Self-Host PocketBase in 1 Click on Hostinger VPS

Introduction

PocketBase is an incredible open-source backend that packs authentication, database, realtime subscriptions, and file storage into a single binary. With Hostinger's 1-click installation, you can have your own Firebase alternative running in minutes.

What is PocketBase?

PocketBase is a backend-as-a-service (BaaS) that gives you:

• SQLite Database — With a beautiful admin UI for managing collections
• Authentication — Email/password, OAuth2 (Google, GitHub, etc.)
• Realtime — Subscribe to database changes via SSE
• File Storage — Built-in file handling with image thumbnails
• REST API — Auto-generated CRUD endpoints
• SDK Support — JavaScript/TypeScript, Dart, and more

Why PocketBase Over Firebase?

Consider PocketBase when you want:

• Data ownership — Your data on your server
• No vendor lock-in — Easy to migrate
• Predictable costs — Just VPS hosting fees
• Simplicity — Single binary, no complex setup
• Extensibility — Extend with Go code if needed

Video Tutorial

Watch the full deployment guide:

Quick Setup Steps

1. Get a Hostinger VPS — KVM 1 works great for small-medium apps
2. Select PocketBase Template — Choose from the application templates
3. Point Your Domain — Configure DNS to point to your VPS
4. Access Admin Panel — Visit yourdomain.com/_/ to create admin account
5. Create Collections — Design your database schema visually

What's Pre-Configured

Hostinger's PocketBase template includes:

• PocketBase binary with systemd service
• Nginx reverse proxy
• SSL certificate via Let's Encrypt
• Auto-restart on failure
• Persistent data directory

Use Cases

PocketBase is perfect for:

• MVPs & Prototypes — Rapid backend setup
• Mobile Apps — iOS/Android with Dart SDK
• Jamstack Sites — Headless CMS alternative
• Internal Tools — Quick admin panels
• Side Projects — When you don't need enterprise scale

Connecting Your Frontend

PocketBase provides SDKs for easy integration:

// JavaScript/TypeScript
import PocketBase from 'pocketbase';

const pb = new PocketBase('https://your-domain.com');

// Authenticate
await pb.collection('users').authWithPassword('user@example.com', 'password');

// Fetch records
const records = await pb.collection('posts').getList(1, 20);

Conclusion

PocketBase offers an incredible amount of functionality in a simple, self-hosted package. Combined with Hostinger's 1-click deployment, you can have a production-ready backend in minutes—not hours or days.

Perfect for developers who want control without complexity!