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Collaboration & Productivity

Matrix (Synapse)

Federated, end-to-end encrypted messaging — your own domain, your own server.

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About Matrix (Synapse)

Matrix is an open protocol for federated, end-to-end encrypted instant messaging. Synapse is its reference server; Element is the web application your team uses every day. Both are installed together here, behind your domain.

Unlike a closed team chat, a Matrix server talks to every other Matrix server: your users reach people on other servers the way e-mail addresses reach other domains — while your messages, files and history stay on your own machine. Public registration is closed by default, and the administrator account is created for you at first boot.

One thing to know before ordering: the domain name becomes the server's identity (`@alice:your-domain`), written into every user ID, room and signed event. It cannot be changed afterwards, so the installation deliberately refuses to start without a domain attached.

What gets installed

Ready when the VPS starts

Compatible OS
Ubuntu 24.04
Application
Matrix (Synapse)
Tech stack
DockerSynapseElementPostgreSQL 16nginx
Minimum RAM
2 GB
Minimum CPU
2 vCPU
Default port
8080
Access
root over SSH

Key features

  • Federation with every other Matrix server — no walled garden
  • End-to-end encryption, enabled per room
  • Element web client served on your domain, already pointed at your server
  • Official apps for iOS, Android, Windows, macOS and Linux
  • Public registration closed by default; administrator account created at first boot
  • PostgreSQL storage and automatic .well-known delegation

When to use this solution?

Sovereign team messaging

Keep conversations, files and history on your own server while still reaching contacts on other Matrix servers.

Associations and communities

Run a members' server with closed registration, encrypted rooms and no per-seat billing.

Sensitive professions

End-to-end encryption plus self-hosting: neither the content nor the metadata passes through a third party.

Guide

Deploy Matrix (Synapse) on your VPS

  1. Create the VPS and ATTACH the domain

    VPS with 2 GB RAM minimum, Ubuntu 24.04. The domain is not optional here: attach it AT install time. Matrix writes the domain name into the server's own identity, and the installation deliberately stops if no domain is supplied — a clean failure beats a server you would have to rebuild.

  2. First login

    The admin account is created automatically at first boot. Its password is generated randomly on your server: find it in your client area, on the application's page (ADMIN_PASSWORD). Open https://your-domain — the Element interface is already pointed at your own server.

  3. Invite your team

    Public registration is CLOSED by default: this is your server, not an open service. Create accounts from the administration, or open registration if you prefer a public server.

  4. Check federation

    Your server publishes its .well-known delegation automatically, which is how other Matrix servers and mobile apps find it. Test your domain on federationtester.matrix.org to confirm federation answers.

  5. Turn on encryption and back up

    End-to-end encryption is enabled per room. Remember to save the recovery keys: without them an encrypted message stays unreadable even after restoring the server.

Frequently asked questions

Questions about Matrix (Synapse)

← Back to Collaboration & ProductivityAll applications
Matrix is an open protocol for federated, end-to-end encrypted instant messaging. Synapse is its reference server and Element its web application. Hosting your own makes you independent of any provider while staying reachable from other Matrix servers.

Embed the deploy button

Maintaining a project that uses Matrix (Synapse)? This button lets your readers deploy it on a VPS in one click, without reading Docker documentation.

Deploy Matrix (Synapse) on ServOrbit
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[![Deploy Matrix (Synapse) on ServOrbit](https://servorbit.com/brand/deploy/button.svg)](https://servorbit.com/vps-cloud?template=matrix-synapse&utm_source=deploy-badge&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=matrix-synapse)
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The button points to a VPS order with the template preselected. The image is served from servorbit.com — nothing to host on your side.

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