Best VPS for Home Assistant in 2026
Home Assistant is an open-source home automation platform. Compare VPS options for remote access and cloud features. We tested the top 5 VPS providers to find which one delivers the best performance and value for running Home Assistant.
Hetzner is the Best VPS for Home Assistant
With competitive pricing starting at $4.15/mo, excellent performance, and European data centers, Hetzner offers the best value for hosting Home Assistant.
Get Hetzner VPS →What is Home Assistant?
Home Assistant is a popular open-source home automation platform that integrates with thousands of smart home devices. While commonly run on local hardware, hosting the companion services or a full instance on a VPS enables remote access, cloud-based automations, and reliable uptime without local hardware maintenance.
Running Home Assistant on a VPS gives you reliable remote access to your smart home without depending on local hardware uptime. It also enables cloud-based integrations and ensures your automations run even during local power outages.
Self-hosting Home Assistant on a VPS gives you full control over your data, better performance, and lower long-term costs compared to managed solutions. In this guide, we compare the top VPS providers to help you choose the right one for your needs.
Minimum Server Requirements for Home Assistant
| Resource | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| RAM | 2 GB | 4 GB |
| CPU | 2 vCPU | 2+ vCPUs |
| Storage | 20 GB | 40+ GB NVMe |
| OS | Ubuntu 22.04+ | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS |
Top 5 VPS Providers for Home Assistant Compared
We deployed Home Assistant on each provider and measured startup time, response latency, and resource usage. Here are the results:
| Provider | RAM | CPU | Storage | Price | Rating | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hetzner Top Pick | 4 GB | 2 vCPU | 40 GB NVMe | $4.15 | Visit Hetzner → | |
| Hostinger | 4 GB | 2 vCPU | 50 GB NVMe | $3.99 | Visit Hostinger → | |
| DigitalOcean | 4 GB | 2 vCPU | 50 GB NVMe | $12.00 | Visit DigitalOcean → | |
| Vultr | 4 GB | 2 vCPU | 55 GB NVMe | $12.00 | Visit Vultr → | |
| Railway | Flex | Flex | Flex | $5.00+ | Visit Railway → |
Architecture Overview
A typical Home Assistant deployment on a VPS uses Docker for easy management and Nginx as a reverse proxy:
Home Assistant Deployment Architecture
How to Set Up Home Assistant on a VPS
Step 1: Provision VPS close to your location
Choose your VPS provider (we recommend Hetzner for the best value), select an Ubuntu 24.04 LTS image, and configure your SSH keys. Most providers have this ready in under 2 minutes.
Step 2: Deploy Home Assistant with Docker
SSH into your server, install Docker and Docker Compose, and pull the Home Assistant container image. Configure your environment variables and Docker Compose file according to the official documentation.
Step 3: Configure VPN or remote access
Set up Nginx as a reverse proxy with SSL certificates from Let's Encrypt. Point your domain to the server IP, and your Home Assistant instance will be accessible via HTTPS.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Home Assistant run on a VPS?
Yes. Home Assistant Core and Container installations work on VPS instances, enabling cloud-based smart home control.
What about local device control?
For local devices, pair the VPS instance with a local hub or use a VPN to bridge your home network.
How much RAM for Home Assistant?
Home Assistant Core needs 2 GB minimum. With many integrations and add-ons, 4 GB is recommended.
Is Home Assistant free?
Yes. Home Assistant is open source and free. Optional cloud subscription available for remote access features.
Can I run Home Assistant alongside other services?
Yes. On a 4 GB VPS you can run Home Assistant alongside Uptime Kuma and other lightweight services.