Data
Self-host Docspell on a VPS
An e-document organiser with OCR and search.
Collect, tag and search scanned documents, with automatic text extraction and metadata.
Why self-host Docspell?
Docspell is a capable document archive alternative when you want something other than Paperless-ngx.
How to install Docspell
- 1
Provision a VPS
Choose a plan with room for your data as well as the app.
- 2
Install the stack
Install Scala/JVM + PostgreSQL + Solr.
- 3
Deploy the application
Follow the project’s official install guide for your distribution.
- 4
Enable HTTPS
Serve it on your own domain behind a reverse proxy with a certificate.
- 5
Back it up
Schedule a database dump plus a copy of any uploaded files to an off-box location.
Practical tips
- Give Docspell its own database user with rights only on its own schema.
- Reverse-proxy Docspell 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 Docspell patched — most self-hosting incidents are unpatched software.
Frequently asked questions
- How much RAM does Docspell need?
- Plan on 2–4 GB for typical use; add headroom if you expect many concurrent users.
- What stack does Docspell run on?
- Scala/JVM + PostgreSQL + Solr.
- Can I run other things on the same VPS?
- Yes — size the plan so Docspell plus your other workloads fit in RAM with room to spare.
Looking for something else? Popular alternatives include Paperless-ngx, Mayan EDMS, Teedy — browse all app guides.