Self-host Matrix (Synapse) on a VPS
A federated, end-to-end encrypted chat homeserver.
Run your own Matrix homeserver for encrypted messaging across Element and other clients, with federation so you can talk to users on other servers.
Why self-host Matrix (Synapse)?
Matrix gives you private, encrypted messaging that is not locked to a single company — and running your own homeserver means you own the identity and the history.
How to install Matrix (Synapse)
- 1
Provision a VPS
A 2 GB instance is a good personal homeserver.
- 2
Install Synapse and PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL is strongly recommended over SQLite.
- 3
Configure a server name
Choose your Matrix domain carefully — it is permanent.
- 4
Add well-known delegation
Serve /.well-known/matrix files so clients find your server.
- 5
Connect a client
Log in from Element or any Matrix client and start chatting.
Practical tips
- Enable end-to-end encryption and verify your devices for full security.
- Delegate via .well-known so your Matrix ID can differ from the server host.
- Back up the database and the signing key — losing the key breaks your server identity.
Frequently asked questions
- What is federation?
- It lets your server talk to other Matrix servers, so you can message users outside your own server.
- Is it really encrypted?
- Rooms can be end-to-end encrypted, so only participants can read the content.
- Can I use my own domain as my ID?
- Yes, with .well-known delegation your Matrix ID can use your own domain.
Looking for something else? Popular alternatives include Rocket.Chat, Mattermost, XMPP/Prosody — browse all app guides.
About Matrix Synapse
Matrix (Synapse) is open-source software released under the AGPL-3.0 licence. HostingSwift does not maintain, sell or support Matrix Synapse itself — you install and run it on your own VPS. These are the official links to the project:
- Website: matrix.org
- Primary repository: github.com/element-hq/synapse
- Repository: github.com/matrix-org/synapse
Read the project's own documentation before deploying. We credit upstream projects because we genuinely run and recommend them — see our full open-source directory.