diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 1bcbd60..73325f1 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
 # --- Portainer / Compose ---
 APP_PORT="3000"
-POSTGRES_DB="formbuilder"
-POSTGRES_USER="formbuilder"
-POSTGRES_PASSWORD="change-this"
+DATABASE_URL="postgresql://user:password@postgres-host:5432/formbuilder"
+
+# Only needed if using docker-compose.postgres.yml instead of an existing DB.
+# POSTGRES_DB="formbuilder"
+# POSTGRES_USER="formbuilder"
+# POSTGRES_PASSWORD="change-this"
 
 # --- Auth.js ---
 # Generate with: openssl rand -base64 32
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 89906f4..cde45e6 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -17,9 +17,7 @@ The app container runs `prisma migrate deploy` before starting the Next.js stand
 
 ```bash
 APP_PORT=3000
-POSTGRES_DB=formbuilder
-POSTGRES_USER=formbuilder
-POSTGRES_PASSWORD=replace-with-a-strong-password
+DATABASE_URL=postgresql://user:password@postgres-host:5432/formbuilder
 
 AUTH_SECRET=replace-with-openssl-rand-base64-32
 AUTH_URL=https://forms.example.com
@@ -34,6 +32,12 @@ AUTH_BOOTSTRAP_ADMINS=you@example.com
 
 Optional values are documented in `.env.example` for Redis rate limiting, email, file storage, hCaptcha, and webhook worker auth.
 
+If you do not already have Postgres, deploy with both Compose files and set `POSTGRES_PASSWORD`:
+
+```bash
+docker compose -f docker-compose.yml -f docker-compose.postgres.yml up --build
+```
+
 ## Authentik Setup
 
 Create an OAuth2/OpenID provider in Authentik:
@@ -50,11 +54,12 @@ The first successful signer becomes an admin. Any emails listed in `AUTH_BOOTSTR
 
 ## Persistent Data
 
-The compose stack creates two named volumes:
+The default compose stack creates one named volume:
 
-- `postgres_data`: Postgres database
 - `uploads`: local uploaded files mounted at `/app/uploads`
 
+When using `docker-compose.postgres.yml`, it also creates `postgres_data` for the bundled database.
+
 For multi-instance deployments, set `RATE_LIMIT_DRIVER=redis` and provide `REDIS_URL`. For durable object storage outside the app container, configure the S3 values in `.env.example`.
 
 ## Useful Commands
diff --git a/docker-compose.postgres.yml b/docker-compose.postgres.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1b688ee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docker-compose.postgres.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+services:
+  app:
+    depends_on:
+      postgres:
+        condition: service_healthy
+    environment:
+      DATABASE_URL: postgresql://${POSTGRES_USER:-formbuilder}:${POSTGRES_PASSWORD:?set POSTGRES_PASSWORD}@postgres:5432/${POSTGRES_DB:-formbuilder}
+
+  postgres:
+    image: postgres:16-alpine
+    restart: unless-stopped
+    environment:
+      POSTGRES_DB: ${POSTGRES_DB:-formbuilder}
+      POSTGRES_USER: ${POSTGRES_USER:-formbuilder}
+      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: ${POSTGRES_PASSWORD:?set POSTGRES_PASSWORD}
+    volumes:
+      - postgres_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data
+    healthcheck:
+      test: ["CMD-SHELL", "pg_isready -U ${POSTGRES_USER:-formbuilder} -d ${POSTGRES_DB:-formbuilder}"]
+      interval: 10s
+      timeout: 5s
+      retries: 5
+
+volumes:
+  postgres_data:
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index d5bf78e..ac0fd11 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -4,13 +4,10 @@ services:
       context: .
       dockerfile: Dockerfile
     restart: unless-stopped
-    depends_on:
-      postgres:
-        condition: service_healthy
     environment:
       NODE_ENV: production
       PORT: 3000
-      DATABASE_URL: postgresql://${POSTGRES_USER:-formbuilder}:${POSTGRES_PASSWORD:?set POSTGRES_PASSWORD}@postgres:5432/${POSTGRES_DB:-formbuilder}
+      DATABASE_URL: ${DATABASE_URL:?set DATABASE_URL}
       AUTH_SECRET: ${AUTH_SECRET:?set AUTH_SECRET}
       AUTH_URL: ${AUTH_URL:?set AUTH_URL}
       PUBLIC_BASE_URL: ${AUTH_URL}
@@ -40,21 +37,5 @@ services:
     volumes:
       - uploads:/app/uploads
 
-  postgres:
-    image: postgres:16-alpine
-    restart: unless-stopped
-    environment:
-      POSTGRES_DB: ${POSTGRES_DB:-formbuilder}
-      POSTGRES_USER: ${POSTGRES_USER:-formbuilder}
-      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: ${POSTGRES_PASSWORD:?set POSTGRES_PASSWORD}
-    volumes:
-      - postgres_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data
-    healthcheck:
-      test: ["CMD-SHELL", "pg_isready -U ${POSTGRES_USER:-formbuilder} -d ${POSTGRES_DB:-formbuilder}"]
-      interval: 10s
-      timeout: 5s
-      retries: 5
-
 volumes:
-  postgres_data:
   uploads: