You do not need a server team to run our software. Stocky POS, Resto, Nexus and Mentor LMS run on ordinary shared hosting that supports PHP and MySQL. Only the multi-tenant editions need more, and even Stocky SaaS can start on shared hosting.
Which products run on shared hosting
| Product | Shared hosting | Check first |
|---|---|---|
| Stocky POS | Yes | PHP 8.2 or newer. HTTPS if you want the camera scanner or the PWA install |
| Resto | Yes | PHP 8.3 or newer. HTTPS if you take Stripe card payments |
| Nexus | Yes | PHP 8.3 or newer |
| Mentor LMS | Yes | PHP 8.3 or newer, symlink() enabled, and upload limits raised if you host video |
| Stocky SaaS | Yes, with manual tenant approval | On shared hosting an admin creates each tenant’s subdomain and database by hand. A VPS is recommended |
| Nexus SaaS | Rarely | Needs wildcard subdomains and a database user that can create and drop databases, which most shared hosting does not offer |
Why they run on simple hosting
-
No extra services
Resto and Nexus need no Node.js, Redis, WebSockets, queue workers or cron. If your host runs Laravel and MySQL, they run there.
-
A normal PHP stack
They are Laravel applications that need PHP, MySQL or MariaDB, and Apache or Nginx with the document root set to the
/publicfolder. -
Install from a control panel
Upload the files, create an empty database and follow the install guide in the product’s documentation. Stocky POS’s installer names any PHP extension that is missing.
Check your host before you buy
- PHP version. Stocky POS and Stocky SaaS need 8.2 or newer. Resto, Nexus, Nexus SaaS and Mentor LMS need 8.3 or newer. Most hosts let you switch the version from the control panel.
- Database. MySQL 8.0 or newer, or MariaDB 10.6 or newer. Mentor LMS lists MySQL 8.x.
- Document root. It has to point at the application’s
/publicfolder, so your configuration and storage folders are not reachable from the web. - PHP extensions. Each product lists the ones it needs on the server requirements page.
- HTTPS. Required for Stocky POS’s camera scanner and PWA install, and for Stripe card payments in Resto.
- For Mentor LMS only:
symlink()must be enabled, and for video uploadsmemory_limit,upload_max_filesizeandpost_max_sizeshould be 512 MB or more.
Not sure about your host? Send us its PHP version and extension list before you buy and we will tell you whether it fits. You also have 48 hours from purchase to inspect the product and ask for a refund (terms).
When a VPS is the better choice
Move to a VPS when you run a multi-tenant edition and want new customers provisioned automatically. Stocky SaaS creates a tenant in about a minute on a VPS with wildcard DNS. Nexus SaaS needs wildcard subdomains and database rights that in practice mean a VPS. A $10 a month hosting plan or VPS does the job for most installs. You can also move later: your data is in your own database, so you can take it with you.
If you would rather not look after hosting at all, we offer a managed self-hosted service from $20 a month where we manage your installation.
Questions
Will it be slow on shared hosting?
That depends on your host and how much you use the software. Stocky POS recommends a 256 MB PHP memory limit, and Mentor LMS needs larger limits for video uploads, so check those with your host. If you outgrow shared hosting, move to a VPS.
Can I start on shared hosting and move later?
Yes. Your data is in your own database, so you can move it to a VPS when you need to.
What does it cost to host?
A $10 a month hosting plan or VPS does the job for most installs. See what owning costs over five years.
Check the requirements for your product
Every product page has a live demo and its full requirements.