Self-host Kavita on a VPS

Why self-host Kavita?

Kavita is built for large reading libraries with a polished, fast reader across devices.

How to install Kavita

1. 1

   Provision a VPS

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

2. 2

   Install the stack

   Install .NET + 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 Kavita its own database user with rights only on its own schema.
• Reverse-proxy Kavita 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 Kavita patched — most self-hosting incidents are unpatched software.

Frequently asked questions

How much RAM does Kavita need?

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

What stack does Kavita run on?

.NET + SQLite.

Can I run other things on the same VPS?

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

Looking for something else? Popular alternatives include Calibre-Web, Komga, Ubooquity — browse all app guides.