Self-host Grafana
- License
- AGPL-3.0-only
- GitHub stars
- 77,757, as of 8 Nov 2026
- Latest release
- v13.3.0, as of 8 Nov 2026
- Host needs
- 1 core, 512 MB
- Install method
- See the official guide
- One-click template
- Available
- License: AGPL-3.0-only. LICENSING.md says: "The default license for this project is AGPL-3.0-only". Some packages, such as packages/grafana-ui, use Apache-2.0.
- Last commit: 8 Nov 2026 08:49 SGT, as of 8 Nov 2026. The repository is not archived.
Requirements
The official doc says: "Grafana requires the following minimum system resources: Minimum recommended memory: 512 MB Minimum recommended CPU: 1 core".
It adds: "Some features might require more memory or CPUs."
Its sizing table lists a Small tier, given here as a paraphrase:
- CPU: 2 cores minimum
- Memory: 2 to 4 GB
- Disk: 10 to 20 GB SSD for the database host
- Instances: 1
Grafana also needs "a supported operating system, hardware that meets or exceeds minimum requirements, a supported database, and a supported browser."
Docker or Docker Compose
The official guide is Install Grafana.
Hosting options
A Railway template for Grafana is at railway.com/deploy/grafana, created by André Lademann.
It shows "Total Projects 349".
The 512 MB minimum is at the Railway Free limit of "0.5 GB RAM per service".
The Small tier, with 2 to 4 GB of memory, is above that limit.
Affiliate disclosure: Forkshelf earns a commission if you sign up for Railway through the links marked "Paid link" on this page. This does not change the order or content of any guide here.
To get started, create a Railway account (Paid link).
Backups and updates
Backups: the official guide is Back up Grafana.
Updates: the official guide is Upgrade Grafana.
Alternatives
Grafana is listed on open-source alternatives to Datadog.
Compare it in Datadog vs Grafana.