You want to run WordPress, n8n, or Ghost. You have two paths: deploy it as a managed app and let someone else handle the infrastructure, or self-host on a VPS where you control everything. Neither is universally better—the right choice depends on your skills, time, and requirements.
What "Managed" Actually Means
A managed app deployment handles infrastructure automatically:
- Provisioning: Database, cache, networking, and TLS configured for you
- Backups: Automated snapshots of application data and database
- Monitoring: CPU, memory, and network metrics in a dashboard
- Updates: Application and dependency versions managed centrally
- Recovery: One-click restore from snapshots
- Scaling: Resize resources without migration
What you give up is low-level control. You can't SSH into the container, install arbitrary system packages, or modify the database configuration directly.
What Self-Hosting on a VPS Gives You
A VPS gives you a virtual machine with root access. You install and configure everything yourself:
- Full control: Any software, any configuration, any port
- Custom stacks: Choose your exact versions of PHP, MySQL, Nginx, etc.
- Multi-app hosting: Run multiple applications on one server
- SSH access: Debug, inspect logs, run arbitrary commands
- Custom networking: Firewall rules, reverse proxies, VPNs
What you take on is operational responsibility. Backups, security patches, monitoring, and recovery are all your job.
The Real Cost Comparison
Let's compare running WordPress both ways on DanubeData:
Managed WordPress (Starter Plan)
| Item | Monthly Cost | Your Time |
|---|---|---|
| Managed WordPress instance | €6.99 | 0 hours |
| Database (included) | €0 | 0 hours |
| Redis cache (included) | €0 | 0 hours |
| TLS certificate (included) | €0 | 0 hours |
| Backups (included) | €0 | 0 hours |
| Total | €6.99/mo | ~0 hours/mo |
Self-Hosted WordPress on VPS
| Item | Monthly Cost | Your Time |
|---|---|---|
| VPS (DD Nano, 2 vCPU, 2 GB) | €4.49 | — |
| Initial setup (LEMP, WordPress, SSL) | €0 | 4-8 hours (once) |
| Backup scripts (setup + testing) | €0 | 2-4 hours (once) |
| Monthly maintenance (updates, patches) | €0 | 2-3 hours/mo |
| Troubleshooting (when things break) | €0 | Variable |
| Total | €4.49/mo | ~2-3 hours/mo + setup |
The VPS is €2.50/month cheaper—but requires 6-12 hours of initial setup and 2-3 hours of monthly maintenance. If your time is worth more than about €1/hour, the managed option is cheaper overall.
Decision Framework
Choose Managed Apps When:
- You're not a sysadmin: You don't want to learn Docker, Nginx, or database administration
- Your time is valuable: Hours spent on server management could be spent on content or business
- You need reliability: Automated backups, monitoring, and recovery are non-negotiable
- You want to launch fast: A production-ready site in 2 minutes vs. a day of setup
- You run one application: You don't need a multi-purpose server
Choose Self-Hosting on a VPS When:
- You need full control: Custom PHP extensions, specific server configurations, or unusual network setups
- You run multiple apps: Host WordPress, a Node.js API, and a static site on the same server
- You enjoy server management: You want to learn or already know Linux administration
- You need SSH access: Debug directly, tail logs, or run one-off scripts
- Budget is the primary constraint: You'd rather spend time than money
App-by-App Breakdown
WordPress
| Factor | Managed | Self-Hosted |
|---|---|---|
| Setup complexity | Click and deploy | Moderate (LEMP stack) |
| Plugin freedom | Full (any plugin) | Full (any plugin) |
| PHP customization | Pre-configured | Full control |
| Multi-site | Per instance | Single server |
| Object caching | Redis included | Manual setup |
Verdict: Managed is the better default for most WordPress sites. Self-host if you need multi-site on one server or custom PHP configuration.
n8n
| Factor | Managed | Self-Hosted |
|---|---|---|
| Setup complexity | Click and deploy | High (3 services) |
| Queue mode | Pre-configured | Manual Redis setup |
| Community nodes | Supported | Supported |
| Custom binary tools | Not possible | Install anything |
| Webhook reliability | Managed TLS + uptime | Your responsibility |
Verdict: Managed is strongly recommended for n8n. The three-service stack (n8n + PostgreSQL + Redis) is complex to set up and maintain. Self-host only if you need custom system-level tools (like FFmpeg or ImageMagick for media processing workflows).
Ghost
| Factor | Managed | Self-Hosted |
|---|---|---|
| Setup complexity | Click and deploy | Moderate (Node.js + MySQL) |
| Theme development | Upload via admin | Direct file access |
| Custom integrations | API-based | API + filesystem |
| Storage adapters | Local only | S3 or custom |
| Member limits | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Verdict: Managed is the better choice for most publishers. Ghost is simpler than WordPress to self-host, but you still save significant time with managed deployment. Self-host if you need custom storage adapters or deep server-level integrations.
The Middle Ground: Start Managed, Move Later
One approach is to start with managed deployment and move to self-hosting if you outgrow it:
- Launch with managed apps: Get your site live in minutes, focus on content
- Grow your audience: Use the time you saved on content and marketing
- Evaluate at scale: When your needs change, consider whether self-hosting adds value
- Migrate if needed: Export your data and move to a VPS
This works because the applications themselves are the same open-source software. A managed WordPress uses the same code as a self-hosted one. Your themes, plugins, and content are fully portable.
Both Options on One Platform
DanubeData offers both managed apps and VPS instances. You don't have to choose a different provider if your needs change:
- Managed Apps: WordPress from €6.99/mo, Ghost from €7.99/mo, n8n from €9.99/mo
- VPS Instances: From €4.49/mo with full root access
- Same dashboard: Manage everything in one place
- Same infrastructure: Both run on the same high-performance European servers
Start where it makes sense for you. Create your account and choose the option that fits your workflow.
