Mastodon on a VPS (2026): Reliable Small Communities

Mastodon works great for niche groups. A VPS keeps your instance stable.

Table of Contents

1. Why Mastodon
2. VPS sizing
3. Install overview
4. Moderation basics
5. Backups and updates

1. Why Mastodon

Own your social space with federation.

2. VPS sizing

Start small; scale as your user base grows.

3. Install overview

Use Docker Compose; configure email and HTTPS.

4. Moderation basics

Set clear rules and keep moderation simple.

5. Backups and updates

Regular database and media backups.

See /vps-hosting for plans.