Requirements

What you need before setting up a Freedom Messenger server.

Server

  • OS: Linux (Ubuntu 20.04+, Debian 11+, CentOS 8+), Windows Server 2019+, or Docker
  • CPU: 1 vCPU minimum (2 recommended)
  • RAM: 512 MB minimum (1 GB recommended)
  • Disk: 1 GB for the system + space for uploaded files (depends on usage)
  • Architecture: amd64 or arm64

Network

  • Domain name — required for all transport modes. Point an A record to your server's IP.
  • Port 443 — must be open for HTTPS and VLESS modes
  • Port 80 — must be open for HTTPS mode (Let's Encrypt verification)
  • Port 8080 — used internally for Cloudflare mode (Cloudflare proxies to this port)
  • Port 3478 UDP — for the built-in TURN server (voice calls through NAT)

Transport Mode Requirements

Mode Ports Additional
HTTPS 443, 80 Domain with A record, no other web server on 443
Cloudflare 8080 Cloudflare account, domain on Cloudflare DNS
VLESS 443 Domain with A record, Xray-compatible client for native apps

VPS Providers

Any VPS provider works. Recommended options that cost $5/month or less:

  • DigitalOcean ($4/mo — 512 MB RAM)
  • Hetzner ($3.79/mo — 2 GB RAM, excellent value)
  • Vultr ($5/mo — 1 GB RAM)
  • Oracle Cloud (free tier — 1 GB RAM ARM instance)
If you are in a country with internet restrictions (Russia, Iran, China), use a VPS in a nearby unrestricted country (Netherlands, Germany, Finland) and choose the Cloudflare or VLESS transport mode.

Next Steps

Choose your deployment method: