Automation
Self-host ESPHome on a VPS
Manage ESP-based devices with simple YAML.
Compile and flash firmware for ESP32/ESP8266 devices from YAML, integrated with Home Assistant.
Why self-host ESPHome?
ESPHome makes custom IoT devices maintainable and local, with no vendor app required.
How to install ESPHome
- 1
Provision a VPS
Choose a plan with room for your data as well as the app.
- 2
Install the stack
Install Python + PlatformIO.
- 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 ESPHome its own database user with rights only on its own schema.
- Reverse-proxy ESPHome 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 ESPHome patched — most self-hosting incidents are unpatched software.
Frequently asked questions
- How much RAM does ESPHome need?
- Plan on 1–2 GB for typical use; add headroom if you expect many concurrent users.
- What stack does ESPHome run on?
- Python + PlatformIO.
- Can I run other things on the same VPS?
- Yes — size the plan so ESPHome plus your other workloads fit in RAM with room to spare.
Looking for something else? Popular alternatives include Tasmota, Arduino IDE, Zigbee2MQTT — browse all app guides.