Productivity
Self-host draw.io (self-hosted) on a VPS
Diagrams and flowcharts you host yourself.
A full-featured diagramming app served from your own domain, with local storage integration.
Why self-host draw.io (self-hosted)?
Self-hosting draw.io keeps diagrams inside your network while keeping the familiar UX.
How to install draw.io (self-hosted)
- 1
Provision a VPS
Choose a plan with room for your data as well as the app.
- 2
Install the stack
Install Static app + optional Nextcloud.
- 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 draw.io (self-hosted) its own database user with rights only on its own schema.
- Reverse-proxy draw.io (self-hosted) 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 draw.io (self-hosted) patched — most self-hosting incidents are unpatched software.
Frequently asked questions
- How much RAM does draw.io (self-hosted) need?
- Plan on 512 MB–1 GB for typical use; add headroom if you expect many concurrent users.
- What stack does draw.io (self-hosted) run on?
- Static app + optional Nextcloud.
- Can I run other things on the same VPS?
- Yes — size the plan so draw.io (self-hosted) plus your other workloads fit in RAM with room to spare.
Looking for something else? Popular alternatives include Excalidraw, Penpot, Lucidchart (hosted) — browse all app guides.