Self-hosting Vvveb the easy way
Yulei ChenVvveb is an open-source CMS with a powerful drag-and-drop page builder. You can use it to create websites, blogs, and ecommerce stores without writing code. It supports MySQL, SQLite, and PostgreSQL, which makes it flexible for different setups. Unlike WordPress, Vvveb is lightweight, modern, and doesn't require a pile of plugins to get basic things done.
Sliplane is a managed container platform that makes self-hosting painless. With one-click deployment, you can get Vvveb up and running in minutes - no server setup, no reverse proxy config, no infrastructure to maintain.
Prerequisites
Before deploying, ensure you have a Sliplane account (free trial available).
Quick start
Sliplane provides one-click deployment with presets.
Deploy Vvveb >- Click the deploy button above
- Select a project
- Select a server (If you just signed up you get a 48-hour free trial server)
- Click Deploy!
About the preset
The one-click deploy above uses Sliplane's Vvveb preset. Here's what it includes:
- The official vvveb/vvvebcms Docker image
- Alpine-based image with PHP 8.5 FPM for a small footprint
- Persistent storage mounted to
/var/www/htmlso your sites, themes, and uploads survive restarts - Healthcheck configured on
/to monitor availability - SQLite as the default database, so no separate database service is needed out of the box
Next steps
Once Vvveb is running on Sliplane, access it using the domain Sliplane provided (e.g. vvveb-xxxx.sliplane.app).
First-time setup
When you open Vvveb for the first time, you'll see the installation wizard. It walks you through creating your admin account and selecting your database. The default database is SQLite, which works great for small to medium sites and requires zero extra configuration.
Admin panel
After installation, the admin panel is available at /admin. From there you can manage pages, posts, products, themes, and plugins.
Using a different database
By default, Vvveb uses SQLite, which is stored inside the persistent volume. If you need MySQL or PostgreSQL instead, you can deploy a separate database service on Sliplane and configure Vvveb to connect to it during the installation wizard.
If you're considering a database service, check out our guides on running Postgres in Docker or setting up Redis with Docker Compose.
Logging
Vvveb container logs go to STDOUT by default, which works well with Sliplane's built-in log viewer. For general Docker log tips, check out our post on how to use Docker logs.
Troubleshooting
If Vvveb doesn't start properly, check the service logs in the Sliplane dashboard. Common issues include:
- Permission errors: The persistent volume needs to be writable by the web server process
- Port conflicts: The container listens on port 80 by default
- Database connection: If using MySQL or PostgreSQL, make sure the database service is running and reachable on the same Sliplane server
Cost comparison
You can also self-host Vvveb with other cloud providers. Here is a pricing comparison for the most common ones:
| Provider | vCPU | RAM | Disk | Monthly Cost | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sliplane | 2 | 2 GB | 40 GB | €9 (~$10.65) | Flat rate, 1 TB bandwidth, SSL included |
| Fly.io | 2 | 2 GB | 40 GB | ~$18 | Disk and bandwidth billed separately |
| Render | 1 | 2 GB | 40 GB | ~$35 | 100 GB bandwidth, Disk billed separately |
| Railway | 2 | 2 GB | 40 GB | ~$67 + $20 plan | Pro plan floor, usage-based, bandwidth billed separately |
Click here to see how these numbers were calculated.
(Assuming an always-on instance running 730 hrs/month)
- Sliplane: flat €9/month for the Base server. Unlimited services on the same server, 1 TB egress and SSL included.
- Fly.io:
shared-cpu-2x2 GB = $11.83/mo + 40 GB volume × $0.15/GB = $6 -> ~$17.83/mo. Egress billed separately ($0.02/GB in EU). - Render: closest match is Standard ($25, 1 vCPU / 2 GB) plus 40 GB disk × $0.25/GB = $10 -> ~$35/mo. Stepping up to Pro (2 vCPU / 4 GB) costs $85/mo + disk.
- Railway (Pro plan): CPU 2 × $0.00000772/s × 2,628,000 s = $40.57; RAM 2 × $0.00000386/s × 2,628,000 s = $20.29; volume 40 × $0.00000006/s × 2,628,000 s = $6.31 -> ~$67/mo compute, plus the $20/mo Pro plan floor and $0.05/GB egress.
Bandwidth costs can add up fast on usage-based providers. Use our bandwidth cost comparison tool to see what your egress would cost on each platform.
FAQ
What can I build with Vvveb?
Vvveb is a full CMS with a visual page builder. You can build websites, blogs, landing pages, and ecommerce stores. It comes with built-in themes and a drag-and-drop editor, so you don't need to write code for most use cases. Developers can also create custom themes and plugins.
Does Vvveb need a separate database?
No, not by default. Vvveb ships with SQLite support out of the box, which stores the database as a file inside your persistent volume. For larger sites with heavy traffic, you can switch to MySQL or PostgreSQL during the installation wizard.
How do I update Vvveb?
Change the image tag in your service settings on Sliplane and redeploy. Check Docker Hub for the latest available version. Your data is safe in the persistent volume and won't be affected by the update.
How does Vvveb compare to WordPress?
Vvveb is much lighter than WordPress. It doesn't require dozens of plugins to get basic functionality, and the built-in page builder is more modern than WordPress's Gutenberg editor. On the other hand, WordPress has a massive ecosystem of themes and plugins. If you want something lean and modern, Vvveb is a great choice. If you need a huge plugin marketplace, check out our post on whether it makes sense to run WordPress in Docker.
Can I use Vvveb for an online store?
Yes. Vvveb has built-in ecommerce features including product management, categories, and a shopping cart. It's a good fit for small to medium stores. For more advanced ecommerce needs, you might also consider tools like Strapi or Directus as headless CMS options paired with a custom frontend.
