Strapi hosting for your headless CMS
Strapi is an open-source headless CMS: model your content in the admin panel and deliver it through REST and GraphQL APIs to websites, apps and any front end. Run Strapi 5 on a HyperDC VPS with a Node.js LTS release and PostgreSQL or MySQL, preinstalled as an app option or installed with our guide.
- Content types, roles and a media library
- REST and GraphQL APIs for any front end
- PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB or SQLite
- Front end and API on the same server
- Install
- Strapi CLI on Node.js
- Stack
- Node.js 22, 24 or 26 · PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB or SQLite
- Default port
- 1337, behind a reverse proxy
- MinimumStrapi recommends 2 or more cores, 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB of disk for production.
- 1 core, 2 GB RAM, 8 GB disk
- Current releaseStrapi 4 reached end of life in April 2026.
- Strapi 5.57 (October 2026)
- Official docs
- docs.strapi.io
Features and front ends
- REST API
- GraphQL
- Content-Type Builder
- Media Library
- Internationalization
- Roles and permissions
- Draft and publish
- Next.js
- Nuxt
- Astro
Facts from the project’s official website, documentation and repository, checked in October 2026.
Strapi plans are being prepared
Tell us what your API serves and how many editors you have, and our team will reply with the right server. Or start today on a Linux VPS and install Strapi with our guide.
How big a server does Strapi need?
Strapi publishes its own minimum and recommended sizes. Media uploads and a front end on the same server add to them.
| Feature |
Small project
A site or app with a few editors
|
Recommended Production
The API of a busy site or app
|
With front end
Strapi plus a Next.js or Nuxt front end
|
|---|---|---|---|
| vCPUVirtual processor cores of the server. | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| MemoryMemory for the app, its database and the operating system. | 2 GB | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| DiskNVMe or SSD storage for the app, its data and local backups. | 20 GB | 32 GB | 64 GB+ |
| DatabaseSQLite suits small projects. PostgreSQL 17 is Strapi’s recommended choice for production. | SQLite or PostgreSQL | PostgreSQL | PostgreSQL |
-
Small project
A site or app with a few editors
- vCPUVirtual processor cores of the server.
- 1
- MemoryMemory for the app, its database and the operating system.
- 2 GB
- DiskNVMe or SSD storage for the app, its data and local backups.
- 20 GB
- DatabaseSQLite suits small projects. PostgreSQL 17 is Strapi’s recommended choice for production.
- SQLite or PostgreSQL
-
Recommended
Production
The API of a busy site or app
- vCPUVirtual processor cores of the server.
- 2
- MemoryMemory for the app, its database and the operating system.
- 4 GB
- DiskNVMe or SSD storage for the app, its data and local backups.
- 32 GB
- DatabaseSQLite suits small projects. PostgreSQL 17 is Strapi’s recommended choice for production.
- PostgreSQL
-
With front end
Strapi plus a Next.js or Nuxt front end
- vCPUVirtual processor cores of the server.
- 4
- MemoryMemory for the app, its database and the operating system.
- 8 GB
- DiskNVMe or SSD storage for the app, its data and local backups.
- 64 GB+
- DatabaseSQLite suits small projects. PostgreSQL 17 is Strapi’s recommended choice for production.
- PostgreSQL
Strapi lists a minimum of 1 CPU core, 2 GB of RAM and 8 GB of disk, and recommends 2 or more cores, 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB of disk. Media files and a front end on the same server need more.
A headless CMS you run yourself
Editors get a friendly admin panel; developers get APIs, code and a database they control.
Model your content
Build collection types, single types and components in the Content-Type Builder, then commit them with your code.
REST and GraphQL
Every content type gets a REST API, and the GraphQL plugin adds a GraphQL endpoint, with roles that decide what is public.
Roles for editors
Give authors, editors and reviewers their own permissions, with draft and publish and multiple languages.
The runtime your CMS expects
Install the PHP or Node.js version and the database the CMS supports, and upgrade them on your schedule instead of a shared host’s.
Staging next to production
Run a copy of the site on a second subdomain to test updates, themes and extensions before they reach your visitors.
Root access, your rules
Every Linux VPS, VDS and dedicated server comes with full root access: you choose the versions, the add-ons and the security settings.
Backups included
Free weekly and monthly backups come with every VPS and VDS plan. For data that changes every day, keep copies of your own as well.
Preinstalled or with our guide
Choose the app as an option when you order and it is installed for you, or set it up yourself with our step-by-step guide.
Launch Strapi in four steps
Order the app preinstalled on your server, or install it yourself with our guide.
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Choose your server
Pick a VPS, VDS or dedicated server in the size from the table above and the location closest to your users.
-
Install Strapi
Choose Strapi as an app option, or create your project with the Strapi CLI, build it and run it as a service with our guide.
-
Add your domain and TLS
Point a subdomain such as app.example.com at the server’s IP address and serve the app over HTTPS with a free Let’s Encrypt certificate.
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Create the first administrator
Open /admin, create the first administrator, then deploy the content types you modelled in development.
Step-by-step setup guides
Install, secure and update the app with our guides, written for current Ubuntu and Debian releases.
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How to install Strapi 5 with PostgreSQL, PM2 and HTTPS
Create a Strapi 5 project on PostgreSQL, run it under PM2 as a dedicated user, publish it through Caddy with HTTPS, and learn the deploy, backup and upgrade routine.
45 min Intermediate -
How to set up Caddy as a reverse proxy with automatic HTTPS
Install Caddy from the official repository, point your domains at the server and serve every self-hosted app over HTTPS with a two-line site block, plus headers, password protection, logs and backups.
30 min Beginner
Related solutions
Frequently asked questions
What is a headless CMS?
A CMS that stores and manages content but leaves the display to you. Strapi delivers content through REST and GraphQL APIs, and your website, mobile app or static site generator shows it in its own way.
Which Node.js versions does Strapi 5 support?
Only Active and Maintenance LTS releases: Node.js 22, 24 and 26. Odd-numbered releases are not supported. Use npm or pnpm, and install the build tools Strapi’s dependencies need.
Which database should I use?
PostgreSQL for production; Strapi recommends version 17 and supports 14 and later. MySQL 8.0 or 8.4 and MariaDB 10.3 or later also work, and SQLite suits small projects and development. MongoDB is not supported.
Why can I not change content types on the live server?
The Content-Type Builder works only in development mode, because content types are stored as code. Change them locally or on a staging copy, commit the files and deploy them to production.
Is there an official Docker image?
No. Strapi’s documentation includes a Dockerfile and a Compose example to build your own image from your project. You can also run Strapi directly with Node.js under a process manager such as PM2 or systemd.
How do I upgrade from Strapi 4 to Strapi 5?
Strapi 4 reached end of life in April 2026. Strapi’s upgrade tool, run with npx @strapi/upgrade, applies most code changes for version 5. Read the breaking changes, then test the upgrade and the database migration on a staging copy first.
Can my front end run on the same server?
Yes. Run Strapi on api.example.com and your Next.js, Nuxt or Astro front end on the main domain, both behind one reverse proxy. Size the server for both, using the With front end column above.
Ready to launch your Strapi API?
Tell us what you want to run and for how many people, and we will help you pick the right server.