Self-hosted apps to run on your own server

Apps you install on a home server, NAS or rented server so your photos, passwords and files stay with you. All are free and open source. The trade-off is the same for each: you install, update and back them up yourself.

1. 1

   Immich

   Self-hosted photo and video backup and management app with mobile and web apps.

   Backs up photos and videos from your phone automatically, with search by faces, objects and file details. Its docs say all features are free, but it needs Docker, at least 6GB RAM and 2 CPU cores, and you should still keep separate backups.

   • Free
   • Open source
   Try Immich (opens the Immich website in a new tab)Read our take
2. 2

   Jellyfin

   Free, open-source media server that streams your own movies, shows and music to apps on your devices.

   Streams your own films, shows and music to apps on your TV, phone and browser, with no subscription or premium tier. It's run by volunteers and funded by donations.

   • Free
   • Open source
   Try Jellyfin (opens the Jellyfin website in a new tab)Read our take
3. 3

   Vaultwarden

   Unofficial, Bitwarden-compatible server written in Rust that you self-host.

   A server you host that works with the official Bitwarden apps, so your password vault stays on your hardware. It's unofficial and not connected to Bitwarden, Inc., and it needs HTTPS.

   • Free
   • Open source
   Try Vaultwarden (opens the Vaultwarden website in a new tab)Read our take
4. 4

   Syncthing

   Open-source continuous file sync between your own devices, with no central server.

   Keeps folders in sync between your own devices with no cloud account in the middle. It isn't a backup: a deleted file is deleted everywhere.

   • Free
   • Open source
   Try Syncthing (opens the Syncthing website in a new tab)Read our take
5. 5

   Paperless-ngx

   Community-supported open-source system that scans, OCRs, indexes and archives your documents.

   Scans, reads (OCR) and indexes your paper documents so you can search them, in more than 100 languages. Its README warns that data is stored unencrypted, so run it only on a machine you trust.

   • Free
   • Open source
   Try Paperless-ngx (opens the Paperless-ngx website in a new tab)Read our take
6. 6

   Home Assistant

   Open-source smart home hub that controls your devices locally and automates them.

   Controls and automates smart home devices locally, with 1,500+ integrations and no features behind a paywall. Easy remote access and voice assistant linking use its paid cloud service.

   • Free
   • Open source
   Try Home Assistant (opens the Home Assistant website in a new tab)Read our take
7. 7

   Pi-hole

   Network-wide ad and tracker blocker that runs as a DNS sinkhole on your own hardware.

   Blocks ads and trackers for every device on your network, with nothing to install on each one. It needs a fixed IP address on your network.

   • Free
   • Open source
   Try Pi-hole (opens the Pi-hole website in a new tab)Read our take
8. 8

   AdGuard Home

   Free, open-source network-wide ad and tracker blocking DNS server you run yourself.

   Network-wide ad blocking like Pi-hole, with encrypted DNS (DNS-over-HTTPS and DNS-over-TLS), per-device settings and parental controls built in.

   • Free
   • Open source
   Try AdGuard Home (opens the AdGuard Home website in a new tab)Read our take
9. 9

   Uptime Kuma

   Self-hosted monitoring tool that checks websites and services and sends alerts and status pages.

   Watches your websites and services and alerts you through 90+ notification services when one goes down. It can also publish a public status page.

   • Free
   • Open source
   Try Uptime Kuma (opens the Uptime Kuma website in a new tab)Read our take
10. 10

    Actual Budget

    Free, open-source, local-first envelope budgeting app you can self-host or run on your computer.

    Envelope budgeting that runs on your computer or your own server, with optional end-to-end encryption. It can import YNAB data, but there's no native phone app.

    • Free
    • Open source
    Try Actual Budget (opens the Actual Budget website in a new tab)Read our take
11. 11

    Stirling-PDF

    Open-core PDF editor with 60+ tools, available as desktop app, web app or self-hosted server.

    60+ PDF tools in your browser on your own server, so documents never leave it. The core is MIT-licensed; some parts are under separate licences, and the free plan has a monthly credit limit.

    • Freemium
    • Open source
    Try Stirling-PDF (opens the Stirling-PDF website in a new tab)Read our take