Host your own network services and web apps. For founders seeking privacy and control.
intermediateโฑ 30 minutes๐ต Free (self-hosted)
297,550 stars13,853 forksQuality 9/10Updated 6/6/2026100% free ยท open source
What it is
Use this skill to find and host popular free network services on your own servers.
What you can make with it
Self-hosted instances of cloud applications like email services, password managers, and wikis.
How it helps
This skill saves you money compared to paid alternatives and gives you control over your data and hosting.
Real use case example
"A solo developer, Sarah, wants to set up a self-hosted email service and calendar for her clients. She uses this skill to find and deploy free, open-source alternatives, which she can host on her own servers. After 30 minutes of setup, she's up and running, with complete control over her data and hosting costs."
If you're new
Pick this up when you're learning the basics of self-hosting and want to explore affordable, open-source options.
If you're senior
Use this when you need to find and deploy self-hosted cloud services for a project, and you want to save money on hosting costs.
Common confusion cleared up
Don't confuse this skill with services that offer managed hosting โ this skill is for self-hosting on your own servers.
Best inside these AI tools
Self-hostedAny AI Client
Pairs with
Claude APIStripe webhookNotion database
Why we list it on WorkflowStacks: It's a best-in-class resource for finding free, self-hosted alternatives to popular cloud services.
What it does
Awesome-selfhosted provides a curated list of free and open-source software applications and services that can be self-hosted, allowing founders to explore alternatives to proprietary solutions
Install / run
Since awesome-selfhosted is a GitHub repository and not a traditional software application, the first step is to visit the GitHub page at https://github.com/awesome-selfhosted/awesome-selfhosted and explore the README
When to use it
โขWhen looking for open-source alternatives to popular SaaS products
โขWhen trying to reduce dependence on third-party services and increase data control
โขWhen exploring cost-effective solutions for setting up internal tools and services
Quick start
1Visit the GitHub page and click on the 'README.md' file to view the list of self-hosted applications and services
2Browse through the categorized list of applications, such as 'Analytics' or 'Productivity', to find relevant tools
3Click on a specific application to view its description, features, and GitHub repository link
4Explore the repository link to learn more about the application, its documentation, and how to self-host it
5Use the 'Contributing' section of the README as a guide to contribute new applications or services to the list
Ready-to-paste prompt
Search for 'project management' in the awesome-selfhosted README to find self-hosted alternatives to popular project management tools
Heads up: Be aware that some self-hosted applications may require specific system requirements, dependencies, or technical expertise to set up and maintain, so it's essential to review the application's documentation before attempting to self-host
Saves to your device
Topics
awesome
awesome-list
cloud
free-software
hosting
privacy
self-hosted
selfhosted
What's inside โ free to inspect
No purchase needed
Read the entire source before you build โ unlike paid marketplaces that hide it behind a buy button.