Self-hosting Redlib the easy way
Yulei ChenRedlib is an open-source, privacy-focused frontend for Reddit. It strips out ads, tracking scripts, and JavaScript bloat so you can browse subreddits without Reddit knowing who you are. No account needed, no cookies, no telemetry. Public instances exist, but they can be slow, rate-limited, or go offline without warning.
Sliplane is a managed container platform that makes self-hosting painless. With one-click deployment, you can get your own Redlib instance up and running in minutes - no server setup, no reverse proxy config, no infrastructure to maintain.
Prerequisites
Before deploying, ensure you have a Sliplane account (free trial available).
Quick start
Sliplane provides one-click deployment with presets.
Deploy Redlib >- Click the deploy button above
- Select a project
- Select a server (If you just signed up you get a 48-hour free trial server)
- Click Deploy!
About the preset
The one-click deploy above uses Sliplane's Redlib preset. Here's what it includes:
- Official Redlib image from
quay.io/redlib/redlib - Specific version tag (
sha-a4d36e9) for stability - Port
8080configured for the web interface - SFW-only mode disabled by default (you can enable it)
- Search engine indexing disabled by default for privacy
- Default front page set to
popular
Redlib is stateless - it doesn't store any user data, so no persistent volumes are needed.
Next steps
Once Redlib is running on Sliplane, access it using the domain Sliplane provided (e.g. redlib-xxxx.sliplane.app).
There are no default credentials. Redlib is a public-facing proxy that anyone with the URL can use. If you want to keep it private, you can use Sliplane's built-in access control or put it behind an authentication layer.
Configuration
Redlib is configured entirely through environment variables. Here are the most useful ones you can customize in your Sliplane service settings:
| Variable | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
REDLIB_SFW_ONLY | off | Set to on to block all NSFW content |
REDLIB_DEFAULT_FRONT_PAGE | popular | Default subreddit for the homepage (popular, all, or a specific subreddit) |
REDLIB_DEFAULT_LAYOUT | card | Layout style: card, clean, or compact |
REDLIB_DEFAULT_POST_SORT | hot | Default post sorting: hot, new, top, rising |
REDLIB_DEFAULT_COMMENT_SORT | confidence | Default comment sorting: confidence, top, new, controversial, old |
REDLIB_ROBOTS_DISABLE_INDEXING | on | Set to off if you want search engines to index your instance |
REDLIB_DEFAULT_USE_HLS | off | Set to on for better video playback using HLS |
REDLIB_BANNER | (empty) | Custom banner message shown at the top of every page |
For a full list of environment variables, check the Redlib documentation.
Logging
Redlib logs to STDOUT by default, which works well with Sliplane's built-in log viewer. If something seems off, check the logs in your Sliplane dashboard. For general Docker log tips, check out our post on how to use Docker logs.
Cost comparison
You can also self-host Redlib with other cloud providers. Here is a pricing comparison for the most common ones:
| Provider | vCPU | RAM | Disk | Monthly Cost | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sliplane | 2 | 2 GB | 40 GB | €9 (~$10.65) | Flat rate, 1 TB bandwidth, SSL included |
| Fly.io | 2 | 2 GB | 40 GB | ~$18 | Disk and bandwidth billed separately |
| Render | 1 | 2 GB | 40 GB | ~$35 | 100 GB bandwidth, Disk billed separately |
| Railway | 2 | 2 GB | 40 GB | ~$67 + $20 plan | Pro plan floor, usage-based, bandwidth billed separately |
Click here to see how these numbers were calculated.
(Assuming an always-on instance running 730 hrs/month)
- Sliplane: flat €9/month for the Base server. Unlimited services on the same server, 1 TB egress and SSL included.
- Fly.io:
shared-cpu-2x2 GB = $11.83/mo + 40 GB volume × $0.15/GB = $6 -> ~$17.83/mo. Egress billed separately ($0.02/GB in EU). - Render: closest match is Standard ($25, 1 vCPU / 2 GB) plus 40 GB disk × $0.25/GB = $10 -> ~$35/mo. Stepping up to Pro (2 vCPU / 4 GB) costs $85/mo + disk.
- Railway (Pro plan): CPU 2 × $0.00000772/s × 2,628,000 s = $40.57; RAM 2 × $0.00000386/s × 2,628,000 s = $20.29; volume 40 × $0.00000006/s × 2,628,000 s = $6.31 -> ~$67/mo compute, plus the $20/mo Pro plan floor and $0.05/GB egress.
Bandwidth costs can add up fast on usage-based providers. Use our bandwidth cost comparison tool to see what your egress would cost on each platform.
FAQ
What can I use Redlib for?
Redlib lets you browse Reddit without an account, without ads, and without tracking. It's great for reading subreddits, following discussions, and keeping up with communities while maintaining your privacy. You can also use it to share Reddit links that don't require the recipient to have a Reddit account or deal with Reddit's increasingly aggressive sign-up prompts.
How do I customize the default subreddit on the front page?
Set the REDLIB_DEFAULT_FRONT_PAGE environment variable to any subreddit name (e.g. rust, selfhosted, linux), or use popular or all for the aggregated feeds. You can change this in your Sliplane service settings and redeploy.
How do I update Redlib?
Change the image tag in your service settings to the latest version and redeploy. Check the Redlib releases page for the latest stable version.
Are there alternatives to Redlib?
Redlib (formerly Libreddit) is the most actively maintained private Reddit frontend. Other options include Teddit (Node.js-based, currently unmaintained) and Reddit's own mobile web interface. For a broader look at privacy tools you can self-host, check out how I save money by self-hosting these 5 open source tools.
Does Redlib work with all subreddits?
Redlib works with most public subreddits. However, it cannot access private or quarantined subreddits since it doesn't use authenticated Reddit API access. Some media-heavy posts may also occasionally fail to load if Reddit changes their content delivery methods. The Redlib maintainers actively fix these issues as they come up.
