Self-hosted alternatives to Unraid
Want NAS and home server OS without handing your data to Unraid? These 11 self-hosted apps run on your own server (most are open source; licenses are listed below). Cheapest estimated hosting starts at about $3.5/month.
About Unraid: Paid NAS and home server operating system.
| App | Health | Stars | License | Docker | RAM (est.) | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Umbrel | Active | 12.5k | ⊘ Proprietary | ✓ | 1 GB | $5/mo |
| Tipi | Active | 9.7k | GPL-3.0 | – | 512 MB | $3.5/mo |
| OpenMediaVault | Active | 7.1k | GPL-3.0 | – | 1 GB | $5/mo |
| DietPi | Active | 6.4k | GPL-2.0 | – | 512 MB | $3.5/mo |
| DockSTARTer | Active | 2.6k | MIT | – | 512 MB | $3.5/mo |
| Websoft9 | Active | 2.1k | LGPL-3.0 | – | 1 GB | $5/mo |
| StartOS | Active | 2k | MIT | – | 512 MB | $3.5/mo |
| Syncloud | Active | 434 | GPL-3.0 | – | 512 MB | $3.5/mo |
| HomeServerHQ | Active | 73 | GPL-3.0 | – | 512 MB | $3.5/mo |
| LibreServer | Active | 56 | AGPL-3.0 | – | 512 MB | $3.5/mo |
| YunoHost | Unknown | – | AGPL-3.0 | – | 1 GB | $5/mo |
The options in detail
1. Umbrel
Beautiful personal server OS for self-hosting. Install on a Raspberry Pi 4 or Ubuntu/Debian.
Active Last commit 2026-11-03. 10+ releases in the past year. Latest release 2.1.0-beta.1 (2026-11-03). Needs roughly 1 GB RAM. How to run it →
2. Tipi
Homeserver manager. One command setup, one click installs for your favorite home server apps.
Active Last commit 2026-11-03. Latest release nightly (2024-02-09). Needs roughly 512 MB RAM. How to run it →
3. OpenMediaVault
Network attached storage (NAS) solution based on Debian Linux. It contains services like SSH, (S)FTP, SMB/CIFS, DAAP media server, RSync, BitTorrent client and many more.
Active Last commit 2026-11-02. Needs roughly 1 GB RAM. How to run it →
4. DietPi
Minimal Debian OS optimized for single-board computers, which allows you to easily install and manage several services for selfhosting at home.
Active Last commit 2026-11-04. Latest release v10.8 (2026-10-21). Needs roughly 512 MB RAM. How to run it →
5. DockSTARTer
DockSTARTer helps you get started with home server apps running in Docker.
Active Last commit 2026-10-21. 10+ releases in the past year. Latest release v1.20260831.1 (2026-08-31). Needs roughly 512 MB RAM. How to run it →
6. Websoft9
GitOps-driven, multi-application hosting for cloud servers and home servers, one-click deployment of 200+ apps.
Active Last commit 2026-10-27. Latest release 2.4.4 (2026-10-30). Needs roughly 1 GB RAM. How to run it →
7. StartOS
Browser-based, graphical Operating System (OS) that makes running a personal server as easy as running a personal computer.
Active Last commit 2026-11-05. Latest release start-sdk/v4.0.0 (2026-11-05). Needs roughly 512 MB RAM. How to run it →
8. Syncloud
OS with an app store and automatic updates for apps such as Nextcloud, Jellyfin, Bitwarden and Paperless, including HTTPS, a domain name and remote access without a public IP.
Active Last commit 2026-11-01. Needs roughly 512 MB RAM. How to run it →
9. HomeServerHQ
All-in-one home server infrastructure and installer. Have a fully configured email server, VPN, and public website(s) set up in less than an hour, even behind CGNAT.
Active Last commit 2026-11-04. Latest release 245 (2026-10-31). Needs roughly 512 MB RAM. How to run it →
10. LibreServer
Home server configuration based on Debian.
Active Last commit 2026-11-03. Needs roughly 512 MB RAM. How to run it →
11. YunoHost
Server operating system aiming to make self-hosting accessible to everyone.
Unknown Needs roughly 1 GB RAM. How to run it →
Why self-host instead of Unraid?
- Own your data — it lives on a server you control, with backups you decide on.
- Predictable cost — a small VPS often replaces per-seat pricing for a whole team or family.
- No lock-in — open-source licenses let you keep running the software even if a vendor disappears.
The trade-off: you are responsible for updates, backups and security. Pick an app marked Active (a commit in the last 90 days) and with Docker support for the easiest ride.
Browse related categories
Other alternatives guides
Unraid is a trademark of its owner; this site is not affiliated with it. Listings come from the community-maintained awesome-selfhosted list.