FVTT Installer
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about deploying Foundry VTT to the cloud
Managed Foundry hosting (like The Forge, Molten Hosting, or Foundry Server) provides a turnkey solution where someone else handles server management. Pros: zero setup, automatic updates, support included. Cons: monthly fees ($5-15+/month), less control, potential limitations on modules or storage.
Self-hosting with this installer gives you full control over your own server on DigitalOcean or Hetzner. Pros: lower cost (~$4-6/month), complete control, no restrictions on modules/storage, learn how it works. Cons: you handle updates and troubleshooting (though it's straightforward).
Bottom line: If you want hands-off convenience and don't mind paying more, use managed hosting. If you want lower costs, full control, and don't mind occasional maintenance, self-host with this installer.
Foundry VTT Cloud Installer is a free tool that automates deploying your own Foundry Virtual Tabletop server to cloud providers like DigitalOcean or Hetzner. It handles server setup, HTTPS certificates, domain configuration, and optional cloud storage—all in about 10 minutes.
The installer itself is free. You only pay for cloud hosting: DigitalOcean starts at $6/month for their smallest droplet, Hetzner starts at around €4/month. Optional S3-compatible storage for assets costs extra based on usage. You also need a Foundry VTT license ($50 one-time purchase from foundryvtt.com).
You need:
- A Foundry VTT license with a valid timed download URL
- A DigitalOcean or Hetzner account
- A Cloudflare account with a domain
- API keys from each service
The wizard guides you through obtaining each of these.
Cloudflare provides free DNS management and enables automatic HTTPS certificate generation via Let's Encrypt. This gives your Foundry server a custom domain (like foundry.yourdomain.com) with secure connections, which is required for features like audio/video chat.
Yes. All API keys are used only in your browser to communicate directly with the cloud providers—they are never sent to or stored on our servers. The installer runs entirely client-side. Your Foundry server is hosted on your own cloud account, giving you full control.
S3-compatible storage (like DigitalOcean Spaces or Hetzner Object Storage) lets you store game assets (maps, tokens, audio) separately from your server. It's optional but recommended for large asset libraries as it reduces server disk usage and makes backups easier.
Yes, as long as your domain's DNS is managed by Cloudflare. You can either transfer your domain to Cloudflare or just point your domain's nameservers to Cloudflare. The installer creates a subdomain (e.g., foundry.yourdomain.com) for your server.
The entire process takes about 5-10 minutes: filling out the wizard takes 2-3 minutes, and automated server provisioning takes another 3-5 minutes. After that, your Foundry VTT server is ready to use.
The installer provides detailed logs during deployment. If something fails, you can delete the created resources from your cloud provider's dashboard and try again. Common issues are usually related to API key permissions or rate limits.
Foundry VTT can be updated through its built-in update system in the Setup screen. Log into your Foundry server as the administrator, go to Configuration, and use the Update Software button when new versions are available.
Yes! If you prefer to set up your server manually or want to understand what's happening under the hood, we have a detailed step-by-step guide: Manual Foundry VTT Server Setup Guide. This covers the same process without automation.