About Selfhosted Guides

Selfhosted Guides is a resource for anyone looking to replace expensive SaaS subscriptions with open source, self-hosted alternatives. We cover 210+ tools across 32 categories — from file storage and password managers to monitoring stacks and CRM systems.

Why self-host?

• Privacy — Your data stays on your servers, under your control.
• Cost — A $5/month VPS can replace hundreds in SaaS subscriptions.
• Freedom — No vendor lock-in, no surprise pricing changes, no feature removals.
• Learning — Running your own infrastructure teaches you how things actually work.

Our approach

Every guide on this site aims to be:

• Practical — Real Docker Compose and bare-metal setup instructions, not vague overviews.
• Honest — We cover the trade-offs. Self-hosting isn't always the right choice, and we say so.
• Comprehensive — Feature comparisons, hardware requirements, migration paths, and security considerations.
• Maintained — Guides are updated when software changes significantly or better alternatives emerge.

Editorial standards

Every guide on Selfhosted Guides is based on hands-on testing with the actual software described. We install, configure, and run each tool before writing about it, so our instructions reflect real-world experience rather than rewritten documentation.

We do not accept sponsored content or allow affiliate partnerships to influence our recommendations. When we cover a tool, we include its limitations and alternatives — including free options — so you can make an informed choice.

Guides are reviewed for technical accuracy before publication and updated when software releases introduce breaking changes or significantly better approaches. If you find an error or outdated instruction, please let us know.

What we cover

• Storage & sync — Nextcloud, Syncthing, Seafile, and S3-compatible solutions
• Security & access — Vaultwarden, Authelia, Authentik, Traefik, Cloudflare Tunnels
• Monitoring — Grafana, Prometheus, Uptime Kuma, Beszel, Netdata
• Productivity — Gitea/Forgejo, BookStack, Nextcloud Office, Outline
• Media — Jellyfin, Plex, Immich, Navidrome, Calibre-Web
• Communication — Matrix/Element, Mattermost, Rocket.Chat, Zulip

Selfhosted Guides is operated by Paperkite Technologies, based in Seattle, WA.