The Best Home Server OS For Your Self-hosted Apps

by Jonathan Mann
25 minutes read
  • Comes through much more than 100 SaaS apps obtainable correct out of the box
  • Sells a deep assimilation through existent Linux tools
  • Can remotely send out a Wireguard VPS for NAT holepunching

Downsides

  • Dubs for respectable area of proficiency of the Linux command line up to sprinted accordingly
  • Dubs for a valid DNS record for compatibility through some SaaS apps
  • Presently under heavy innovation as well as can be subject to going versus parasites

Locating out some of the ideal tools that you can place on your residence web server is the first interfere experimenting what self-arranging can tote out for you. Dive head first into this deep as well as dreamy planet by making your own Google Drive by emitting ownCloud today.

Image economic debt: Vadim Sherbakov through Unsplash. Unanimously modifications as well as screenshots by Ramces Red.

Downsides

  • Arrangements are not packed in isolated cylinders
  • Configuring the SaaS apps external its default arrangement can be arduous
  • Simply city-endorsed as well as embrace for prospective unhappiness can be hit or miss

5. HomelabOS

HomelabOS is a lightweight script that employs Docker as well as Ansible to vary a invariant Ubuntu LTS system into a service-loaded residence web server OS. It comes through about 100 self-hostable SaaS cylinders, arranging from criterion RSS site visitors such as FreshRSS to an entire Twitter duplicate like Pleroma.

That clarified, HomelabOS is designed for the Linux power user. It doesn’t come through its own control panel UI as well as it intends you to utilise the command line up to oversaw the entire system. This has everything from putting up HomelabOS’ installations to mounting as well as emitting its packages.

One suitabilities of this ideology, but, is it makes it possible for HomelabOS to seamlessly incorporate its components to your advice system. This permits you to utilise the tools that are currently obtainable on your host OS to oversaw HomelabOS’ solutions. For example, I can sprinted systemctl status organizr.service to check how my HomelabOS control panel is running.

A terminal affirming HomelabOS' systemctl selection for its control panel app.

An additional considerable service of HomelabOS is it can send out a secluded VPS to mien a “overturn proxy” for your city residence web server. This renders it easy to sprinted solutions at residence while still being able to schedule them once you’re on-the-go.

A terminal affirming Terraform. A utility that HomelabOS employs to panache Garrison VPN instances for NAT obstructed tools.

However, HomelabOS is not a irreproachable selection for everyone. Unconcerned from obtaining in touch with for nice terminal area of proficiency, HomelabOS needs a valid DNS record to sprinted accordingly. It’s prospective to bypass this priority by modifying your “/etc/hosts” paper but doing that can lead to prospective unhappiness for your solutions.

A sample of a DNS record affirming HomelabOS running on a tools through a public IPv4 address.

Pros

  • Comes through much more than 100 SaaS apps obtainable correct out of the box
  • Sells a deep assimilation through existent Linux tools
  • Can remotely send out a Wireguard VPS for NAT holepunching

Downsides

  • Dubs for respectable area of proficiency of the Linux command line up to sprinted accordingly
  • Dubs for a valid DNS record for compatibility through some SaaS apps
  • Presently under heavy innovation as well as can be subject to going versus parasites

Locating out some of the ideal tools that you can place on your residence web server is the first interfere experimenting what self-arranging can tote out for you. Dive head first into this deep as well as dreamy planet by making your own Google Drive by emitting ownCloud today.

Image economic debt: Vadim Sherbakov through Unsplash. Unanimously modifications as well as screenshots by Ramces Red.

On a side tab: peeking for much more adaptability as well as power on your web server? Investigate out our picks on the optimal web server-concentrated Linux distros today.

4. Yunohost

Yunohost is a strong all-in-one residence web server OS designed for user users running on either low-powered equipment or virtualized tools. Launched in 2012, Yunohost gains every exertion to “match self-arranging” by presenting an easy-to-utilise interface for emitting as well as putting up unexceptional SaaS apps.

Out of all the residence web server OSes that I’ve tried, Yunohost ships through the the majority of SaaS apps obtainable on its fair. Presently, the system purchases over 400 user solutions that you can immediately place on your web server. These smorgasbord from humble media surveillance tools to entire performance systems.

A screenshot affirming a little collection of apps that are obtainable in the Yunohost App Store front.

Tantamount to StartOS, Yunohost furthermore purchases a humble interface that postures every placement obtainable to the web server. Contrasted to Umbrel as well as CasaOS, this renders the system less service to troubleshoot specifically for more current admins. For example, I was able to readily oversaw innumerable domains, panache backups, as well as check for prospective unhappiness making utility of Yunohost’s created-in medical diagnosis product.

A screenshot affirming the innovation window for Yunohost's medical diagnosis product.

To optimal it off, Yunohost is obtainable on almost all Linux-based systems. You can place it on an SoC such as the Raspberry Pi, an used x86 workstation, as well as even in a Debian-based VPS through its conversion script. This renders Yunohost one of the the majority of adaptable residence web server OS that you can recover today.

A console screenshot affirming the Yunohost conversion script running on Debian 12.

Having clarified that, one sizeable caution once running Yunohost is that it doesn’t utilise cylinders once emitting its SaaS apps. Instead, it relies on the host’s filesystem as well as UNIX approvals to make certain that there’s no battle between packages as well as dependencies.

A terminal affirming the textiles of the Yunohost system magazine.

The greatest downside of this ideology is that Yunohost doesn’t isolate its polymorphous solutions. While this diminishes the looming of the system, it furthermore renders the OS much more at hazard to system-wide exploits. Better, this containerless ideology furthermore it renders it sly to configure the SaaS apps external of its pre-exemplified config inside Yunohost.

Pros

  • Comes through much more than 400 user SaaS apps to place
  • Discloses the majority of of the system installations on a unstained as well as minimalist interface
  • Runs on a smorgasbord of tools as well as systems

Downsides

  • Arrangements are not packed in isolated cylinders
  • Configuring the SaaS apps external its default arrangement can be arduous
  • Simply city-endorsed as well as embrace for prospective unhappiness can be hit or miss

5. HomelabOS

HomelabOS is a lightweight script that employs Docker as well as Ansible to vary a invariant Ubuntu LTS system into a service-loaded residence web server OS. It comes through about 100 self-hostable SaaS cylinders, arranging from criterion RSS site visitors such as FreshRSS to an entire Twitter duplicate like Pleroma.

That clarified, HomelabOS is designed for the Linux power user. It doesn’t come through its own control panel UI as well as it intends you to utilise the command line up to oversaw the entire system. This has everything from putting up HomelabOS’ installations to mounting as well as emitting its packages.

One suitabilities of this ideology, but, is it makes it possible for HomelabOS to seamlessly incorporate its components to your advice system. This permits you to utilise the tools that are currently obtainable on your host OS to oversaw HomelabOS’ solutions. For example, I can sprinted systemctl status organizr.service to check how my HomelabOS control panel is running.

A terminal affirming HomelabOS' systemctl selection for its control panel app.

An additional considerable service of HomelabOS is it can send out a secluded VPS to mien a “overturn proxy” for your city residence web server. This renders it easy to sprinted solutions at residence while still being able to schedule them once you’re on-the-go.

A terminal affirming Terraform. A utility that HomelabOS employs to panache Garrison VPN instances for NAT obstructed tools.

However, HomelabOS is not a irreproachable selection for everyone. Unconcerned from obtaining in touch with for nice terminal area of proficiency, HomelabOS needs a valid DNS record to sprinted accordingly. It’s prospective to bypass this priority by modifying your “/etc/hosts” paper but doing that can lead to prospective unhappiness for your solutions.

A sample of a DNS record affirming HomelabOS running on a tools through a public IPv4 address.

Pros

  • Comes through much more than 100 SaaS apps obtainable correct out of the box
  • Sells a deep assimilation through existent Linux tools
  • Can remotely send out a Wireguard VPS for NAT holepunching

Downsides

  • Dubs for respectable area of proficiency of the Linux command line up to sprinted accordingly
  • Dubs for a valid DNS record for compatibility through some SaaS apps
  • Presently under heavy innovation as well as can be subject to going versus parasites

Locating out some of the ideal tools that you can place on your residence web server is the first interfere experimenting what self-arranging can tote out for you. Dive head first into this deep as well as dreamy planet by making your own Google Drive by emitting ownCloud today.

Image economic debt: Vadim Sherbakov through Unsplash. Unanimously modifications as well as screenshots by Ramces Red.

Downsides

  • Has an ridiculously little collection of formally sustained SaaS apps
  • Presently doesn’t embrace 64-particle ARM tools
  • Dubs for a minimum of 64 GB of disk void as well as 4GB of RAM to place accordingly

On a side tab: peeking for much more adaptability as well as power on your web server? Investigate out our picks on the optimal web server-concentrated Linux distros today.

4. Yunohost

Yunohost is a strong all-in-one residence web server OS designed for user users running on either low-powered equipment or virtualized tools. Launched in 2012, Yunohost gains every exertion to “match self-arranging” by presenting an easy-to-utilise interface for emitting as well as putting up unexceptional SaaS apps.

Out of all the residence web server OSes that I’ve tried, Yunohost ships through the the majority of SaaS apps obtainable on its fair. Presently, the system purchases over 400 user solutions that you can immediately place on your web server. These smorgasbord from humble media surveillance tools to entire performance systems.

A screenshot affirming a little collection of apps that are obtainable in the Yunohost App Store front.

Tantamount to StartOS, Yunohost furthermore purchases a humble interface that postures every placement obtainable to the web server. Contrasted to Umbrel as well as CasaOS, this renders the system less service to troubleshoot specifically for more current admins. For example, I was able to readily oversaw innumerable domains, panache backups, as well as check for prospective unhappiness making utility of Yunohost’s created-in medical diagnosis product.

A screenshot affirming the innovation window for Yunohost's medical diagnosis product.

To optimal it off, Yunohost is obtainable on almost all Linux-based systems. You can place it on an SoC such as the Raspberry Pi, an used x86 workstation, as well as even in a Debian-based VPS through its conversion script. This renders Yunohost one of the the majority of adaptable residence web server OS that you can recover today.

A console screenshot affirming the Yunohost conversion script running on Debian 12.

Having clarified that, one sizeable caution once running Yunohost is that it doesn’t utilise cylinders once emitting its SaaS apps. Instead, it relies on the host’s filesystem as well as UNIX approvals to make certain that there’s no battle between packages as well as dependencies.

A terminal affirming the textiles of the Yunohost system magazine.

The greatest downside of this ideology is that Yunohost doesn’t isolate its polymorphous solutions. While this diminishes the looming of the system, it furthermore renders the OS much more at hazard to system-wide exploits. Better, this containerless ideology furthermore it renders it sly to configure the SaaS apps external of its pre-exemplified config inside Yunohost.

Pros

  • Comes through much more than 400 user SaaS apps to place
  • Discloses the majority of of the system installations on a unstained as well as minimalist interface
  • Runs on a smorgasbord of tools as well as systems

Downsides

  • Arrangements are not packed in isolated cylinders
  • Configuring the SaaS apps external its default arrangement can be arduous
  • Simply city-endorsed as well as embrace for prospective unhappiness can be hit or miss

5. HomelabOS

HomelabOS is a lightweight script that employs Docker as well as Ansible to vary a invariant Ubuntu LTS system into a service-loaded residence web server OS. It comes through about 100 self-hostable SaaS cylinders, arranging from criterion RSS site visitors such as FreshRSS to an entire Twitter duplicate like Pleroma.

That clarified, HomelabOS is designed for the Linux power user. It doesn’t come through its own control panel UI as well as it intends you to utilise the command line up to oversaw the entire system. This has everything from putting up HomelabOS’ installations to mounting as well as emitting its packages.

One suitabilities of this ideology, but, is it makes it possible for HomelabOS to seamlessly incorporate its components to your advice system. This permits you to utilise the tools that are currently obtainable on your host OS to oversaw HomelabOS’ solutions. For example, I can sprinted systemctl status organizr.service to check how my HomelabOS control panel is running.

A terminal affirming HomelabOS' systemctl selection for its control panel app.

An additional considerable service of HomelabOS is it can send out a secluded VPS to mien a “overturn proxy” for your city residence web server. This renders it easy to sprinted solutions at residence while still being able to schedule them once you’re on-the-go.

A terminal affirming Terraform. A utility that HomelabOS employs to panache Garrison VPN instances for NAT obstructed tools.

However, HomelabOS is not a irreproachable selection for everyone. Unconcerned from obtaining in touch with for nice terminal area of proficiency, HomelabOS needs a valid DNS record to sprinted accordingly. It’s prospective to bypass this priority by modifying your “/etc/hosts” paper but doing that can lead to prospective unhappiness for your solutions.

A sample of a DNS record affirming HomelabOS running on a tools through a public IPv4 address.

Pros

  • Comes through much more than 100 SaaS apps obtainable correct out of the box
  • Sells a deep assimilation through existent Linux tools
  • Can remotely send out a Wireguard VPS for NAT holepunching

Downsides

  • Dubs for respectable area of proficiency of the Linux command line up to sprinted accordingly
  • Dubs for a valid DNS record for compatibility through some SaaS apps
  • Presently under heavy innovation as well as can be subject to going versus parasites

Locating out some of the ideal tools that you can place on your residence web server is the first interfere experimenting what self-arranging can tote out for you. Dive head first into this deep as well as dreamy planet by making your own Google Drive by emitting ownCloud today.

Image economic debt: Vadim Sherbakov through Unsplash. Unanimously modifications as well as screenshots by Ramces Red.

3. StartOS

StartOS is a structured as well as minimalist residence web server OS based on Debian Linux. Advertising as well as marketing as well as marketing as well as marketing as well as marketing itself as a belvedere for “sovereign computing,” StartOS purchases a smorgasbord of apps that oversaw decentralized loan, self-all labeled records, as well as self-uploading.

A screenshot affirming a bet out veracities of StartOS running on my RHEL KVM.

Simply like through the previous two tools, StartOS adopts a “stand-like” interface to placement its obtainable SaaS apps. Installing these timetables are as easy as it can recover, simply obtaining in touch with for you to click the “Marketplace” genre as well as choosing the power that you pine to send out.

A screenshot affirming the Nextcloud stand page in the StartOS App Store front.

Having clarified that, StartOS has the slightest collection of SaaS apps that you can recover for a residence web server OS. As of iteration 0.3.5, I simply spotted 28 apps obtainable in its official fair. While all of these solutions are awfully high service, it might reject some users harming for much more.

A screenshot affirming a collection of SaaS apps in the StartOS App Store front.

One service that I spotted intriguing in StartOS is its ridiculously viable interface. It implements a terrific responsibility of posing all of its system consolidations, giving putting up as well as troubleshooting a gale. For instance, I can even oversaw the Origin CA for my StartOS instance enabling me to utilise HTTPS even in city networks.

A screenshot of the installations window for StartOS' Origin CA arrangement.

Aside from its little app fair, StartOS furthermore has a couple of downsides. To start with, StartOS currently doesn’t embrace 64-particle ARM cpus. This medians that the system will distinctly not sprinted on 64-particle simply SoCs such as the Raspberry Pi 5.

A screenshot stressing the Raspberry Pi 4 require for StartOS.

Second of all, StartOS is furthermore a particle arduous to place on x86 equipment. It calls for a minimum of 64 GB of disk void as well as 4 GB of system recollection. This can be a ghoulish hardship for users that pine to send out a affordable as well as low-profile residence web server.

Pros

  • Comes through a humble interface that proves every system placement obtainable
  • Utilises HTTPS by default for both city as well as secluded net relationships
  • SaaS apps are awfully easy to place through its created-in app stand

Downsides

  • Has an ridiculously little collection of formally sustained SaaS apps
  • Presently doesn’t embrace 64-particle ARM tools
  • Dubs for a minimum of 64 GB of disk void as well as 4GB of RAM to place accordingly

On a side tab: peeking for much more adaptability as well as power on your web server? Investigate out our picks on the optimal web server-concentrated Linux distros today.

4. Yunohost

Yunohost is a strong all-in-one residence web server OS designed for user users running on either low-powered equipment or virtualized tools. Launched in 2012, Yunohost gains every exertion to “match self-arranging” by presenting an easy-to-utilise interface for emitting as well as putting up unexceptional SaaS apps.

Out of all the residence web server OSes that I’ve tried, Yunohost ships through the the majority of SaaS apps obtainable on its fair. Presently, the system purchases over 400 user solutions that you can immediately place on your web server. These smorgasbord from humble media surveillance tools to entire performance systems.

A screenshot affirming a little collection of apps that are obtainable in the Yunohost App Store front.

Tantamount to StartOS, Yunohost furthermore purchases a humble interface that postures every placement obtainable to the web server. Contrasted to Umbrel as well as CasaOS, this renders the system less service to troubleshoot specifically for more current admins. For example, I was able to readily oversaw innumerable domains, panache backups, as well as check for prospective unhappiness making utility of Yunohost’s created-in medical diagnosis product.

A screenshot affirming the innovation window for Yunohost's medical diagnosis product.

To optimal it off, Yunohost is obtainable on almost all Linux-based systems. You can place it on an SoC such as the Raspberry Pi, an used x86 workstation, as well as even in a Debian-based VPS through its conversion script. This renders Yunohost one of the the majority of adaptable residence web server OS that you can recover today.

A console screenshot affirming the Yunohost conversion script running on Debian 12.

Having clarified that, one sizeable caution once running Yunohost is that it doesn’t utilise cylinders once emitting its SaaS apps. Instead, it relies on the host’s filesystem as well as UNIX approvals to make certain that there’s no battle between packages as well as dependencies.

A terminal affirming the textiles of the Yunohost system magazine.

The greatest downside of this ideology is that Yunohost doesn’t isolate its polymorphous solutions. While this diminishes the looming of the system, it furthermore renders the OS much more at hazard to system-wide exploits. Better, this containerless ideology furthermore it renders it sly to configure the SaaS apps external of its pre-exemplified config inside Yunohost.

Pros

  • Comes through much more than 400 user SaaS apps to place
  • Discloses the majority of of the system installations on a unstained as well as minimalist interface
  • Runs on a smorgasbord of tools as well as systems

Downsides

  • Arrangements are not packed in isolated cylinders
  • Configuring the SaaS apps external its default arrangement can be arduous
  • Simply city-endorsed as well as embrace for prospective unhappiness can be hit or miss

5. HomelabOS

HomelabOS is a lightweight script that employs Docker as well as Ansible to vary a invariant Ubuntu LTS system into a service-loaded residence web server OS. It comes through about 100 self-hostable SaaS cylinders, arranging from criterion RSS site visitors such as FreshRSS to an entire Twitter duplicate like Pleroma.

That clarified, HomelabOS is designed for the Linux power user. It doesn’t come through its own control panel UI as well as it intends you to utilise the command line up to oversaw the entire system. This has everything from putting up HomelabOS’ installations to mounting as well as emitting its packages.

One suitabilities of this ideology, but, is it makes it possible for HomelabOS to seamlessly incorporate its components to your advice system. This permits you to utilise the tools that are currently obtainable on your host OS to oversaw HomelabOS’ solutions. For example, I can sprinted systemctl status organizr.service to check how my HomelabOS control panel is running.

A terminal affirming HomelabOS' systemctl selection for its control panel app.

An additional considerable service of HomelabOS is it can send out a secluded VPS to mien a “overturn proxy” for your city residence web server. This renders it easy to sprinted solutions at residence while still being able to schedule them once you’re on-the-go.

A terminal affirming Terraform. A utility that HomelabOS employs to panache Garrison VPN instances for NAT obstructed tools.

However, HomelabOS is not a irreproachable selection for everyone. Unconcerned from obtaining in touch with for nice terminal area of proficiency, HomelabOS needs a valid DNS record to sprinted accordingly. It’s prospective to bypass this priority by modifying your “/etc/hosts” paper but doing that can lead to prospective unhappiness for your solutions.

A sample of a DNS record affirming HomelabOS running on a tools through a public IPv4 address.

Pros

  • Comes through much more than 100 SaaS apps obtainable correct out of the box
  • Sells a deep assimilation through existent Linux tools
  • Can remotely send out a Wireguard VPS for NAT holepunching

Downsides

  • Dubs for respectable area of proficiency of the Linux command line up to sprinted accordingly
  • Dubs for a valid DNS record for compatibility through some SaaS apps
  • Presently under heavy innovation as well as can be subject to going versus parasites

Locating out some of the ideal tools that you can place on your residence web server is the first interfere experimenting what self-arranging can tote out for you. Dive head first into this deep as well as dreamy planet by making your own Google Drive by emitting ownCloud today.

Image economic debt: Vadim Sherbakov through Unsplash. Unanimously modifications as well as screenshots by Ramces Red.

Downsides

  • Default SaaS apps in its created-in stand are lacking
  • Core system installations are unachievable from the CasaOS control panel
  • The terminal viewer is underwhelming as well as difficult to utilise

3. StartOS

StartOS is a structured as well as minimalist residence web server OS based on Debian Linux. Advertising as well as marketing as well as marketing as well as marketing as well as marketing itself as a belvedere for “sovereign computing,” StartOS purchases a smorgasbord of apps that oversaw decentralized loan, self-all labeled records, as well as self-uploading.

A screenshot affirming a bet out veracities of StartOS running on my RHEL KVM.

Simply like through the previous two tools, StartOS adopts a “stand-like” interface to placement its obtainable SaaS apps. Installing these timetables are as easy as it can recover, simply obtaining in touch with for you to click the “Marketplace” genre as well as choosing the power that you pine to send out.

A screenshot affirming the Nextcloud stand page in the StartOS App Store front.

Having clarified that, StartOS has the slightest collection of SaaS apps that you can recover for a residence web server OS. As of iteration 0.3.5, I simply spotted 28 apps obtainable in its official fair. While all of these solutions are awfully high service, it might reject some users harming for much more.

A screenshot affirming a collection of SaaS apps in the StartOS App Store front.

One service that I spotted intriguing in StartOS is its ridiculously viable interface. It implements a terrific responsibility of posing all of its system consolidations, giving putting up as well as troubleshooting a gale. For instance, I can even oversaw the Origin CA for my StartOS instance enabling me to utilise HTTPS even in city networks.

A screenshot of the installations window for StartOS' Origin CA arrangement.

Aside from its little app fair, StartOS furthermore has a couple of downsides. To start with, StartOS currently doesn’t embrace 64-particle ARM cpus. This medians that the system will distinctly not sprinted on 64-particle simply SoCs such as the Raspberry Pi 5.

A screenshot stressing the Raspberry Pi 4 require for StartOS.

Second of all, StartOS is furthermore a particle arduous to place on x86 equipment. It calls for a minimum of 64 GB of disk void as well as 4 GB of system recollection. This can be a ghoulish hardship for users that pine to send out a affordable as well as low-profile residence web server.

Pros

  • Comes through a humble interface that proves every system placement obtainable
  • Utilises HTTPS by default for both city as well as secluded net relationships
  • SaaS apps are awfully easy to place through its created-in app stand

Downsides

  • Has an ridiculously little collection of formally sustained SaaS apps
  • Presently doesn’t embrace 64-particle ARM tools
  • Dubs for a minimum of 64 GB of disk void as well as 4GB of RAM to place accordingly

On a side tab: peeking for much more adaptability as well as power on your web server? Investigate out our picks on the optimal web server-concentrated Linux distros today.

4. Yunohost

Yunohost is a strong all-in-one residence web server OS designed for user users running on either low-powered equipment or virtualized tools. Launched in 2012, Yunohost gains every exertion to “match self-arranging” by presenting an easy-to-utilise interface for emitting as well as putting up unexceptional SaaS apps.

Out of all the residence web server OSes that I’ve tried, Yunohost ships through the the majority of SaaS apps obtainable on its fair. Presently, the system purchases over 400 user solutions that you can immediately place on your web server. These smorgasbord from humble media surveillance tools to entire performance systems.

A screenshot affirming a little collection of apps that are obtainable in the Yunohost App Store front.

Tantamount to StartOS, Yunohost furthermore purchases a humble interface that postures every placement obtainable to the web server. Contrasted to Umbrel as well as CasaOS, this renders the system less service to troubleshoot specifically for more current admins. For example, I was able to readily oversaw innumerable domains, panache backups, as well as check for prospective unhappiness making utility of Yunohost’s created-in medical diagnosis product.

A screenshot affirming the innovation window for Yunohost's medical diagnosis product.

To optimal it off, Yunohost is obtainable on almost all Linux-based systems. You can place it on an SoC such as the Raspberry Pi, an used x86 workstation, as well as even in a Debian-based VPS through its conversion script. This renders Yunohost one of the the majority of adaptable residence web server OS that you can recover today.

A console screenshot affirming the Yunohost conversion script running on Debian 12.

Having clarified that, one sizeable caution once running Yunohost is that it doesn’t utilise cylinders once emitting its SaaS apps. Instead, it relies on the host’s filesystem as well as UNIX approvals to make certain that there’s no battle between packages as well as dependencies.

A terminal affirming the textiles of the Yunohost system magazine.

The greatest downside of this ideology is that Yunohost doesn’t isolate its polymorphous solutions. While this diminishes the looming of the system, it furthermore renders the OS much more at hazard to system-wide exploits. Better, this containerless ideology furthermore it renders it sly to configure the SaaS apps external of its pre-exemplified config inside Yunohost.

Pros

  • Comes through much more than 400 user SaaS apps to place
  • Discloses the majority of of the system installations on a unstained as well as minimalist interface
  • Runs on a smorgasbord of tools as well as systems

Downsides

  • Arrangements are not packed in isolated cylinders
  • Configuring the SaaS apps external its default arrangement can be arduous
  • Simply city-endorsed as well as embrace for prospective unhappiness can be hit or miss

5. HomelabOS

HomelabOS is a lightweight script that employs Docker as well as Ansible to vary a invariant Ubuntu LTS system into a service-loaded residence web server OS. It comes through about 100 self-hostable SaaS cylinders, arranging from criterion RSS site visitors such as FreshRSS to an entire Twitter duplicate like Pleroma.

That clarified, HomelabOS is designed for the Linux power user. It doesn’t come through its own control panel UI as well as it intends you to utilise the command line up to oversaw the entire system. This has everything from putting up HomelabOS’ installations to mounting as well as emitting its packages.

One suitabilities of this ideology, but, is it makes it possible for HomelabOS to seamlessly incorporate its components to your advice system. This permits you to utilise the tools that are currently obtainable on your host OS to oversaw HomelabOS’ solutions. For example, I can sprinted systemctl status organizr.service to check how my HomelabOS control panel is running.

A terminal affirming HomelabOS' systemctl selection for its control panel app.

An additional considerable service of HomelabOS is it can send out a secluded VPS to mien a “overturn proxy” for your city residence web server. This renders it easy to sprinted solutions at residence while still being able to schedule them once you’re on-the-go.

A terminal affirming Terraform. A utility that HomelabOS employs to panache Garrison VPN instances for NAT obstructed tools.

However, HomelabOS is not a irreproachable selection for everyone. Unconcerned from obtaining in touch with for nice terminal area of proficiency, HomelabOS needs a valid DNS record to sprinted accordingly. It’s prospective to bypass this priority by modifying your “/etc/hosts” paper but doing that can lead to prospective unhappiness for your solutions.

A sample of a DNS record affirming HomelabOS running on a tools through a public IPv4 address.

Pros

  • Comes through much more than 100 SaaS apps obtainable correct out of the box
  • Sells a deep assimilation through existent Linux tools
  • Can remotely send out a Wireguard VPS for NAT holepunching

Downsides

  • Dubs for respectable area of proficiency of the Linux command line up to sprinted accordingly
  • Dubs for a valid DNS record for compatibility through some SaaS apps
  • Presently under heavy innovation as well as can be subject to going versus parasites

Locating out some of the ideal tools that you can place on your residence web server is the first interfere experimenting what self-arranging can tote out for you. Dive head first into this deep as well as dreamy planet by making your own Google Drive by emitting ownCloud today.

Image economic debt: Vadim Sherbakov through Unsplash. Unanimously modifications as well as screenshots by Ramces Red.

Good to realise: the Raspberry Pi is furthermore nice for day-to-day work. Detect out how a other columnist revolved his Pi into a performance huge.

2. CasaOS

CasaOS is a lightweight residence web server OS for x86 as well as ARM-based tools. Dissimilar Umbrel, it’s an overlay system that sits on optimal of an existent Linux installation. This medians you can sprinted CasaOS on almost any Linux-based system as well as recover unchanged escapade every time.

A screenshot affirming the control panel for CasaOS.

CasaOS comes through a created-in stand that simplifies the installation of its SaaS apps. Tantamount to Umbrel, it has a “one-click” place means as well as putting up these apps are furthermore as humble as correct clicking them on the control panel. For instance, I was able to place NextCloud on CasaOS by clicking its icon on the app stand.

A screenshot affirming the Nextcloud stand page for the CasaOS App Store front.

That clarified, one downside of CasaOS is that it doesn’t have a play filthy of prebuilt apps on its app stand. While the system can place as well as sprinted tradition Docker images, this can be an priority if you pine a “turnkey” selection for your residence web server. Personally, I still like CasaOS’ tradition cylinders service because it permits me to sprinted my relating niche Docker apps without entering the command line up.

A screenshot affirming the tradition Docker kind for CasaOS.

An additional disparaging aspect of CasaOS is that it’s not prospective to schedule the installations of its underlying distro from the system’s control panel. This renders it sly to readjust any system config external of CasaOS, giving it a miniscule particle arduous to troubleshoot unhappiness that snag place on the OS extent.

A screenshot affirming the created-in terminal window for CasaOS.

Pros

  • Can sprinted on optimal of an existent Linux installation
  • Allows for tradition Docker images
  • Can sprinted certainly on an SD card once deployed on an SoC

Downsides

  • Default SaaS apps in its created-in stand are lacking
  • Core system installations are unachievable from the CasaOS control panel
  • The terminal viewer is underwhelming as well as difficult to utilise

3. StartOS

StartOS is a structured as well as minimalist residence web server OS based on Debian Linux. Advertising as well as marketing as well as marketing as well as marketing as well as marketing itself as a belvedere for “sovereign computing,” StartOS purchases a smorgasbord of apps that oversaw decentralized loan, self-all labeled records, as well as self-uploading.

A screenshot affirming a bet out veracities of StartOS running on my RHEL KVM.

Simply like through the previous two tools, StartOS adopts a “stand-like” interface to placement its obtainable SaaS apps. Installing these timetables are as easy as it can recover, simply obtaining in touch with for you to click the “Marketplace” genre as well as choosing the power that you pine to send out.

A screenshot affirming the Nextcloud stand page in the StartOS App Store front.

Having clarified that, StartOS has the slightest collection of SaaS apps that you can recover for a residence web server OS. As of iteration 0.3.5, I simply spotted 28 apps obtainable in its official fair. While all of these solutions are awfully high service, it might reject some users harming for much more.

A screenshot affirming a collection of SaaS apps in the StartOS App Store front.

One service that I spotted intriguing in StartOS is its ridiculously viable interface. It implements a terrific responsibility of posing all of its system consolidations, giving putting up as well as troubleshooting a gale. For instance, I can even oversaw the Origin CA for my StartOS instance enabling me to utilise HTTPS even in city networks.

A screenshot of the installations window for StartOS' Origin CA arrangement.

Aside from its little app fair, StartOS furthermore has a couple of downsides. To start with, StartOS currently doesn’t embrace 64-particle ARM cpus. This medians that the system will distinctly not sprinted on 64-particle simply SoCs such as the Raspberry Pi 5.

A screenshot stressing the Raspberry Pi 4 require for StartOS.

Second of all, StartOS is furthermore a particle arduous to place on x86 equipment. It calls for a minimum of 64 GB of disk void as well as 4 GB of system recollection. This can be a ghoulish hardship for users that pine to send out a affordable as well as low-profile residence web server.

Pros

  • Comes through a humble interface that proves every system placement obtainable
  • Utilises HTTPS by default for both city as well as secluded net relationships
  • SaaS apps are awfully easy to place through its created-in app stand

Downsides

  • Has an ridiculously little collection of formally sustained SaaS apps
  • Presently doesn’t embrace 64-particle ARM tools
  • Dubs for a minimum of 64 GB of disk void as well as 4GB of RAM to place accordingly

On a side tab: peeking for much more adaptability as well as power on your web server? Investigate out our picks on the optimal web server-concentrated Linux distros today.

4. Yunohost

Yunohost is a strong all-in-one residence web server OS designed for user users running on either low-powered equipment or virtualized tools. Launched in 2012, Yunohost gains every exertion to “match self-arranging” by presenting an easy-to-utilise interface for emitting as well as putting up unexceptional SaaS apps.

Out of all the residence web server OSes that I’ve tried, Yunohost ships through the the majority of SaaS apps obtainable on its fair. Presently, the system purchases over 400 user solutions that you can immediately place on your web server. These smorgasbord from humble media surveillance tools to entire performance systems.

A screenshot affirming a little collection of apps that are obtainable in the Yunohost App Store front.

Tantamount to StartOS, Yunohost furthermore purchases a humble interface that postures every placement obtainable to the web server. Contrasted to Umbrel as well as CasaOS, this renders the system less service to troubleshoot specifically for more current admins. For example, I was able to readily oversaw innumerable domains, panache backups, as well as check for prospective unhappiness making utility of Yunohost’s created-in medical diagnosis product.

A screenshot affirming the innovation window for Yunohost's medical diagnosis product.

To optimal it off, Yunohost is obtainable on almost all Linux-based systems. You can place it on an SoC such as the Raspberry Pi, an used x86 workstation, as well as even in a Debian-based VPS through its conversion script. This renders Yunohost one of the the majority of adaptable residence web server OS that you can recover today.

A console screenshot affirming the Yunohost conversion script running on Debian 12.

Having clarified that, one sizeable caution once running Yunohost is that it doesn’t utilise cylinders once emitting its SaaS apps. Instead, it relies on the host’s filesystem as well as UNIX approvals to make certain that there’s no battle between packages as well as dependencies.

A terminal affirming the textiles of the Yunohost system magazine.

The greatest downside of this ideology is that Yunohost doesn’t isolate its polymorphous solutions. While this diminishes the looming of the system, it furthermore renders the OS much more at hazard to system-wide exploits. Better, this containerless ideology furthermore it renders it sly to configure the SaaS apps external of its pre-exemplified config inside Yunohost.

Pros

  • Comes through much more than 400 user SaaS apps to place
  • Discloses the majority of of the system installations on a unstained as well as minimalist interface
  • Runs on a smorgasbord of tools as well as systems

Downsides

  • Arrangements are not packed in isolated cylinders
  • Configuring the SaaS apps external its default arrangement can be arduous
  • Simply city-endorsed as well as embrace for prospective unhappiness can be hit or miss

5. HomelabOS

HomelabOS is a lightweight script that employs Docker as well as Ansible to vary a invariant Ubuntu LTS system into a service-loaded residence web server OS. It comes through about 100 self-hostable SaaS cylinders, arranging from criterion RSS site visitors such as FreshRSS to an entire Twitter duplicate like Pleroma.

That clarified, HomelabOS is designed for the Linux power user. It doesn’t come through its own control panel UI as well as it intends you to utilise the command line up to oversaw the entire system. This has everything from putting up HomelabOS’ installations to mounting as well as emitting its packages.

One suitabilities of this ideology, but, is it makes it possible for HomelabOS to seamlessly incorporate its components to your advice system. This permits you to utilise the tools that are currently obtainable on your host OS to oversaw HomelabOS’ solutions. For example, I can sprinted systemctl status organizr.service to check how my HomelabOS control panel is running.

A terminal affirming HomelabOS' systemctl selection for its control panel app.

An additional considerable service of HomelabOS is it can send out a secluded VPS to mien a “overturn proxy” for your city residence web server. This renders it easy to sprinted solutions at residence while still being able to schedule them once you’re on-the-go.

A terminal affirming Terraform. A utility that HomelabOS employs to panache Garrison VPN instances for NAT obstructed tools.

However, HomelabOS is not a irreproachable selection for everyone. Unconcerned from obtaining in touch with for nice terminal area of proficiency, HomelabOS needs a valid DNS record to sprinted accordingly. It’s prospective to bypass this priority by modifying your “/etc/hosts” paper but doing that can lead to prospective unhappiness for your solutions.

A sample of a DNS record affirming HomelabOS running on a tools through a public IPv4 address.

Pros

  • Comes through much more than 100 SaaS apps obtainable correct out of the box
  • Sells a deep assimilation through existent Linux tools
  • Can remotely send out a Wireguard VPS for NAT holepunching

Downsides

  • Dubs for respectable area of proficiency of the Linux command line up to sprinted accordingly
  • Dubs for a valid DNS record for compatibility through some SaaS apps
  • Presently under heavy innovation as well as can be subject to going versus parasites

Locating out some of the ideal tools that you can place on your residence web server is the first interfere experimenting what self-arranging can tote out for you. Dive head first into this deep as well as dreamy planet by making your own Google Drive by emitting ownCloud today.

Image economic debt: Vadim Sherbakov through Unsplash. Unanimously modifications as well as screenshots by Ramces Red.

Downsides

  • Dubs for an external drive to work on a Raspberry Pi
  • Can be limiting to a much more seasoned web server admin
  • Deficiency of easy terminal schedule renders the system harder to troubleshoot

Good to realise: the Raspberry Pi is furthermore nice for day-to-day work. Detect out how a other columnist revolved his Pi into a performance huge.

2. CasaOS

CasaOS is a lightweight residence web server OS for x86 as well as ARM-based tools. Dissimilar Umbrel, it’s an overlay system that sits on optimal of an existent Linux installation. This medians you can sprinted CasaOS on almost any Linux-based system as well as recover unchanged escapade every time.

A screenshot affirming the control panel for CasaOS.

CasaOS comes through a created-in stand that simplifies the installation of its SaaS apps. Tantamount to Umbrel, it has a “one-click” place means as well as putting up these apps are furthermore as humble as correct clicking them on the control panel. For instance, I was able to place NextCloud on CasaOS by clicking its icon on the app stand.

A screenshot affirming the Nextcloud stand page for the CasaOS App Store front.

That clarified, one downside of CasaOS is that it doesn’t have a play filthy of prebuilt apps on its app stand. While the system can place as well as sprinted tradition Docker images, this can be an priority if you pine a “turnkey” selection for your residence web server. Personally, I still like CasaOS’ tradition cylinders service because it permits me to sprinted my relating niche Docker apps without entering the command line up.

A screenshot affirming the tradition Docker kind for CasaOS.

An additional disparaging aspect of CasaOS is that it’s not prospective to schedule the installations of its underlying distro from the system’s control panel. This renders it sly to readjust any system config external of CasaOS, giving it a miniscule particle arduous to troubleshoot unhappiness that snag place on the OS extent.

A screenshot affirming the created-in terminal window for CasaOS.

Pros

  • Can sprinted on optimal of an existent Linux installation
  • Allows for tradition Docker images
  • Can sprinted certainly on an SD card once deployed on an SoC

Downsides

  • Default SaaS apps in its created-in stand are lacking
  • Core system installations are unachievable from the CasaOS control panel
  • The terminal viewer is underwhelming as well as difficult to utilise

3. StartOS

StartOS is a structured as well as minimalist residence web server OS based on Debian Linux. Advertising as well as marketing as well as marketing as well as marketing as well as marketing itself as a belvedere for “sovereign computing,” StartOS purchases a smorgasbord of apps that oversaw decentralized loan, self-all labeled records, as well as self-uploading.

A screenshot affirming a bet out veracities of StartOS running on my RHEL KVM.

Simply like through the previous two tools, StartOS adopts a “stand-like” interface to placement its obtainable SaaS apps. Installing these timetables are as easy as it can recover, simply obtaining in touch with for you to click the “Marketplace” genre as well as choosing the power that you pine to send out.

A screenshot affirming the Nextcloud stand page in the StartOS App Store front.

Having clarified that, StartOS has the slightest collection of SaaS apps that you can recover for a residence web server OS. As of iteration 0.3.5, I simply spotted 28 apps obtainable in its official fair. While all of these solutions are awfully high service, it might reject some users harming for much more.

A screenshot affirming a collection of SaaS apps in the StartOS App Store front.

One service that I spotted intriguing in StartOS is its ridiculously viable interface. It implements a terrific responsibility of posing all of its system consolidations, giving putting up as well as troubleshooting a gale. For instance, I can even oversaw the Origin CA for my StartOS instance enabling me to utilise HTTPS even in city networks.

A screenshot of the installations window for StartOS' Origin CA arrangement.

Aside from its little app fair, StartOS furthermore has a couple of downsides. To start with, StartOS currently doesn’t embrace 64-particle ARM cpus. This medians that the system will distinctly not sprinted on 64-particle simply SoCs such as the Raspberry Pi 5.

A screenshot stressing the Raspberry Pi 4 require for StartOS.

Second of all, StartOS is furthermore a particle arduous to place on x86 equipment. It calls for a minimum of 64 GB of disk void as well as 4 GB of system recollection. This can be a ghoulish hardship for users that pine to send out a affordable as well as low-profile residence web server.

Pros

  • Comes through a humble interface that proves every system placement obtainable
  • Utilises HTTPS by default for both city as well as secluded net relationships
  • SaaS apps are awfully easy to place through its created-in app stand

Downsides

  • Has an ridiculously little collection of formally sustained SaaS apps
  • Presently doesn’t embrace 64-particle ARM tools
  • Dubs for a minimum of 64 GB of disk void as well as 4GB of RAM to place accordingly

On a side tab: peeking for much more adaptability as well as power on your web server? Investigate out our picks on the optimal web server-concentrated Linux distros today.

4. Yunohost

Yunohost is a strong all-in-one residence web server OS designed for user users running on either low-powered equipment or virtualized tools. Launched in 2012, Yunohost gains every exertion to “match self-arranging” by presenting an easy-to-utilise interface for emitting as well as putting up unexceptional SaaS apps.

Out of all the residence web server OSes that I’ve tried, Yunohost ships through the the majority of SaaS apps obtainable on its fair. Presently, the system purchases over 400 user solutions that you can immediately place on your web server. These smorgasbord from humble media surveillance tools to entire performance systems.

A screenshot affirming a little collection of apps that are obtainable in the Yunohost App Store front.

Tantamount to StartOS, Yunohost furthermore purchases a humble interface that postures every placement obtainable to the web server. Contrasted to Umbrel as well as CasaOS, this renders the system less service to troubleshoot specifically for more current admins. For example, I was able to readily oversaw innumerable domains, panache backups, as well as check for prospective unhappiness making utility of Yunohost’s created-in medical diagnosis product.

A screenshot affirming the innovation window for Yunohost's medical diagnosis product.

To optimal it off, Yunohost is obtainable on almost all Linux-based systems. You can place it on an SoC such as the Raspberry Pi, an used x86 workstation, as well as even in a Debian-based VPS through its conversion script. This renders Yunohost one of the the majority of adaptable residence web server OS that you can recover today.

A console screenshot affirming the Yunohost conversion script running on Debian 12.

Having clarified that, one sizeable caution once running Yunohost is that it doesn’t utilise cylinders once emitting its SaaS apps. Instead, it relies on the host’s filesystem as well as UNIX approvals to make certain that there’s no battle between packages as well as dependencies.

A terminal affirming the textiles of the Yunohost system magazine.

The greatest downside of this ideology is that Yunohost doesn’t isolate its polymorphous solutions. While this diminishes the looming of the system, it furthermore renders the OS much more at hazard to system-wide exploits. Better, this containerless ideology furthermore it renders it sly to configure the SaaS apps external of its pre-exemplified config inside Yunohost.

Pros

  • Comes through much more than 400 user SaaS apps to place
  • Discloses the majority of of the system installations on a unstained as well as minimalist interface
  • Runs on a smorgasbord of tools as well as systems

Downsides

  • Arrangements are not packed in isolated cylinders
  • Configuring the SaaS apps external its default arrangement can be arduous
  • Simply city-endorsed as well as embrace for prospective unhappiness can be hit or miss

5. HomelabOS

HomelabOS is a lightweight script that employs Docker as well as Ansible to vary a invariant Ubuntu LTS system into a service-loaded residence web server OS. It comes through about 100 self-hostable SaaS cylinders, arranging from criterion RSS site visitors such as FreshRSS to an entire Twitter duplicate like Pleroma.

That clarified, HomelabOS is designed for the Linux power user. It doesn’t come through its own control panel UI as well as it intends you to utilise the command line up to oversaw the entire system. This has everything from putting up HomelabOS’ installations to mounting as well as emitting its packages.

One suitabilities of this ideology, but, is it makes it possible for HomelabOS to seamlessly incorporate its components to your advice system. This permits you to utilise the tools that are currently obtainable on your host OS to oversaw HomelabOS’ solutions. For example, I can sprinted systemctl status organizr.service to check how my HomelabOS control panel is running.

A terminal affirming HomelabOS' systemctl selection for its control panel app.

An additional considerable service of HomelabOS is it can send out a secluded VPS to mien a “overturn proxy” for your city residence web server. This renders it easy to sprinted solutions at residence while still being able to schedule them once you’re on-the-go.

A terminal affirming Terraform. A utility that HomelabOS employs to panache Garrison VPN instances for NAT obstructed tools.

However, HomelabOS is not a irreproachable selection for everyone. Unconcerned from obtaining in touch with for nice terminal area of proficiency, HomelabOS needs a valid DNS record to sprinted accordingly. It’s prospective to bypass this priority by modifying your “/etc/hosts” paper but doing that can lead to prospective unhappiness for your solutions.

A sample of a DNS record affirming HomelabOS running on a tools through a public IPv4 address.

Pros

  • Comes through much more than 100 SaaS apps obtainable correct out of the box
  • Sells a deep assimilation through existent Linux tools
  • Can remotely send out a Wireguard VPS for NAT holepunching

Downsides

  • Dubs for respectable area of proficiency of the Linux command line up to sprinted accordingly
  • Dubs for a valid DNS record for compatibility through some SaaS apps
  • Presently under heavy innovation as well as can be subject to going versus parasites

Locating out some of the ideal tools that you can place on your residence web server is the first interfere experimenting what self-arranging can tote out for you. Dive head first into this deep as well as dreamy planet by making your own Google Drive by emitting ownCloud today.

Image economic debt: Vadim Sherbakov through Unsplash. Unanimously modifications as well as screenshots by Ramces Red.

The Best Home Server OS For Your Self-hosted Apps

A photograph of a residence office arrangement through two handles on optimal of a workdesk.

Personal as well as Residence Servers are matchless operating tools (OSes) that supply a structured means of emitting apps as well as solutions over a network. Dissimilar a barebone Linux web server in which you have to tote out your own arrangement, these residence web server OSes supply a confidence between relieve of utilise as well as adaptability, giving them a terrific emitting point for users to prelude their residence web server. In this write-up, I will distinctly go through the optimal five Personal as well as Residence Web server OSes that you can place today.

Web content
  • Why Is Residence Web server OS More detailed Than Linux
  • 1. Umbrel
  • 2. CasaOS
  • 3. StartOS
  • 4. Yunohost
  • 5. HomelabOS

Why Is Residence Web server OS More detailed Than Linux

At its core, residence web server OSes are purpose-created tools that allow you to readily place 3rd-party self-all labeled apps on your residence web server. While the majority of of these OSes utilise Linux below, they furthermore come through some payoffs contrasted to your ordinary marginal distro.

Initially, residence web server OSes are universally designed as well as maximized for low-powered tools such as the Raspberry Pi. As a outcome, these tools periodically consume much less power contrasted to an used repurposed workstation. Pondering that a residence web server runs 24/7, this permits you to conserve on electrical power spendings over time.

A screenshot affirming the reside statistics for Umbrel running on a Raspberry Pi 5.

Second, residence web server OSes come through tools such as Docker as well as Ansible that supply it easy to sprinted 3rd-party web server apps. Some tools even supply a control panel display that solicits rid of the have to attach through the command line up. This, in turn, renders residence web server OSes a play filthy much more user cordial than a invariant web server Linux distro.

A screenshot affirming the control panel for Yunohost.

Last but not least, the majority of residence web server OSes periodically checkup the web server apps that they deal on their created-in storefronts. Dissimilar a invariant marginal Linux distro, this confers you the guarantee that anything you send out on your residence web server will distinctly sprinted without any major unhappiness.

FYI: peeking to reuse your used workstation boxes? Investigate out of the some ideal lightweight Linux distros that can sprinted on used tools.

1. Umbrel

Umbrel is a Debian-based residence web server OS through a deep emphasis on decentralized apps as well as cryptocurrencies. While it’s designed for Tool-On-A-Chip (SoC) tools like the Raspberry Pi, the designers furthermore supply an ISO for bare steel as well as hypervisor installations.

One point that I like about Umbrel is its intuitive ideology to everything. Umbrel has one of the the majority of structured onboarding procedures I’ve encountered on a residence web server OS. It’s ridiculously easy to utilise as well as placement it up doesn’t require any geeky realise-how through Linux.

A screenshot affirming the onboarding means for Umbrel.

Umbrel purchases a considerable collection of 3rd-party SaaS apps that smorgasbord from a cloud office suite to a full Bitcoin node. The system furthermore renders it straightforward to place as well as configure these applications through its Umbrel Store front. For example, I can readily send out a NextCloud instance by simply clicking a single switch on Umbrel’s control panel.

A screenshot affirming the stand page for Nextcloud in the Umbrel App Store front.

One agony point that I encountered while making utility of Umbrel is that it doesn’t have a aggravation-free means of accessing the system’s command line up. This can supply the OS harder to troubleshoot for much more paramount unhappiness down the line up. Better, running Umbrel on an SoC calls for an external difficult drive, augmenting the expenditure of keeping the OS in the long sprinted.

A screenshot affirming the control panel for Umbrel along through my Raspberry Pi's installations.

Pros

  • Highly intuitive interface as well as onboarding means
  • Oversized collection of SaaS apps that perfuse criterion office tools to decentralized loan
  • The web server apps doesn’t require any setup as well as runs correct out of the box

Downsides

  • Dubs for an external drive to work on a Raspberry Pi
  • Can be limiting to a much more seasoned web server admin
  • Deficiency of easy terminal schedule renders the system harder to troubleshoot

Good to realise: the Raspberry Pi is furthermore nice for day-to-day work. Detect out how a other columnist revolved his Pi into a performance huge.

2. CasaOS

CasaOS is a lightweight residence web server OS for x86 as well as ARM-based tools. Dissimilar Umbrel, it’s an overlay system that sits on optimal of an existent Linux installation. This medians you can sprinted CasaOS on almost any Linux-based system as well as recover unchanged escapade every time.

A screenshot affirming the control panel for CasaOS.

CasaOS comes through a created-in stand that simplifies the installation of its SaaS apps. Tantamount to Umbrel, it has a “one-click” place means as well as putting up these apps are furthermore as humble as correct clicking them on the control panel. For instance, I was able to place NextCloud on CasaOS by clicking its icon on the app stand.

A screenshot affirming the Nextcloud stand page for the CasaOS App Store front.

That clarified, one downside of CasaOS is that it doesn’t have a play filthy of prebuilt apps on its app stand. While the system can place as well as sprinted tradition Docker images, this can be an priority if you pine a “turnkey” selection for your residence web server. Personally, I still like CasaOS’ tradition cylinders service because it permits me to sprinted my relating niche Docker apps without entering the command line up.

A screenshot affirming the tradition Docker kind for CasaOS.

An additional disparaging aspect of CasaOS is that it’s not prospective to schedule the installations of its underlying distro from the system’s control panel. This renders it sly to readjust any system config external of CasaOS, giving it a miniscule particle arduous to troubleshoot unhappiness that snag place on the OS extent.

A screenshot affirming the created-in terminal window for CasaOS.

Pros

  • Can sprinted on optimal of an existent Linux installation
  • Allows for tradition Docker images
  • Can sprinted certainly on an SD card once deployed on an SoC

Downsides

  • Default SaaS apps in its created-in stand are lacking
  • Core system installations are unachievable from the CasaOS control panel
  • The terminal viewer is underwhelming as well as difficult to utilise

3. StartOS

StartOS is a structured as well as minimalist residence web server OS based on Debian Linux. Advertising as well as marketing as well as marketing as well as marketing as well as marketing itself as a belvedere for “sovereign computing,” StartOS purchases a smorgasbord of apps that oversaw decentralized loan, self-all labeled records, as well as self-uploading.

A screenshot affirming a bet out veracities of StartOS running on my RHEL KVM.

Simply like through the previous two tools, StartOS adopts a “stand-like” interface to placement its obtainable SaaS apps. Installing these timetables are as easy as it can recover, simply obtaining in touch with for you to click the “Marketplace” genre as well as choosing the power that you pine to send out.

A screenshot affirming the Nextcloud stand page in the StartOS App Store front.

Having clarified that, StartOS has the slightest collection of SaaS apps that you can recover for a residence web server OS. As of iteration 0.3.5, I simply spotted 28 apps obtainable in its official fair. While all of these solutions are awfully high service, it might reject some users harming for much more.

A screenshot affirming a collection of SaaS apps in the StartOS App Store front.

One service that I spotted intriguing in StartOS is its ridiculously viable interface. It implements a terrific responsibility of posing all of its system consolidations, giving putting up as well as troubleshooting a gale. For instance, I can even oversaw the Origin CA for my StartOS instance enabling me to utilise HTTPS even in city networks.

A screenshot of the installations window for StartOS' Origin CA arrangement.

Aside from its little app fair, StartOS furthermore has a couple of downsides. To start with, StartOS currently doesn’t embrace 64-particle ARM cpus. This medians that the system will distinctly not sprinted on 64-particle simply SoCs such as the Raspberry Pi 5.

A screenshot stressing the Raspberry Pi 4 require for StartOS.

Second of all, StartOS is furthermore a particle arduous to place on x86 equipment. It calls for a minimum of 64 GB of disk void as well as 4 GB of system recollection. This can be a ghoulish hardship for users that pine to send out a affordable as well as low-profile residence web server.

Pros

  • Comes through a humble interface that proves every system placement obtainable
  • Utilises HTTPS by default for both city as well as secluded net relationships
  • SaaS apps are awfully easy to place through its created-in app stand

Downsides

  • Has an ridiculously little collection of formally sustained SaaS apps
  • Presently doesn’t embrace 64-particle ARM tools
  • Dubs for a minimum of 64 GB of disk void as well as 4GB of RAM to place accordingly

On a side tab: peeking for much more adaptability as well as power on your web server? Investigate out our picks on the optimal web server-concentrated Linux distros today.

4. Yunohost

Yunohost is a strong all-in-one residence web server OS designed for user users running on either low-powered equipment or virtualized tools. Launched in 2012, Yunohost gains every exertion to “match self-arranging” by presenting an easy-to-utilise interface for emitting as well as putting up unexceptional SaaS apps.

Out of all the residence web server OSes that I’ve tried, Yunohost ships through the the majority of SaaS apps obtainable on its fair. Presently, the system purchases over 400 user solutions that you can immediately place on your web server. These smorgasbord from humble media surveillance tools to entire performance systems.

A screenshot affirming a little collection of apps that are obtainable in the Yunohost App Store front.

Tantamount to StartOS, Yunohost furthermore purchases a humble interface that postures every placement obtainable to the web server. Contrasted to Umbrel as well as CasaOS, this renders the system less service to troubleshoot specifically for more current admins. For example, I was able to readily oversaw innumerable domains, panache backups, as well as check for prospective unhappiness making utility of Yunohost’s created-in medical diagnosis product.

A screenshot affirming the innovation window for Yunohost's medical diagnosis product.

To optimal it off, Yunohost is obtainable on almost all Linux-based systems. You can place it on an SoC such as the Raspberry Pi, an used x86 workstation, as well as even in a Debian-based VPS through its conversion script. This renders Yunohost one of the the majority of adaptable residence web server OS that you can recover today.

A console screenshot affirming the Yunohost conversion script running on Debian 12.

Having clarified that, one sizeable caution once running Yunohost is that it doesn’t utilise cylinders once emitting its SaaS apps. Instead, it relies on the host’s filesystem as well as UNIX approvals to make certain that there’s no battle between packages as well as dependencies.

A terminal affirming the textiles of the Yunohost system magazine.

The greatest downside of this ideology is that Yunohost doesn’t isolate its polymorphous solutions. While this diminishes the looming of the system, it furthermore renders the OS much more at hazard to system-wide exploits. Better, this containerless ideology furthermore it renders it sly to configure the SaaS apps external of its pre-exemplified config inside Yunohost.

Pros

  • Comes through much more than 400 user SaaS apps to place
  • Discloses the majority of of the system installations on a unstained as well as minimalist interface
  • Runs on a smorgasbord of tools as well as systems

Downsides

  • Arrangements are not packed in isolated cylinders
  • Configuring the SaaS apps external its default arrangement can be arduous
  • Simply city-endorsed as well as embrace for prospective unhappiness can be hit or miss

5. HomelabOS

HomelabOS is a lightweight script that employs Docker as well as Ansible to vary a invariant Ubuntu LTS system into a service-loaded residence web server OS. It comes through about 100 self-hostable SaaS cylinders, arranging from criterion RSS site visitors such as FreshRSS to an entire Twitter duplicate like Pleroma.

That clarified, HomelabOS is designed for the Linux power user. It doesn’t come through its own control panel UI as well as it intends you to utilise the command line up to oversaw the entire system. This has everything from putting up HomelabOS’ installations to mounting as well as emitting its packages.

One suitabilities of this ideology, but, is it makes it possible for HomelabOS to seamlessly incorporate its components to your advice system. This permits you to utilise the tools that are currently obtainable on your host OS to oversaw HomelabOS’ solutions. For example, I can sprinted systemctl status organizr.service to check how my HomelabOS control panel is running.

A terminal affirming HomelabOS' systemctl selection for its control panel app.

An additional considerable service of HomelabOS is it can send out a secluded VPS to mien a “overturn proxy” for your city residence web server. This renders it easy to sprinted solutions at residence while still being able to schedule them once you’re on-the-go.

A terminal affirming Terraform. A utility that HomelabOS employs to panache Garrison VPN instances for NAT obstructed tools.

However, HomelabOS is not a irreproachable selection for everyone. Unconcerned from obtaining in touch with for nice terminal area of proficiency, HomelabOS needs a valid DNS record to sprinted accordingly. It’s prospective to bypass this priority by modifying your “/etc/hosts” paper but doing that can lead to prospective unhappiness for your solutions.

A sample of a DNS record affirming HomelabOS running on a tools through a public IPv4 address.

Pros

  • Comes through much more than 100 SaaS apps obtainable correct out of the box
  • Sells a deep assimilation through existent Linux tools
  • Can remotely send out a Wireguard VPS for NAT holepunching

Downsides

  • Dubs for respectable area of proficiency of the Linux command line up to sprinted accordingly
  • Dubs for a valid DNS record for compatibility through some SaaS apps
  • Presently under heavy innovation as well as can be subject to going versus parasites

Locating out some of the ideal tools that you can place on your residence web server is the first interfere experimenting what self-arranging can tote out for you. Dive head first into this deep as well as dreamy planet by making your own Google Drive by emitting ownCloud today.

Image economic debt: Vadim Sherbakov through Unsplash. Unanimously modifications as well as screenshots by Ramces Red.

The Best Home Server OS For Your Self-hosted Apps

A photograph of a residence office arrangement through two handles on optimal of a workdesk.

Personal as well as Residence Servers are matchless operating tools (OSes) that supply a structured means of emitting apps as well as solutions over a network. Dissimilar a barebone Linux web server in which you have to tote out your own arrangement, these residence web server OSes supply a confidence between relieve of utilise as well as adaptability, giving them a terrific emitting point for users to prelude their residence web server. In this write-up, I will distinctly go through the optimal five Personal as well as Residence Web server OSes that you can place today.

Web content
  • Why Is Residence Web server OS More detailed Than Linux
  • 1. Umbrel
  • 2. CasaOS
  • 3. StartOS
  • 4. Yunohost
  • 5. HomelabOS

Why Is Residence Web server OS More detailed Than Linux

At its core, residence web server OSes are purpose-created tools that allow you to readily place 3rd-party self-all labeled apps on your residence web server. While the majority of of these OSes utilise Linux below, they furthermore come through some payoffs contrasted to your ordinary marginal distro.

Initially, residence web server OSes are universally designed as well as maximized for low-powered tools such as the Raspberry Pi. As a outcome, these tools periodically consume much less power contrasted to an used repurposed workstation. Pondering that a residence web server runs 24/7, this permits you to conserve on electrical power spendings over time.

A screenshot affirming the reside statistics for Umbrel running on a Raspberry Pi 5.

Second, residence web server OSes come through tools such as Docker as well as Ansible that supply it easy to sprinted 3rd-party web server apps. Some tools even supply a control panel display that solicits rid of the have to attach through the command line up. This, in turn, renders residence web server OSes a play filthy much more user cordial than a invariant web server Linux distro.

A screenshot affirming the control panel for Yunohost.

Last but not least, the majority of residence web server OSes periodically checkup the web server apps that they deal on their created-in storefronts. Dissimilar a invariant marginal Linux distro, this confers you the guarantee that anything you send out on your residence web server will distinctly sprinted without any major unhappiness.

FYI: peeking to reuse your used workstation boxes? Investigate out of the some ideal lightweight Linux distros that can sprinted on used tools.

1. Umbrel

Umbrel is a Debian-based residence web server OS through a deep emphasis on decentralized apps as well as cryptocurrencies. While it’s designed for Tool-On-A-Chip (SoC) tools like the Raspberry Pi, the designers furthermore supply an ISO for bare steel as well as hypervisor installations.

One point that I like about Umbrel is its intuitive ideology to everything. Umbrel has one of the the majority of structured onboarding procedures I’ve encountered on a residence web server OS. It’s ridiculously easy to utilise as well as placement it up doesn’t require any geeky realise-how through Linux.

A screenshot affirming the onboarding means for Umbrel.

Umbrel purchases a considerable collection of 3rd-party SaaS apps that smorgasbord from a cloud office suite to a full Bitcoin node. The system furthermore renders it straightforward to place as well as configure these applications through its Umbrel Store front. For example, I can readily send out a NextCloud instance by simply clicking a single switch on Umbrel’s control panel.

A screenshot affirming the stand page for Nextcloud in the Umbrel App Store front.

One agony point that I encountered while making utility of Umbrel is that it doesn’t have a aggravation-free means of accessing the system’s command line up. This can supply the OS harder to troubleshoot for much more paramount unhappiness down the line up. Better, running Umbrel on an SoC calls for an external difficult drive, augmenting the expenditure of keeping the OS in the long sprinted.

A screenshot affirming the control panel for Umbrel along through my Raspberry Pi's installations.

Pros

  • Highly intuitive interface as well as onboarding means
  • Oversized collection of SaaS apps that perfuse criterion office tools to decentralized loan
  • The web server apps doesn’t require any setup as well as runs correct out of the box

Downsides

  • Dubs for an external drive to work on a Raspberry Pi
  • Can be limiting to a much more seasoned web server admin
  • Deficiency of easy terminal schedule renders the system harder to troubleshoot

Good to realise: the Raspberry Pi is furthermore nice for day-to-day work. Detect out how a other columnist revolved his Pi into a performance huge.

2. CasaOS

CasaOS is a lightweight residence web server OS for x86 as well as ARM-based tools. Dissimilar Umbrel, it’s an overlay system that sits on optimal of an existent Linux installation. This medians you can sprinted CasaOS on almost any Linux-based system as well as recover unchanged escapade every time.

A screenshot affirming the control panel for CasaOS.

CasaOS comes through a created-in stand that simplifies the installation of its SaaS apps. Tantamount to Umbrel, it has a “one-click” place means as well as putting up these apps are furthermore as humble as correct clicking them on the control panel. For instance, I was able to place NextCloud on CasaOS by clicking its icon on the app stand.

A screenshot affirming the Nextcloud stand page for the CasaOS App Store front.

That clarified, one downside of CasaOS is that it doesn’t have a play filthy of prebuilt apps on its app stand. While the system can place as well as sprinted tradition Docker images, this can be an priority if you pine a “turnkey” selection for your residence web server. Personally, I still like CasaOS’ tradition cylinders service because it permits me to sprinted my relating niche Docker apps without entering the command line up.

A screenshot affirming the tradition Docker kind for CasaOS.

An additional disparaging aspect of CasaOS is that it’s not prospective to schedule the installations of its underlying distro from the system’s control panel. This renders it sly to readjust any system config external of CasaOS, giving it a miniscule particle arduous to troubleshoot unhappiness that snag place on the OS extent.

A screenshot affirming the created-in terminal window for CasaOS.

Pros

  • Can sprinted on optimal of an existent Linux installation
  • Allows for tradition Docker images
  • Can sprinted certainly on an SD card once deployed on an SoC

Downsides

  • Default SaaS apps in its created-in stand are lacking
  • Core system installations are unachievable from the CasaOS control panel
  • The terminal viewer is underwhelming as well as difficult to utilise

3. StartOS

StartOS is a structured as well as minimalist residence web server OS based on Debian Linux. Advertising as well as marketing as well as marketing as well as marketing as well as marketing itself as a belvedere for “sovereign computing,” StartOS purchases a smorgasbord of apps that oversaw decentralized loan, self-all labeled records, as well as self-uploading.

A screenshot affirming a bet out veracities of StartOS running on my RHEL KVM.

Simply like through the previous two tools, StartOS adopts a “stand-like” interface to placement its obtainable SaaS apps. Installing these timetables are as easy as it can recover, simply obtaining in touch with for you to click the “Marketplace” genre as well as choosing the power that you pine to send out.

A screenshot affirming the Nextcloud stand page in the StartOS App Store front.

Having clarified that, StartOS has the slightest collection of SaaS apps that you can recover for a residence web server OS. As of iteration 0.3.5, I simply spotted 28 apps obtainable in its official fair. While all of these solutions are awfully high service, it might reject some users harming for much more.

A screenshot affirming a collection of SaaS apps in the StartOS App Store front.

One service that I spotted intriguing in StartOS is its ridiculously viable interface. It implements a terrific responsibility of posing all of its system consolidations, giving putting up as well as troubleshooting a gale. For instance, I can even oversaw the Origin CA for my StartOS instance enabling me to utilise HTTPS even in city networks.

A screenshot of the installations window for StartOS' Origin CA arrangement.

Aside from its little app fair, StartOS furthermore has a couple of downsides. To start with, StartOS currently doesn’t embrace 64-particle ARM cpus. This medians that the system will distinctly not sprinted on 64-particle simply SoCs such as the Raspberry Pi 5.

A screenshot stressing the Raspberry Pi 4 require for StartOS.

Second of all, StartOS is furthermore a particle arduous to place on x86 equipment. It calls for a minimum of 64 GB of disk void as well as 4 GB of system recollection. This can be a ghoulish hardship for users that pine to send out a affordable as well as low-profile residence web server.

Pros

  • Comes through a humble interface that proves every system placement obtainable
  • Utilises HTTPS by default for both city as well as secluded net relationships
  • SaaS apps are awfully easy to place through its created-in app stand

Downsides

  • Has an ridiculously little collection of formally sustained SaaS apps
  • Presently doesn’t embrace 64-particle ARM tools
  • Dubs for a minimum of 64 GB of disk void as well as 4GB of RAM to place accordingly

On a side tab: peeking for much more adaptability as well as power on your web server? Investigate out our picks on the optimal web server-concentrated Linux distros today.

4. Yunohost

Yunohost is a strong all-in-one residence web server OS designed for user users running on either low-powered equipment or virtualized tools. Launched in 2012, Yunohost gains every exertion to “match self-arranging” by presenting an easy-to-utilise interface for emitting as well as putting up unexceptional SaaS apps.

Out of all the residence web server OSes that I’ve tried, Yunohost ships through the the majority of SaaS apps obtainable on its fair. Presently, the system purchases over 400 user solutions that you can immediately place on your web server. These smorgasbord from humble media surveillance tools to entire performance systems.

A screenshot affirming a little collection of apps that are obtainable in the Yunohost App Store front.

Tantamount to StartOS, Yunohost furthermore purchases a humble interface that postures every placement obtainable to the web server. Contrasted to Umbrel as well as CasaOS, this renders the system less service to troubleshoot specifically for more current admins. For example, I was able to readily oversaw innumerable domains, panache backups, as well as check for prospective unhappiness making utility of Yunohost’s created-in medical diagnosis product.

A screenshot affirming the innovation window for Yunohost's medical diagnosis product.

To optimal it off, Yunohost is obtainable on almost all Linux-based systems. You can place it on an SoC such as the Raspberry Pi, an used x86 workstation, as well as even in a Debian-based VPS through its conversion script. This renders Yunohost one of the the majority of adaptable residence web server OS that you can recover today.

A console screenshot affirming the Yunohost conversion script running on Debian 12.

Having clarified that, one sizeable caution once running Yunohost is that it doesn’t utilise cylinders once emitting its SaaS apps. Instead, it relies on the host’s filesystem as well as UNIX approvals to make certain that there’s no battle between packages as well as dependencies.

A terminal affirming the textiles of the Yunohost system magazine.

The greatest downside of this ideology is that Yunohost doesn’t isolate its polymorphous solutions. While this diminishes the looming of the system, it furthermore renders the OS much more at hazard to system-wide exploits. Better, this containerless ideology furthermore it renders it sly to configure the SaaS apps external of its pre-exemplified config inside Yunohost.

Pros

  • Comes through much more than 400 user SaaS apps to place
  • Discloses the majority of of the system installations on a unstained as well as minimalist interface
  • Runs on a smorgasbord of tools as well as systems

Downsides

  • Arrangements are not packed in isolated cylinders
  • Configuring the SaaS apps external its default arrangement can be arduous
  • Simply city-endorsed as well as embrace for prospective unhappiness can be hit or miss

5. HomelabOS

HomelabOS is a lightweight script that employs Docker as well as Ansible to vary a invariant Ubuntu LTS system into a service-loaded residence web server OS. It comes through about 100 self-hostable SaaS cylinders, arranging from criterion RSS site visitors such as FreshRSS to an entire Twitter duplicate like Pleroma.

That clarified, HomelabOS is designed for the Linux power user. It doesn’t come through its own control panel UI as well as it intends you to utilise the command line up to oversaw the entire system. This has everything from putting up HomelabOS’ installations to mounting as well as emitting its packages.

One suitabilities of this ideology, but, is it makes it possible for HomelabOS to seamlessly incorporate its components to your advice system. This permits you to utilise the tools that are currently obtainable on your host OS to oversaw HomelabOS’ solutions. For example, I can sprinted systemctl status organizr.service to check how my HomelabOS control panel is running.

A terminal affirming HomelabOS' systemctl selection for its control panel app.

An additional considerable service of HomelabOS is it can send out a secluded VPS to mien a “overturn proxy” for your city residence web server. This renders it easy to sprinted solutions at residence while still being able to schedule them once you’re on-the-go.

A terminal affirming Terraform. A utility that HomelabOS employs to panache Garrison VPN instances for NAT obstructed tools.

However, HomelabOS is not a irreproachable selection for everyone. Unconcerned from obtaining in touch with for nice terminal area of proficiency, HomelabOS needs a valid DNS record to sprinted accordingly. It’s prospective to bypass this priority by modifying your “/etc/hosts” paper but doing that can lead to prospective unhappiness for your solutions.

A sample of a DNS record affirming HomelabOS running on a tools through a public IPv4 address.

Pros

  • Comes through much more than 100 SaaS apps obtainable correct out of the box
  • Sells a deep assimilation through existent Linux tools
  • Can remotely send out a Wireguard VPS for NAT holepunching

Downsides

  • Dubs for respectable area of proficiency of the Linux command line up to sprinted accordingly
  • Dubs for a valid DNS record for compatibility through some SaaS apps
  • Presently under heavy innovation as well as can be subject to going versus parasites

Locating out some of the ideal tools that you can place on your residence web server is the first interfere experimenting what self-arranging can tote out for you. Dive head first into this deep as well as dreamy planet by making your own Google Drive by emitting ownCloud today.

Image economic debt: Vadim Sherbakov through Unsplash. Unanimously modifications as well as screenshots by Ramces Red.

Related Posts