Easiest Way to Run Wallabag on Digital Ocean

🧾 How to Install Wallabag with Docker (The Easy Way)

Wallabag is a self-hosted read-it-later app — like Pocket, but open source. This guide walks you through setting up Wallabag using Docker Compose on a new server (such as a DigitalOcean droplet or any Ubuntu machine). The goal: get it running first try, no surprises.

✅ What You Need

  • A Linux server (Ubuntu 22.04 recommended)
  • Docker and Docker Compose installed
  • Basic terminal access (ssh)
  • Your server’s IP address

🏗️ Step 1: Create a Project Directory

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mkdir wallabag && cd wallabag

📄 Step 2: Create docker-compose.yaml

Create a new file called docker-compose.yaml and paste this:

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services:
  wallabag:
    image: wallabag/wallabag
    container_name: wallabag
    env_file:
      - ./configuration_wallabag.env
    ports:
      - "8812:80" # Change 8812 to a free port if needed
    volumes:
      - wallabag-images:/var/www/wallabag/web/assets/images
    depends_on:
      - wallabag_db
      - wallabag_cache

  wallabag_db:
    image: postgres:14
    container_name: wallabag_db
    env_file:
      - ./configuration_wallabag.env
    ports:
      - "5434:5432"
    volumes:
      - wallabag-db:/var/lib/postgresql/data

  wallabag_cache:
    image: redis:alpine
    container_name: wallabag_cache

volumes:
  wallabag-images:
  wallabag-db:

🔐 Step 3: Create configuration_wallabag.env

In the same folder, create a file named configuration_wallabag.env with the following content:

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# PostgreSQL database settings
POSTGRES_USER=wallabag
POSTGRES_PASSWORD=changeme
POSTGRES_DB=wallabag

# Wallabag Symfony configuration
SYMFONY__ENV__DATABASE_DRIVER=pdo_pgsql
SYMFONY__ENV__DATABASE_HOST=wallabag_db
SYMFONY__ENV__DATABASE_PORT=5432
SYMFONY__ENV__DATABASE_NAME=wallabag
SYMFONY__ENV__DATABASE_USER=wallabag
SYMFONY__ENV__DATABASE_PASSWORD=changeme
SYMFONY__ENV__DOMAIN_NAME=https://yourdomain.com
SYMFONY__ENV__SERVER_NAME=WallabagServer
SYMFONY__ENV__FOSUSER_REGISTRATION=false
SYMFONY__ENV__FOSUSER_CONFIRMATION=false

🔒 Replace changeme with a secure password.
🌐 Replace your-server-ip with your actual https domain name. I use cloudflared here to make it easy.

🚀 Step 4: Launch the Stack

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docker-compose up -d

Docker will pull the required images, set up volumes, and launch the services.

🛠️ Step 5: Initialize Wallabag

Now run the Wallabag installer to set up the database and create your admin account.

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docker exec -it wallabag sh
php bin/console wallabag:install --env=prod

You’ll be asked to confirm settings (they’ll pre-fill based on your .env file), and then enter:

  • Admin username
  • Admin email
  • Admin password

When it’s done, exit the container:

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exit

🌐 Step 6: Access Wallabag

In your browser, go to:

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https://yourdomain.com

You’ll see the login screen. Use the credentials you just created.

🎉 You now have a fully working Wallabag instance!

📦 Optional: Backup Volumes

To back up your data:

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docker run --rm -v wallabag-db:/volume -v $(pwd):/backup alpine \
  tar czf /backup/wallabag-db-backup.tar.gz -C /volume ./

docker run --rm -v wallabag-images:/volume -v $(pwd):/backup alpine \
  tar czf /backup/wallabag-images-backup.tar.gz -C /volume ./

✅ Summary

Task Command
Start Wallabag docker-compose up -d
Access app https://yourdomain.com
Run installer docker exec -it wallabag sh && php bin/console wallabag:install --env=prod
Restart Wallabag docker restart wallabag

🔒 Next Steps (Optional)

  • Set up Cloudflared
  • Use Docker volumes for automated remote backups
  • Set up Wallabag mobile or browser extensions