The exception to my don't self-host rule

This weekend, I spent some time on server housekeeping. Self-hosting apps can be rewarding for privacy and control, but in my experience, the maintenance effort often outweighs the benefits for most applications. I don't want apps that require me to log into a server every day.

Currently, I self-host only this website. The blog runs on Kirby, a lightweight CMS that doesn’t even require a database—just PHP and a web server. The entire setup runs on a $5/month Linode 1GB instance.

Last month I noticed that the Linux version I was using was nearing its end of life. To ensure long-term stability and security updates, I migrated to the latest Ubuntu LTS version, which is supported until April 2029.

The process was straightforward. I launched a new Linode instance with the latest Ubuntu LTS version, did the usual security hardening, installed Apache and PHP, cloned my blog from my private repository, tested everything, updated the DNS records... In around an hour, the migration was complete. This updated setup gives me peace of mind for the next several years.

While I enjoy the control self-hosting offers, I also like having time for other more interesting projects. That's why I’d recommend it only for those with a specific need. What are your thoughts on self-hosting? Does it feel worth the effort to you?