Self-host PhotoView on a VPS

Why self-host PhotoView?

PhotoView is a lightweight way to publish a photo library without a full photo-management suite.

How to install PhotoView

1. 1

   Provision a VPS

   Choose a plan with room for your data as well as the app.

2. 2

   Install the stack

   Install Go + SQLite.

3. 3

   Deploy the application

   Follow the project’s official install guide for your distribution.

4. 4

   Enable HTTPS

   Serve it on your own domain behind a reverse proxy with a certificate.

5. 5

   Back it up

   Schedule a database dump plus a copy of any uploaded files to an off-box location.

Practical tips

• Give PhotoView its own database user with rights only on its own schema.
• Reverse-proxy PhotoView and terminate TLS at the proxy so certificates are managed in one place.
• Take a VPS snapshot before major upgrades so you can roll back cleanly.
• Keep PhotoView patched — most self-hosting incidents are unpatched software.

Frequently asked questions

How much RAM does PhotoView need?

Plan on 1–2 GB for typical use; add headroom if you expect many concurrent users.

What stack does PhotoView run on?

Go + SQLite.

Can I run other things on the same VPS?

Yes — size the plan so PhotoView plus your other workloads fit in RAM with room to spare.

Looking for something else? Popular alternatives include Immich, PhotoPrism, Piwigo — browse all app guides.