Vaultwarden Self-Hosting: Best VPS 2026

Why Vaultwarden?

Vaultwarden is a lightweight, Bitwarden-compatible alternative. The trick: All premium features are free – TOTP, file attachments, Emergency Access.

Since Vaultwarden is 100% API-compatible, you can use all official Bitwarden apps: Browser extensions, desktop apps, mobile apps.

Vaultwarden is extremely lightweight – the smallest VPS is more than enough.

Encryption happens client-side. The server only sees encrypted data and therefore needs minimal computing power.

Usage	RAM	CPU	Storage
1-5 users	256 MB	1 core	5 GB
5-20 users	512 MB	1 core	10 GB
With many attachments	1 GB	1 core	20+ GB

Vaultwarden runs perfectly on the smallest VPS. Recommendation: Hetzner CX22 with 2 GB RAM for about €4/month.

You can easily run Vaultwarden alongside other services on the same server!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Vaultwarden secure?

Yes! Uses the same encryption as Bitwarden (AES-256). Encryption happens client-side – the server never sees your passwords.

Can I use the Bitwarden apps?

Yes, all of them! Vaultwarden is 100% API-compatible. Browser extensions, desktop apps, mobile apps all work.

What if my server goes down?

Bitwarden apps cache your vault locally. You can still access passwords offline. Set up automatic backups for peace of mind.