Getting started
Self-hosting Invoice Ninja
in minutes.
Choose your installation method and follow the steps. Most setups take under 30 minutes.
Before you begin
Server requirements
Make sure your server meets these requirements before installing.
Software requirements
- PHP 8.1 or higher
- MySQL 5.7+ or MariaDB 10.3+
- Nginx or Apache web server
- Composer (PHP package manager)
- Node.js & NPM (for asset compilation)
- SSL certificate (recommended)
Minimum server specs
- 1 GB RAM (2 GB recommended)
- 1 vCPU core
- 20 GB storage
- Ubuntu 20.04+ or CentOS 8+
- PHP extensions: BCMath, Ctype, Fileinfo, JSON, Mbstring, OpenSSL, PDO, Tokenizer, XML, GD
Installation steps
Pick your installation method
Choose the approach that best fits your technical comfort level and hosting environment.
1
Download the release
Download the latest Invoice Ninja release from GitHub. We recommend the pre-built .tar archive for most installations — it includes all compiled assets.
2
Choose your installation guide
Follow the step-by-step guide for your server environment. Our documentation covers the most common setups.
3
Configure your environment
Copy .env.example to .env and set your database credentials, app URL, and mail configuration. Run php artisan key:generate to generate your application key.
4
Run the installer
Navigate to your domain in a browser — the Invoice Ninja web installer will guide you through the final setup steps including database migration and initial admin account creation.
5
Set up the cron job
Add the Laravel scheduler to your crontab to enable recurring invoices, payment reminders, and other automated tasks.
Auto-installers
Prefer a one-click install?
These platforms handle the technical setup for you — ideal if you want Invoice Ninja running without touching the command line.
⚡
Softaculous
One-click install through cPanel or DirectAdmin. Available on most shared hosting plans.
Most popular
☂️
Umbrel
Self-hosted personal cloud. Browse the app store and install Invoice Ninja alongside other self-hosted apps.
☁️
Cloudron
App platform for your server. Handles installation, updates, SSL, and backups automatically.
🚀
Elestio
Fully managed deployment in minutes. Includes configuration, encryption, backups, and live monitoring.
Most popular
🔧
Installatron
One-click install and auto-update manager. Keeps your Invoice Ninja installation secure and up to date.
🏗️
Hossted
Deploy and maintain Invoice Ninja on your own cloud instantly, with managed infrastructure.
❄️
Coolify
Open-source self-hostable Heroku/Vercel alternative. Deploy Invoice Ninja with superpowers.
Need help getting started?
The community has you covered.
Join thousands of Invoice Ninja self-hosters on our forum and Slack.
Forum · Slack · GitHub · API Docs