General-purpose software categorized by function, with many offering both desktop (portable) and self-hosted server options: from personal dashboards to custom web apps. Includes self-hosted alternatives to SaaS platforms, often built with Docker, PHP, Node.js, or Python, and managed via tools like Dockge or Umbrel.
Communication
Private, decentralized alternatives to mainstream messaging, email, and video conferencing. Tools like Matrix/Element, Mailcow, and Jitsi enable end-to-end encrypted chat, secure email, and ad-free meetings without relying on Big Tech infrastructure.
Private & Secure Messenger Apps Alternatives
Signal
Messaging app with strong, open-source, end-to-end encryption. A phone number is still required for registration.
Threema
Switzerland-based messenger that does not require a phone number or email address, for superior anonymity and privacy.
Session
Anonymous, decentralized messaging app that does not require a phone number, using a Tor-like network.
SimpleX
Decentralized chat application that does not store any user identifiers, does not require a phone number.
Private Business & Team Communication Tools
Element (Matrix)
Alternative to Slack/Teams that ensures messages remain private via end-to-end encryption.
Rocket.Chat
An open-source, self-hosted platform for team communication with high security compliance.
ProtonMail
A secure email alternative to Gmail/Outlook that uses end-to-end encryption and a strict no-logs policy.
Passbolt
Open-source password manager audited and built for team collaboration. Made in Europe. Privacy by default.
Creative Software
Self-hosted tools for design, audio, video, and publishing. Includes photo editors, digital audio workstations, vector graphics, and collaborative whiteboards, often containerized for offline or LAN-based creative workflows.
Photo Editors and Management
Affinity
All professional photo, design, and layout software tools you need in one app, and free forever.
Immich
Self-hosted Alternative to o Google Photos,featuring automatic backups from mobile, AI face detection
GIMP
Portable/Desktop, open-source raster graphics editor, similar to Photoshop.
PhotoPrism
Self-hosted app for browsing, organizing, and sharing photo collections, leveraging AI for automatic tagging.
Design and Illustration
Excalidraw
Self-hosted virtual whiteboard for hand-drawn looking diagrams and sketches, with collaborative team sessions.
inkscape
Professional vector graphics editor for creating illustrations, icons, and diagrams.
Penpot
Self-hosted web-based design and prototyping tool that focuses on designer-developer collaboration.
Krita
Portable | Desktop for digital painting and illustration, offering advanced sketching and painting tools.
Audio Editors and Management
Audacity
Portable/Desktop The most popular open-source digital audio editor and recorder, known for its extensive plug-in support.
Ardour
Record, eEdit, and mix on Linux, macOS and Windows
Audiobookshelf
Self-hosted dedicated server for managing and streaming audiobooks and podcasts
Navidrome
Self-hosted lightweight music streaming server that works with your personal music library.
Video Editors and Hosting
Kdenlive
Portable | Desktop professional-level, non-linear video editor that supports multi-track editing and many formats.
Shotcut
Portable | Desktop cross-platform video editor with strong filter support and a customizable interface.
PeerTube
Self-hosted decentralized, federated video hosting platform (federation of servers) allowing users to host their own video sharing site.
AVideo
Self-hosted formerly YouPHPTube platform to host your own video sharing website, featuring video uploading, encoding, and streaming.
Publishing and Content
- Nextcloud (Self-hosted)
A full-featured suite for file hosting, collaboration, and document management. - Paperless-ngx (Self-hosted)
A community-supported open-source document management system. -
Seafile
Known for high performance and reliability, especially with large files and extensive syncs, focusing on efficient file management and sharing. - Calibre / Calibre-Web (Portable/Self-hosted)
A powerful e-book management tool, with a web-based version for browsing and downloading library content. - BookStack (Self-hosted)
A simple, self-hosted platform for organizing documentation and knowledge.
Finance & Capital
Personal and small-business financial management with full data ownership, free from cloud fees, ads, or data harvesting.
- Firefly III, budgeting
- Umbrel, Ronin, cryptocurrency nodes
- Portfolio trackers
- Accounting tools
Knowledge Database
Systems to capture, organize, and retrieve information over time, personal knowledge bases, designed for long-term access without vendor lock-in.
- Standard Notes, Joplin, note-taking
- Wiki.js, BookStack, wikis
- LinkAce, bookmark managers
Local AI & LLMs
Run open-source large language models (Llama 3, Mistral, Phi) directly on your hardware. Enables private chat, coding assistance, document analysis, and automation, no API keys or data leaks.
- Ollama
- LM Studio
- vLLM
- llama.cpp
- llamafile
- Jan
Network & Hosting
Foundational tools to deploy, connect, and expose services securely, the backbone of any homelab.
- Docker
- Dockge
- Dockge: Visual Docker Compose manager for custom apps.
- Portainer
- Caddy, Nginx Proxy Manager, reverse proxies
- Tailscale Funnel, Cloudflare Tunnel, for secure tunneling
Productivity & Office
Self-hosted replacements for cloud office suites, all under your control, with no subscription required.
- Nextcloud, Seafile, file sync
- CryptPad, OnlyOffice, collaborative editing
- Planka, WeKan, task management
- CalDAV/CardDAV, calendar and contact sync
Trusted Resources
The external sites are not affiliated with us. We include them because they provide reliable, transparent, and community-driven information that aligns with our commitment to honest, open-source tooling.