diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2ecd0af..df66b22 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -11,11 +11,13 @@ Uses @mattlqx's [docker image](https://ghcr.io/mattlqx/docker-pixelfed) which is
 
 - includes bitnami subcharts for [valkey](https://github.com/bitnami/charts/blob/main/bitnami/valkey/README.md#parameters) (redis) and [postgresql](https://github.com/bitnami/charts/blob/main/bitnami/postgresql/README.md#parameters) (database)
   - but you can also bring your own valkey, redis, or postgresql database
+  - we're also looking for anyone who wants to test the mariadb subchart
 - helm parameter (values.yaml) docs autogenerated via [`helm-docs`](https://github.com/norwoodj/helm-docs) in [`README.md`](./charts/pixelfed/README.md)
 - use existing Secrets for valkey, postgresql, and mail (smtp)
 - RenovateBot keeps the subcharts and docker image up to date
 - configurable liveness and readiness probes (or none at all)
 - configure tolerations, affinity, nodeselectors
+- configure persistence with a PVC we create, or bring your own
 - use extra volumes, volumemounts, containers, initContainers
 
 ## TLDR
diff --git a/charts/pixelfed/Chart.yaml b/charts/pixelfed/Chart.yaml
index 8395e44..37bc5db 100644
--- a/charts/pixelfed/Chart.yaml
+++ b/charts/pixelfed/Chart.yaml
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ type: application
 # This is the chart version. This version number should be incremented each time you make changes
 # to the chart and its templates, including the app version.
 # Versions are expected to follow Semantic Versioning (https://semver.org/)
-version: 0.18.0
+version: 0.19.0
 
 # This is the version number of the application being deployed.
 # renovate:image=ghcr.io/mattlqx/docker-pixelfed
diff --git a/charts/pixelfed/README.md b/charts/pixelfed/README.md
index fd588f1..ef38624 100644
--- a/charts/pixelfed/README.md
+++ b/charts/pixelfed/README.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # pixelfed
 
-![Version: 0.18.0](https://img.shields.io/badge/Version-0.18.0-informational?style=flat-square) ![Type: application](https://img.shields.io/badge/Type-application-informational?style=flat-square) ![AppVersion: v0.12.4-nginx](https://img.shields.io/badge/AppVersion-v0.12.4--nginx-informational?style=flat-square)
+![Version: 0.19.0](https://img.shields.io/badge/Version-0.19.0-informational?style=flat-square) ![Type: application](https://img.shields.io/badge/Type-application-informational?style=flat-square) ![AppVersion: v0.12.4-nginx](https://img.shields.io/badge/AppVersion-v0.12.4--nginx-informational?style=flat-square)
 
 A Helm chart for deploying Pixelfed on Kubernetes
 
@@ -78,6 +78,11 @@ A Helm chart for deploying Pixelfed on Kubernetes
 | mariadb.enabled | bool | `false` | enable mariadb subchart - currently experimental for this chart read more about the values: https://github.com/bitnami/charts/tree/main/bitnami/mariadb |
 | nameOverride | string | `""` | This is to override the chart name. |
 | nodeSelector | object | `{}` | put the pixelfed pod on a specific node/nodegroup |
+| persistence.accessModes | list | `["ReadWriteOnce"]` | accessMode |
+| persistence.enabled | bool | `false` | enable persistence for the pixelfed pod |
+| persistence.existingClaim | string | `""` | using an existing PVC instead of creating one with this chart |
+| persistence.storage | string | `"2Gi"` | size of the persistent volume claim to create. Tgnored if persistence.existingClaim is set |
+| persistence.storageClassName | string | `""` | storage class name |
 | phpConfigs | object | `{}` | PHP Configuration files Will be injected in /usr/local/etc/php-fpm.d |
 | pixelfed.account_deletion | bool | `true` | Enable account deletion (may be a requirement in some jurisdictions) |
 | pixelfed.activity_pub.enabled | bool | `false` | enable ActivityPub |
diff --git a/charts/pixelfed/templates/deployment.yaml b/charts/pixelfed/templates/deployment.yaml
index 9b3867c..6dc4154 100644
--- a/charts/pixelfed/templates/deployment.yaml
+++ b/charts/pixelfed/templates/deployment.yaml
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ spec:
             {{- toYaml . | nindent 12 }}
           {{- end }}
 
-          {{- if or .Values.extraVolumeMounts .Values.phpConfigs }}
+          {{- if or .Values.extraVolumeMounts .Values.phpConfigs .Values.persistence.enabled }}
           volumeMounts:
             {{- with .Values.extraVolumeMounts }}
               {{- toYaml . | nindent 12 }}
@@ -269,13 +269,26 @@ spec:
               mountPath: {{ print "/usr/local/etc/php-fpm.d/%s" $key | quote }}
               subPath: {{ $key }}
             {{- end }}
+            {{- if .Values.persistence.enabled }}
+            - name: storage
+              mountPath: /var/www/storage
+            {{- end }}
           {{- end }}{{/* end volumeMounts */}}
 
-      {{- if or .Values.phpConfigs .Values.extraVolumes }}
+      {{- if or .Values.phpConfigs .Values.extraVolumes .Values.persistence.enabled }}
       volumes:
         {{- with .Values.extraVolumes }}
           {{- toYaml . | nindent 8 }}
         {{- end }}
+        {{- if .Values.persistence.enabled }}
+        - name: storage
+          persistentVolumeClaim:
+            {{- if .Values.persistence.existingClaim }}
+            claimName: {{ .Values.persistence.existingClaim }}
+            {{- else }}
+            claimName: {{ include "pixelfed.fullname" . }}
+            {{- end }}
+        {{- end }}
         {{- if .Values.phpConfigs }}
         - name: phpconfig
           configMap:
diff --git a/charts/pixelfed/templates/pvc.yaml b/charts/pixelfed/templates/pvc.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fa34630
--- /dev/null
+++ b/charts/pixelfed/templates/pvc.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+{{- if and .Values.persistence.enabled (not .Values.persistence.existingClaim ) }}
+---
+kind: PersistentVolumeClaim
+apiVersion: v1
+metadata:
+  name: {{ include "pixelfed.fullname" . }}
+spec:
+  storageClassName: {{ .Values.persistence.storageClassName }}
+  accessModes:
+    {{- toYaml .Values.persistence.accessModes | indent 4 }}
+  resources:
+    requests:
+      storage: {{ .Values.persistence.storage }}
+{{- end }}
diff --git a/charts/pixelfed/values.yaml b/charts/pixelfed/values.yaml
index dad34fd..906729a 100644
--- a/charts/pixelfed/values.yaml
+++ b/charts/pixelfed/values.yaml
@@ -306,6 +306,19 @@ phpConfigs: {}
   #   pm.min_spare_servers = 100
   #   pm.max_spare_servers = 280
 
+persistence:
+  # -- enable persistence for the pixelfed pod
+  enabled: false
+  # -- storage class name
+  storageClassName: ""
+  # -- size of the persistent volume claim to create. Tgnored if persistence.existingClaim is set
+  storage: 2Gi
+  # -- accessMode
+  accessModes:
+    - ReadWriteOnce
+  # -- using an existing PVC instead of creating one with this chart
+  existingClaim: ""
+
 pixelfed:
   db:
     # -- options: sqlite mysql pgsql sqlsrv