HELPER VPS

Docker VPS hosting: a server ready to run containers

  • Docker Engine and Docker Compose installed
  • Root access and public IPv4 and IPv6 addresses
  • Same price in 40 cities

The HELPER VPS Docker VPS is a Linux cloud server that starts with Docker Engine and Docker Compose installed on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS when you choose Docker from the image list at creation, from $25.00 per month. As soon as you log in, start any container you like with docker run or docker compose up.

    What is Docker?

    Docker is a tool that packages a program, along with the libraries and settings it needs, into a single bundle called a container, so it runs the same way on any Linux server. Its core engine is open source (Apache 2.0) under the Moby project, and you can download and use countless official images from registries such as Docker Hub right away.

    Docker Compose is a tool that describes several containers in one YAML file and starts them together with a single docker compose up. Connected services such as a web server, database and cache are managed in one file, so with the same file you can rebuild the exact same environment on a new server. A Docker VPS is a server with both of these ready from the start.

    What can I do with a Docker VPS?

    Self-host almost any server software that ships as a container image on one Docker VPS.

    How do I start with a Docker VPS?

    Three steps and you are ready to run containers.

    1. Step 1. Create server

      Choose a region and size and select Docker from the image list. Payment is processed for your chosen plan and period, and Docker is installed on Ubuntu 24.04.

    2. Step 2. Connect over SSH

      Connect to the server IP with your SSH key or root password. Check the install with docker version and docker compose version.

    3. Step 3. Run containers

      Start a single image with docker run, or upload a compose.yaml and start several services together with docker compose up -d.

    Why self-host Docker on your own VPS?

    Run many services for the price of one server instead of container platform fees.

    Tools often used with Docker

    Tools with official images that you can run on a Docker VPS right away.

    Place your server close to your users

    Create Docker servers at the same price anywhere in 40 cities across 31 countries.

    How do I choose a Docker VPS size?

    Look first at the memory used by the programs inside your containers, not at the number of containers.

    Docker itself is light, but the programs on top of it each use memory. For a few small web apps or bots, g12 with 12 GB memory is enough; for a Compose setup combining a database, web server and cache, g16 or n16 with 16 GB or more gives you room. If you build images often or read and write the database a lot, a high-performance plan with an NVMe disk makes a noticeable difference.

    Images and volumes take up disk space over time. Check usage with docker system df and clean up unused images with docker image prune to keep plenty of space for longer. For services where data keeps piling up, attach an extra disk at creation, and when the service grows, create a new server on a bigger plan and move your Compose file and volume data over.

    What should I take care of to run a Docker VPS securely?

    Make three things a habit: what ports you expose, updates and backups.

    Ports opened with docker run -p are exposed to the internet directly. For services that do not need outside access, such as databases, do not open ports and connect them only over the internal Compose network; put web services behind a reverse proxy such as Nginx with a domain and an HTTPS certificate for a clean setup. For SSH, choose a key when you create the server so you log in with an SSH key instead of a password.

    Update container images to a new version with docker compose pull followed by docker compose up -d. Download and keep important volume data separately, and turn on the automatic backup option (5.6% of the plan price) at creation to back up the whole server regularly. When you want to roll back from a backup, request it on the support page once your first payment is confirmed.

    Docker hosting FAQ

    Common questions when choosing and installing a Docker VPS.

    What is installed on a Docker VPS?

    Docker Engine and Docker Compose are installed on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. When you log in, the docker and docker compose commands are ready to use, and everything else is the same as a regular Ubuntu server.

    How much does Docker VPS hosting cost?

    The Docker app has no extra charge; you pay only the price of the server plan you choose. The smallest plan starts at $25.00 per month, and the same plan has the same price in every region.

    How do I buy a Docker server?

    Choose a region and size, select Docker as the image, and pay to create the server. You can choose a billing period of 1, 3, 6 or 12 months, with 10% off for 3 months, 15% off for 6 months and 25% off for 12 months.

    Do I get root access?

    Yes, you log in to every server over SSH as root. You can install packages and change the firewall and kernel settings yourself, and you can create a new root password from your account pages.

    Can I use Docker Hub images as they are?

    Yes, pull images from Docker Hub and other public registries right away with docker pull or docker run. Private registries work too after docker login.

    Can I use a management UI such as Portainer?

    Yes, run Portainer from its official image as a single container and manage containers, images and volumes in a web interface. Protect the management UI with HTTPS and a strong password.

    Can I send email from containers?

    Send email by connecting an external mail sending service that uses port 587. Outgoing port 25 is closed on every server, so put the sending service's address and port 587 in your app's SMTP settings.

    What if I want to switch to a different operating system?

    Choose another image under OS reinstall on the server page. A reinstall wipes the disk and installs fresh, so download any volume data you need first.

    How do backups work?

    Choosing the automatic backup option when you create a server adds 5.6% of the plan price to the fee and backs it up regularly. Rollbacks from a backup are requested on the support page once your first payment is confirmed, and keeping your own copy of volume data gives extra peace of mind.

    Can I expose containers over IPv6?

    Yes, every server comes with public IPv4 and IPv6 addresses. Turn on IPv6 in Docker in daemon.json, and add both an A record and an AAAA record for your domain.

    Can I create Docker servers with the API?

    Yes, the developer API (REST) lets you create servers, power them on and off and delete them. API keys open in an account once the first payment is confirmed.

    Docker and Docker Compose are open source software owned by their projects; HELPER VPS only installs them when the server is created. Updates after installation, container settings and app questions are yours to manage. The server price is the price of the plan you choose, and the Docker app itself has no extra charge.

    Docker server guides

    Good things to do first after you get your server.