What Can You Really Do with a Low‑End or Spare VPS?

[johny899]

You have an underutilized or cheaper VPS that is just collecting digital junk. Maybe you took advantage of a $2/month promotion on on impulse, or maybe you jumped to a more potent server. Now you're gazing at it, wondering, "What the heck can I achieve with this thing?"

There's a lot of positive news than you would imagine! Indeed, a low-spec VPS cannot host the next big MMO server or manage a heavily trafficked e-commerce website. However, if you are creative, you can turn it into a swiss-army tool of joy, safety and efficiency. Here's how.

1. Host a Personal Blog or Portfolio​

Do you want a place to post your thoughts or do you have a secondary firm? A basic VPS may do the following:

• Make a Static websites (Jekyll, Hugo)
• WordPress that is lightweight (with caching)
• A simple portfolio (with a domain and HTML/CSS)
• Pro tip: Install Cloudflare in front of it for a free security and performance increase.

2. Run Your Own VPN (Because Privacy Matters)​

Have you had enough of Netflix geo-blocks or shady public Wi-Fi? In just a few minutes, spin up an OpenVPN or WireGuard server. You can now:

• Browse the coffee shop safely.
• Wi-Fi streaming of material that is region-locked.
• Avoid using dubious VPN services that record your info.
• Bonus: This is easily accomplished with a $3/month VPS.

3. Automate the Boring Stuff​

When your VPS can accomplish tasks for you, why waste time doing them repeatedly? Make cron tasks to:

• File backups that happen automatically.
• Gather information via scraping webpages.
• Provide you with a daily crypto or weather report.
• Solo victory: With less work and more interaction, I automated my tweets.

4. Self-Host Your Tools (Drop SaaS Subscriptions)​

Why pay every month for things you can self-host? Experiment with:

• Bitwarden_RS (password manager)
• Nextcloud (Google Drive substitute)
• Uptime Kuma (website monitoring)

"But isn't self-hosting difficult?" No—Docker makes it ridiculously simple.

5. Game Server for Small Groups​

Need a dedicated Minecraft or Terraria server for mates? A 1GB RAM VPS can do:

• Minecraft (PaperMC optimized)
• Terraria (small groups)
• CS:GO (casual matches only)
• Just don't attempt running ARK—it'll whine.

So, What exactly can be done with a spare or low-end VPS, then? Much more than you may imagine—if you're a bit inventive.