Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
For a small ArchiveBox deployment on an Indian VPS, plan on at least 2 GB of RAM and fast local SSD or NVMe for the database and active application files. ArchiveBox lists 1 GB as its minimum, but advises at least 4 GB of swap on a 1 GB VPS before full default crawls. Storage needs vary widely: its documentation estimates roughly 1–50 GB per 1,000 snapshots, depending largely on media capture and size limits.
How much RAM should an ArchiveBox VPS have?
ArchiveBox’s installation guidance gives a 1 GB RAM minimum and recommends 2 GB or more. It also advises configuring at least 4 GB of swap on a 1 GB VPS before running full default crawls. These are project recommendations, not a guarantee that every workload will fit: capture methods, browser activity and concurrency affect peak memory use. ArchiveBox installation guidance was edited on September 20, 2026.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Avoid treating swap as a substitute for RAM. Disabling Chrome-based capture methods may reduce crawl-time memory pressure, but it also removes those capture methods. For a small personal server, 2 GB RAM is the more practical starting point; monitor actual usage during representative captures before increasing concurrency.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →How much disk space do snapshots use?
ArchiveBox documentation estimates approximately 1 GB to 50 GB per 1,000 snapshots, with the wide range largely driven by audio and video capture and the configured maximum size. This is an upstream estimate, not a guaranteed rate or independent workload benchmark. A text-heavy collection and one that saves media can grow very differently. ArchiveBox’s disk-space documentation identifies the documentation as version 0.9.71.
#1 Best Overall
Estimate capacity from your own collection: multiply the number of expected snapshots by the average size observed in representative captures, then add headroom for duplicates, media, index growth and backups. There is no dependable universal per-URL size or concurrency formula. Start with conservative capture settings and check disk growth before committing to a small VPS disk.
Which files belong on local storage?
Keep data/index.sqlite3 on a fast, reliable local filesystem that supports fsync; ArchiveBox recommends SSD or NVMe. Keep the other active application data local as well, including configuration, personas/browser profiles, the Sonic search index and logs. The Docker image stores these under its /data tree. The project’s Setting Up Storage documentation explains the local-storage requirement.
If VPS disk capacity is the constraint, the large snapshot payload directory, data/archive/, can be moved to slower or remote storage. Preserve symlinks when using an Rclone-backed archive tree, ensure the mounted storage is writable by the container’s numeric UID/GID, and test real writes and reads. Remote storage introduces provider-specific performance, reliability, request fees, bandwidth and egress costs; those cannot be estimated without choosing a provider. Keep the database local.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchHow to deploy ArchiveBox with Docker Compose
For a single-host deployment, ArchiveBox recommends Docker Compose. The project’s official image repository provides the current quickstart Compose file. Run these commands on the VPS as a user with permission to use Docker:
Rank #2
-
Create and enter a persistent data directory:
mkdir -p ~/archiveboxandcd ~/archivebox. -
Download the Compose file from the official quickstart:
curl -fsSL 'https://docker.archivebox.io/compose' -o docker-compose.yml. -
Pull the image and start the service:
docker compose pull, thendocker compose up -d --wait.Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy. -
Complete initial setup through the web interface at
http://YOUR_SERVER_IP:5797/admin/. The service exposes container port 5797. -
For internet-facing HTTPS, put a reverse proxy in front of ArchiveBox and set
BASE_URLto the externally reachable URL. Restrict direct public access to the application port when the proxy is the intended entry point.
Before adding a large collection, confirm that the persistent data directory is on the intended local disk and that you have a recoverable backup. Protect the database, configuration, archive payloads, browser profiles, search index and logs; a VPS provider’s backup coverage may not include every volume or file.
What should an Indian VPS plan provide?
Compare the renewal cost and usable resources, not just the introductory monthly figure. At the time of the source check, Hostinger’s official India page listed these examples; offers are volatile, so confirm current checkout terms, total upfront payment, backups and region availability before buying. The page says plans are paid upfront and its monthly figures divide the total term price by the term.
| Example plan | Listed resources | Promotional monthly figure | Renewal monthly figure | Term qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KVM 1 | 1 vCPU, 4 GB RAM, 50 GB NVMe | ₹599 | ₹999 | Two-year term; paid upfront |
| Next listed plan | 2 vCPU, 8 GB RAM, 100 GB NVMe | ₹799 | ₹1,199 | Two-year term; paid upfront |
These are examples, not ArchiveBox requirements or an endorsement. A 50 GB disk may suit a small, mostly text-based collection, but media-heavy archives can fill it quickly. Compare:
- RAM, swap support and vCPU allocation.
- Local SSD/NVMe capacity and whether it can be expanded.
- India-region availability and latency for your intended users.
- Included VPS snapshots or backups versus application-level backups.
- Bandwidth limits and possible egress charges.
- Renewal price, contract term and total amount due upfront.
- Whether a separate remote archive store is workable for your collection.
See Hostinger India VPS plans for the cited listing and verify the live terms at checkout.
How to keep the deployment reliable and affordable
- Begin with representative captures. Test the kinds of pages and media you intend to archive; measure disk and memory rather than extrapolating a precise per-snapshot cost from the broad documentation range.
- Keep write-sensitive active files local. The SQLite database needs a reliable filesystem with fsync support. Moving the bulk archive does not mean moving the database or all of
/data. - Track growth and leave headroom. Duplicates, media, index growth and backups add to snapshot payload size. Set a review point before free disk becomes scarce.
- Account for backups separately. Confirm what the VPS provider actually backs up and maintain a recoverable copy of important application data.
- Scale based on observations. If memory pressure or disk growth becomes a problem, reduce crawl intensity or capture methods, move archive payloads carefully, or resize the VPS based on measured usage.
Troubleshooting common setup problems
The container exits or crawls fail under memory pressure
Check available RAM and swap and reduce capture load. ArchiveBox recommends 2 GB or more RAM; for a 1 GB VPS it advises at least 4 GB swap before full default crawls. Turning off Chrome-based methods can reduce crawl-time pressure, but those capture methods will no longer be available.
The disk fills sooner than expected
Inspect actual archive growth and identify whether your captures include large media. The 1–50 GB per 1,000 snapshot estimate is too broad to predict a specific collection. Reduce media capture or configured maximum size if appropriate, add local capacity, or consider remote storage for data/archive/ while keeping the database and other active data local.
ArchiveBox cannot write to mounted archive storage
Check that the mount is available inside the container and writable by its numeric UID/GID. With an Rclone-backed archive tree, preserve symlinks. Test both writing and reading before relying on the mount for a live collection.
Best Value
The site is reachable at the wrong URL behind HTTPS
When using a reverse proxy for an internet-facing service, set BASE_URL to the externally reachable URL and ensure the proxy forwards requests to the service on port 5797.
Or skip the browser setup
If your goal is to capture website screenshots rather than maintain a web-archiving server, ScreenshotNeo is a screenshot API and MCP server. One GET request returns a PNG, JPEG, WebP or PDF. Its clean-shot options accept cookie or consent banners and remove more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups and chat widgets before capture; each step can be turned off. Bot checks, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads and cache hits are not billed, and response headers identify the page verdict and billing status. AI agents can use its MCP server tools, including take_screenshot, get_page_info and capture_pdf.
For the API key and other options, see the ScreenshotNeo documentation. Example cURL request:
Recommended Free Tools
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpThe free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000. Sign up for ScreenshotNeo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run ArchiveBox on a 1 GB RAM VPS?
ArchiveBox lists 1 GB as the minimum, but recommends 2 GB or more and advises at least 4 GB swap on a 1 GB VPS before full default crawls.
Can the SQLite database go on object storage?
Keep data/index.sqlite3 on a fast, reliable local filesystem that supports fsync. Remote storage is an option for the archive payload directory, not the active database.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems
