How do I deploy PocketBase on Railway?

You can deploy PocketBase on Railway by clicking the "Deploy Now" button on this page. Railway will automatically set up all the necessary services and configurations for you.

What are the system requirements?

Railway handles all the infrastructure requirements. You only need a web browser to deploy and manage your application.

Is this template free to use?

Yes, this template is free to use within your existing Railway account.

Can I customize this template?

Yes, you can fully customize this template. After deployment, you will have full control of what you've deployed in your Railway project.

How do I get support for this template?

You can get support through our community forum: pocket-base-f58fef38, or click "Get template help" for this template for more assistance.

Deploy and Host PocketBase on Railway

PocketBase is an open-source backend-in-a-box that provides authentication, a built-in SQLite database, file storage, admin dashboard, and realtime subscriptions in a single lightweight binary. It enables developers to quickly build MVPs, internal tools, and full-stack applications without managing complex backend infrastructure.

About Hosting PocketBase

Hosting PocketBase involves running the PocketBase service as a continuously available process, exposing it to the internet through a public port, and ensuring its local database and uploaded files are stored persistently. Since PocketBase uses SQLite by default, its data is stored in the /pb_data directory, which must be mounted to persistent storage to avoid data loss during restarts or redeployments.

This template uses Docker for consistent deployments and is configured to bind automatically to Railway’s dynamic $PORT environment variable. It also provisions a superuser automatically on first startup using environment variables, making the initial setup seamless and production-ready.

Common Use Cases

Internal dashboards and admin panels
MVP and startup backends
REST and realtime APIs for web and mobile applications

Dependencies for PocketBase Hosting

Docker-based container runtime
Persistent volume mounted at /pb_data
Environment variables for admin credentials

Deployment Dependencies

Railway account
GitHub repository connected to Railway

Implementation Details

This template:

Binds PocketBase to 0.0.0.0:$PORT for Railway compatibility
Mounts /pb_data as a persistent volume
Runs automatic superuser provisioning on first launch

Example environment variables:

ADMIN_EMAIL=admin@example.com
ADMIN_PASSWORD=strongpassword

Admin panel is accessible at:

https://your-project.up.railway.app/_/

Why Deploy PocketBase on Railway?

Railway is a singular platform to deploy your infrastructure stack. Railway will host your infrastructure so you don't have to deal with configuration, while allowing you to vertically and horizontally scale it.

By deploying PocketBase on Railway, you are one step closer to supporting a complete full-stack application with minimal burden. Host your servers, databases, AI agents, and more on Railway.