free to self-host under its own license terms. Check the license in Dify's repository for commercial use.

Where is my data stored?

In Docker volumes on your server in Germany or the Netherlands. Model providers you connect receive the prompts you send them.

Stuck on a step? Our team answers on live chat and in tickets.

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