altstack-data/docs/app/deploy/posthog/page.mdx

---
title: "Deploy PostHog Self-Hosted (Docker)"
description: "Step-by-step guide to self-hosting PostHog with Docker Compose. "
---

# Deploy PostHog

🦔 PostHog is an all-in-one developer platform for building successful products. We offer product analytics, web analytics, session replay, error tracking, feature flags, experimentation, surveys, data warehouse, a CDP, and an AI product assistant to help debug your code, ship features faster, and keep all your usage and customer data in one stack.

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  <span className="deploy-hero-item">⭐ 31.2k stars</span>
  <span className="deploy-hero-item">📜 Other</span>
  <span className="deploy-hero-item">🔴 Advanced</span>
  <span className="deploy-hero-item">⏱ ~20 minutes</span>
  
</div>

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    target="_blank" 
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  >
    🚀 Deploy on DigitalOcean ($200 Free Credit)
  </a>
</div>


## What You'll Get

A fully working PostHog instance running on your server. Your data stays on your hardware — no third-party access, no usage limits, no surprise invoices.

## Prerequisites

- A server with Docker and Docker Compose installed ([setup guide](/quick-start/choosing-a-server))
- A domain name pointed to your server (optional but recommended)
- Basic terminal access (SSH)

## The Config

Create a directory for PostHog and add this `docker-compose.yml`:

```yaml
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# 🚀 Created and distributed by The AltStack
# 🌍 https://thealtstack.com
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------

version: '3.8'

services:
  db:
    image: postgres:14-alpine
    container_name: posthog-db
    restart: unless-stopped
    environment:
      - POSTGRES_PASSWORD=posthog
      - POSTGRES_DB=posthog
      - POSTGRES_USER=posthog
    volumes:
      - posthog_postgres_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data

  redis:
    image: redis:6-alpine
    container_name: posthog-redis
    restart: unless-stopped
    volumes:
      - posthog_redis_data:/data

  clickhouse:
    image: clickhouse/clickhouse-server:22.3-alpine
    container_name: posthog-clickhouse
    restart: unless-stopped
    environment:
      - CLICKHOUSE_DB=posthog
      - CLICKHOUSE_USER=default
      - CLICKHOUSE_PASSWORD=
    volumes:
      - posthog_clickhouse_data:/var/lib/clickhouse

  kafka:
    image: confluentinc/cp-kafka:7.5.3
    container_name: posthog-kafka
    restart: unless-stopped
    depends_on:
      - zookeeper
    environment:
      - KAFKA_ZOOKEEPER_CONNECT=zookeeper:2181
      - KAFKA_ADVERTISED_LISTENERS=PLAINTEXT://kafka:9092
      - KAFKA_OFFSETS_TOPIC_REPLICATION_FACTOR=1

  zookeeper:
    image: confluentinc/cp-zookeeper:7.5.3
    container_name: posthog-zookeeper
    restart: unless-stopped
    environment:
      - ZOOKEEPER_CLIENT_PORT=2181
      - ZOOKEEPER_TICK_TIME=2000

  posthog:
    image: posthog/posthog:release-1.40.0
    container_name: posthog
    restart: unless-stopped
    depends_on:
      - db
      - redis
      - clickhouse
      - kafka
    ports:
      - "8000:8000"
    environment:
      - DATABASE_URL=postgres://posthog:posthog@db:5432/posthog
      - REDIS_URL=redis://redis:6379/
      - CLICKHOUSE_HOST=clickhouse
      - KAFKA_HOSTS=kafka:9092
      - SECRET_KEY=please-change-this-secret-key-in-production-12345
      - SKIP_SERVICE_VERSION_REQUIREMENTS=1
    volumes:
      - ./uploads:/app/static/uploads

volumes:
  posthog_postgres_data:
  posthog_redis_data:
  posthog_clickhouse_data:
```

## Let's Ship It

```bash
# Create a directory
mkdir -p /opt/posthog && cd /opt/posthog

# Create the docker-compose.yml (paste the config above)
nano docker-compose.yml

# Pull images and start
docker compose up -d

# Watch the logs
docker compose logs -f
```

## Environment Variables

| Variable | Default | Required |
|---|---|---|
| `POSTGRES_PASSWORD` | `posthog` | No |
| `POSTGRES_DB` | `posthog` | No |
| `POSTGRES_USER` | `posthog` | No |
| `CLICKHOUSE_DB` | `posthog` | No |
| `CLICKHOUSE_USER` | `default` | No |
| `KAFKA_ZOOKEEPER_CONNECT` | `zookeeper:2181` | No |
| `KAFKA_ADVERTISED_LISTENERS` | `PLAINTEXT://kafka:9092` | No |
| `KAFKA_OFFSETS_TOPIC_REPLICATION_FACTOR` | `1` | No |
| `ZOOKEEPER_CLIENT_PORT` | `2181` | No |
| `ZOOKEEPER_TICK_TIME` | `2000` | No |
| `DATABASE_URL` | `postgres://posthog:posthog@db:5432/posthog` | No |
| `REDIS_URL` | `redis://redis:6379/` | No |
| `CLICKHOUSE_HOST` | `clickhouse` | No |
| `KAFKA_HOSTS` | `kafka:9092` | No |
| `SECRET_KEY` | `please-change-this-secret-key-in-production-12345` | No |
| `SKIP_SERVICE_VERSION_REQUIREMENTS` | `1` | No |


## Post-Deployment Checklist

- [ ] Service is accessible on the configured port
- [ ] Admin account created (if applicable)
- [ ] Reverse proxy configured ([Caddy guide](/concepts/reverse-proxies))
- [ ] SSL/HTTPS working
- [ ] Backup script set up ([backup guide](/concepts/backups))
- [ ] Uptime monitor added ([Uptime Kuma](/deploy/uptime-kuma))

## The "I Broke It" Section

**Container won't start?**
```bash
docker compose logs posthog | tail -50
```

**Port already in use?**
```bash
# Find what's using the port
lsof -i :PORT_NUMBER
```

**Need to start fresh?**
```bash
docker compose down -v  # ⚠️ This deletes volumes/data!
docker compose up -d
```

## Going Further

- [PostHog on AltStack Directory](https://thealtstack.com/alternative-to/posthog)
- [PostHog Self-Hosted Guide](https://thealtstack.com/self-hosted/posthog)
- [Official Documentation](https://posthog.com)
- [GitHub Repository](https://github.com/PostHog/posthog)