How to Set Up a Personal VPN with WireGuard
Stop paying for VPN subscriptions. Self-host WireGuard for a faster, more private VPN that you fully control.
Why Self-Host a VPN?
Commercial VPN providers charge $5-12/month and you're trusting them not to log your traffic. A self-hosted VPN costs less, performs better, and you know exactly what's being logged — nothing.
Why WireGuard?
WireGuard is the modern VPN protocol. Compared to OpenVPN:
Setting Up WireGuard
Deploy on TinyPod
1. Search for "WireGuard" in the TinyPod app catalog
2. Deploy with default settings
3. Access the web UI at your subdomain
Configure Clients
WireGuard has apps for every platform:
Generate a client configuration from the web UI, import it into the WireGuard app, and connect.
Use Cases
Secure Public WiFi
Route all traffic through your VPN when on coffee shop or airport WiFi. Your ISP and the WiFi operator see encrypted traffic to your VPN server — nothing else.
Access Self-Hosted Apps Privately
Put your self-hosted apps behind the VPN. They're not exposed to the internet at all — only accessible when connected to your WireGuard VPN.
Bypass Geo-Restrictions
Deploy your VPN server in the region you need and route traffic through it.
Remote Access
Access your home network, NAS, or lab from anywhere through the VPN tunnel.
Performance
WireGuard adds minimal overhead. On a modern server:
Cost Comparison
| Service | Cost |
|---------|------|
| NordVPN | $12/mo |
| ExpressVPN | $13/mo |
| Mullvad | $5.50/mo |
| Self-hosted WireGuard | Included in your $5/mo TinyPod server |
Plus, a self-hosted VPN is faster because you're the only user on the server.