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Best Hosting for Discourse

Our pick of the best Hosting for Discourse, tested and ranked. See pricing, specs, what to look for and answers to common questions below.

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Our top Discourse pick is A2 Hosting — fast NVMe VPS plans with root access and Docker support, which Discourse needs to run properly. Below are our top five, ranked, with a side-by-side table, what to look for, and answers to common questions. See our full best hosting for forums guide or take the 60-second quiz.

What to look for in Discourse hosting

The five things a Discourse install needs.

The best Discourse hosting, ranked

Chosen on VPS resources, root access, RAM and value.

1Best overallOur score 9.5

A2 Hosting VPS plans give NVMe storage, root access and plenty of RAM, so the Docker-based Discourse install runs smoothly. Discourse needs a VPS, not basic shared hosting, and A2 delivers it.

  • NVMe VPS with root access
  • Enough RAM for Discourse
  • Free migration and Turbo speed
  • VPS needs setup skills
  • Dashboard feels dated
$3.92/mo 51% off (reg $7.68)
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2Scalable VPSOur score 9.3

DreamHost cloud and VPS plans offer scalable RAM and root access, a fair fit for a self-hosted Discourse board that needs to grow with the community.

  • Scalable RAM on demand
  • Root access for Docker
  • 97-day money-back guarantee
  • Not for basic shared hosting
  • No phone support
$2.59/mo 47% off (reg $5.50)
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3Best value VPSOur score 9.2

Hostinger VPS plans give generous RAM and NVMe storage at a low price, enough to run Discourse and its Docker container for a small team.

  • Generous RAM for the price
  • NVMe storage and clean panel
  • Full root access
  • Self-managed setup
  • Fewer data centres
$0.80/mo 90% off (reg $7.99)
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4Managed cloudOur score 9.0

SiteGround cloud gives managed, scalable resources, a lower-admin route to running Discourse for owners who would rather not manage the server themselves.

  • Managed, scalable cloud
  • Strong 24/7 support
  • Google Cloud backbone
  • No one-click Discourse install
  • Pricier than plain VPS
$3.95/mo 67% off (reg $11.95)
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5Entry VPSOur score 8.6

Bluehost VPS plans add root-level resources with a guided dashboard, a basic option for a small Discourse board, though setup takes more work here.

  • Root-level VPS resources
  • Guided dashboard
  • More resources than shared
  • Not for basic shared hosting
  • Fewer advanced controls
$2.95/mo 64% off (reg $7.99)
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Discourse hosting compared

Our top five at a glance.

HostOur scoreFromUptimeAvg. speedFree migrationMoney-back
A2 Hosting9.5$3.92/mo99.99%622 msYesAnytime
DreamHost9.3$2.59/mo99.95%854 msYes97-day
Hostinger9.2$0.80/mo99.98%379 msNo30-day
SiteGround9.0$3.95/mo99.99%514 msYes30-day
Bluehost8.6$2.95/mo99.95%578 msYes30-day

Discourse hosting FAQ

Can I run Discourse on shared hosting?
No. Discourse runs in a Docker container and needs root access, so it will not work on basic shared hosting. You need a VPS or cloud plan such as A2 Hosting, DreamHost or Hostinger.
How much RAM does Discourse need?
Discourse recommends at least 1GB of RAM for a small board, and more as members and traffic grow. Pick a VPS with headroom so peak hours do not slow the forum.
Which host is best for Discourse?
A2 Hosting leads for Discourse thanks to NVMe VPS plans with root access and plenty of RAM. DreamHost and Hostinger VPS plans are strong value alternatives.
How much does Discourse hosting cost?
A self-hosted Discourse VPS starts around $5 to $30 a month depending on RAM and CPU. Discourse is free software, so the cost is the VPS, not the forum itself.
Is Discourse hard to set up?
Discourse installs through Docker on a VPS, which takes some command-line work. A2 Hosting and Hostinger give root access and support, and their guides walk you through it.