Unraid Connect (Unraid Cloud Services)

Best Self Hosted Alternatives to Unraid Connect (Unraid Cloud Services)

A curated collection of the 7 best self hosted alternatives to Unraid Connect (Unraid Cloud Services).

Cloud companion for Unraid servers providing secure remote access, web-based device management, system health and usage monitoring, and connectivity services for home and small-business storage and virtualization hosts.

Alternatives List

#1
CasaOS

CasaOS

Open-source personal cloud system with a web dashboard, app store, and file management to run and manage Docker apps on home servers and SBCs.

CasaOS screenshot

CasaOS is an open-source personal cloud system that provides a web-based dashboard for running and managing self-hosted applications on a home server. It is designed to make Docker-based app deployment and basic server management accessible on common hardware like mini PCs and single-board computers.

Key Features

  • Web UI tailored for home-server scenarios with a simple, “no forms” setup experience
  • App store and one-click installation for curated, community-verified self-hosted apps
  • Support for installing and managing many Docker applications from the wider container ecosystem
  • Built-in drive and file management features for local storage organization
  • Dashboard widgets for quick visibility into app status and system resource usage
  • Broad hardware and Linux distribution compatibility (x86_64 and ARM variants)

Use Cases

  • Run a personal home server to host common self-hosted apps (cloud storage, media, DNS, home automation)
  • Provide a lightweight “personal cloud” interface for managing Docker apps on a NAS-like device
  • Set up a beginner-friendly homelab dashboard on Raspberry Pi, NUCs, or repurposed PCs

Limitations and Considerations

  • Functionality depends heavily on the Docker ecosystem; non-containerized apps are not the primary focus
  • The project has been positioned by its maintainers as evolving toward ZimaOS, which may affect long-term direction and feature focus

CasaOS is well-suited for users who want an approachable UI to deploy and monitor Dockerized services at home. It focuses on simplifying day-to-day app management while remaining flexible enough to install a wide range of container-based software.

32.9kstars
1.8kforks
View Details
#2
DietPi

DietPi

DietPi is an ultra-lightweight Debian-based OS for SBCs and small servers, featuring menu-driven system configuration and an optimized one-command software installer.

DietPi screenshot

DietPi is an extremely lightweight Debian-based operating system optimized for single-board computers and small x86_64 systems. It focuses on minimal CPU/RAM usage while providing a streamlined, menu-driven experience for setup and ongoing management.

Key Features

  • Optimized Debian-based images for many SBCs and virtual machine targets
  • Menu-based system configuration via dietpi-config (whiptail/TUI)
  • Curated, automated application installer via dietpi-software with sensible defaults
  • Service management and process priority tuning via dietpi-services
  • In-place OS updates via dietpi-update without reflashing images
  • Unattended/automated provisioning using preconfiguration files (dietpi.txt)

Use Cases

  • Building a low-resource home server (DNS, web stack, file sharing, monitoring)
  • Running media, download, and home automation stacks on SBC hardware
  • Rapidly provisioning repeatable SBC/VM deployments with automated installs

Limitations and Considerations

  • Hardware enablement depends on the target platform; kernel/board-specific issues may fall outside DietPi support

DietPi is well-suited for homelabs and embedded deployments where resources are limited but flexibility is needed. Its tooling reduces manual Linux administration while keeping the system lean and highly configurable.

5.8kstars
536forks
View Details
#3
Cosmos Cloud

Cosmos Cloud

Cosmos Cloud is a security-focused self-hosting platform that provides an app store, reverse proxy with automatic HTTPS, SSO/MFA, container management, backups, and monitoring.

Cosmos Cloud screenshot

Cosmos Cloud is a self-hosting platform designed to run and secure home servers, NAS devices, and small business deployments. It combines an application gateway, app management, and built-in security controls to protect services that may not be hardened by default.

Key Features

  • App store for installing and managing self-hosted applications, plus support for importing Docker Compose stacks
  • Reverse proxy for routing to containers or external services, with automatic HTTPS certificate provisioning
  • Built-in authentication server with SSO (OpenID Connect) and multi-factor authentication
  • SmartShield protections including anti-bot and anti-DDoS features, plus security-focused access controls
  • Container management and updates, with security auditing for managed apps
  • Built-in VPN for secure remote access without exposing services directly to the internet
  • Backup system with incremental, encrypted backups and support for remote targets (using restic)
  • Monitoring with historical metrics, real-time status, and customizable alerts/notifications
  • User management and identity-provider style features (invites, account recovery workflows)

Use Cases

  • Securely publish multiple homelab services behind a single gateway with SSO and HTTPS
  • Provide a private “personal cloud” experience for families with centralized access and user accounts
  • Deploy and operate internal web apps for small organizations with tighter access controls

Limitations and Considerations

  • License is “available source” (Commons Clause), which may not meet some organizations’ open-source requirements

Cosmos Cloud is best suited for users who want an integrated control plane for apps, networking, and security rather than assembling separate components. It aims to simplify deployment while adding protective layers for commonly self-hosted services.

5.5kstars
198forks
View Details
#4
SelfHostBlocks

SelfHostBlocks

NixOS distribution of modular 'blocks' that standardize and test server services, offering backups, ZFS datasets, LDAP/SSO, monitoring, reverse proxy, and certificate management.

SelfHostBlocks screenshot

SelfHostBlocks is an opinionated server management distribution built on NixOS that provides modular NixOS modules ("blocks") to simplify long-term self-hosting. It packages a set of preconfigured services and shared building blocks that aim for reproducible, testable, and maintainable server setups.

Key Features

  • Collection of reusable NixOS modules (blocks) that standardize configuration across services
  • Built-in service integrations: automatic reverse proxy, certificate management, LDAP and SSO hooks
  • Backup support and automatic creation of dedicated ZFS datasets per service
  • Observability stack with Prometheus and Grafana and provided dashboards for monitoring
  • Opinionated defaults with NixOS VM tests and Playwright checks to ensure services build and function together
  • Contracts system to compose blocks flexibly and swap components like reverse proxies or databases
  • Bundled support for common services such as Nextcloud, Jellyfin, Forgejo, Vaultwarden, Home Assistant and media/*arr stacks
  • Designed for long-term maintenance, automatic updates, and tested inter-block interoperability

Use Cases

  • Host personal or small-team groupware, media, and home services with consistent configuration and backups
  • Build reproducible, test-driven NixOS server configurations that integrate LDAP/SSO and centralized monitoring
  • Bootstrap a privacy-focused home or small datacenter environment with opinionated best-practices for backups and certificates

Limitations and Considerations

  • Requires familiarity with Nix/NixOS and the project-specific patched nixpkgs; not targeted at Nix beginners
  • Opinionated design means less flexibility for users who want entirely custom setups without adapting blocks
  • Primarily maintained by a small team; users should expect community-driven support and occasional edge-case bugs

SelfHostBlocks is best suited for users who want a tested, modular NixOS-based platform to run common self-hosted services with built-in backups, monitoring, and identity integrations. It emphasizes reproducibility and long-term maintainability over lowest-effort installation.

405stars
14forks
View Details
#5
AnyAppStart

AnyAppStart

Lightweight control panel to start, stop, restart and view logs for apps running in Docker, systemd, VMs or remote hosts via SSH. Configured with YAML and no database required.

AnyAppStart screenshot

AnyAppStart is a lightweight web control panel for managing services and applications across local and remote environments. It provides start/stop/restart actions and live log viewing for targets such as Docker containers, systemd units, VMs or any custom type via user scripts and SSH.

Key Features

  • Start, stop, restart and view logs for applications managed by Docker, systemd, VMs or custom user-defined types
  • Backend implemented in Go and frontend in React + TypeScript (MobX) for a small, responsive UI
  • Configure services and types via YAML files; no database required
  • Control remote machines over SSH and run arbitrary user scripts or commands
  • Runs as a standalone binary, systemd service (system or per-user) or inside Docker; includes a simple HTTP API
  • Supports mounting the Docker socket for container control and using local config directories for keys and YAML

Use Cases

  • Centralized UI for starting, stopping and inspecting logs of services on a homelab or small server fleet
  • Lightweight control panel to expose service controls to non-technical users while keeping configuration in YAML
  • Remote administration of headless machines or VMs via SSH without installing agents

Limitations and Considerations

  • No built-in authentication or authorization; administrators must restrict access using firewall rules, reverse proxy SSO or other access controls
  • Mounting the Docker socket or granting systemd access can introduce security risks if the host or container is not properly isolated
  • Not a full orchestration or monitoring platform; focused on basic control actions and log viewing rather than metrics, autoscaling or complex deployments

AnyAppStart is suited for small deployments and homelabs where a minimal, configurable control interface is needed. It emphasizes simple configuration, remote command execution and lightweight operation.

209stars
7forks
View Details
#6
Stackspin

Stackspin

Stackspin is an open source platform that bundles common team collaboration apps with single sign-on, centralized user management, backups, and monitoring for admins.

Stackspin screenshot

Stackspin is an open source platform for running a value-aligned work collaboration suite you control. It bundles multiple best-of-breed open source apps behind a single login and provides centralized administration for teams.

Key Features

  • Single sign-on across integrated collaboration apps
  • Centralized user and access management via an admin dashboard
  • One-click installation and lifecycle management of multiple apps as a suite
  • Automated backups and instance monitoring for operations teams
  • Integrations aimed at managed/self-hosted deployments, including hosting provider integration

Use Cases

  • Non-profits and small organizations needing a full collaboration stack with one login
  • Distributed research teams coordinating documents, chat, and file sharing
  • Communities running shared tools (docs, tasks, passwords) with streamlined administration

Limitations and Considerations

  • Available apps and integrations depend on the platform’s supported application catalog and deployment options
  • Some contribution workflows may require contacting the maintainers due to anti-spam restrictions

Stackspin is a good fit when you want a cohesive open source “work suite” rather than deploying and managing each collaboration tool separately. It emphasizes simple admin operations, safer defaults, and a unified user experience across apps.

View Details
#7
Nirvati

Nirvati

Open-source self-hosting and server management platform built on Kubernetes (k3s/RKE2) with an app store, strong app isolation, storage controls, and built-in HTTPS.

Nirvati is an open-source server management platform for self-hosting applications and services on your own hardware. It provides a dashboard, an app store of prepackaged services, storage controls, and a permissioned isolation model to reduce third-party dependence and improve privacy.

Key Features

  • Kubernetes-based architecture (uses lightweight distributions such as k3s and can target upstream RKE2 for larger deployments).
  • App Store with a broad catalog of preconfigured self-hosted apps (media servers, analytics, messaging, productivity, AI UIs, etc.).
  • Strong app isolation: each app runs in its own isolated environment with per-app permissions and resource limits.
  • Storage management options: Longhorn-backed storage in standard/enterprise flavours and local-path provisioning in a low-memory "micro" flavour.
  • Built-in HTTPS by default and a focus on security-first defaults and permissions.
  • Web dashboard tooling: app status, logs viewer, restart controls and app cloning from recent releases.
  • Ready-to-use OS images (Armbian-based images for Raspberry Pi and generic x86_64 / aarch64 UEFI) and an installer for rapid setup.
  • Project-run container registry (Harbor-based) and image pinning by SHA for image authenticity.
  • Plugin system and extensibility for third-party integrations and vendor hardware support.

Use Cases

  • Host personal and household services: media servers, file sharing, personal dashboards, and home automation UIs.
  • Small-team or SMB self-hosting: internal tools, analytics, Git hosting, and identity services behind a single management plane.
  • Developer / testing environments: quickly deploy and manage containerized stacks, snapshots, and multi-node configurations.

Limitations and Considerations

  • Feature set and storage capabilities vary by "flavour": the Micro edition omits storage management features present in Standard/Enterprise editions.
  • Some hosted/managed services ("My Nirvati" and managed offerings) are planned and not fully available; certain optional services may be operated by the project organization.
  • The project separates a vendor-neutral core (n5i) from Nirvati’s distribution and service integrations; downstream integrations and hosted services can differ from the core project's behaviour.

Nirvati aims to make self-hosting accessible while prioritizing security and extensibility. It targets hobbyists through to small production deployments and continues to evolve through regular releases and an expanding app catalog.

View Details

Why choose an open source alternative?

  • •Data ownership: Keep your data on your own servers
  • •No vendor lock-in: Freedom to switch or modify at any time
  • •Cost savings: Reduce or eliminate subscription fees
  • •Transparency: Audit the code and know exactly what's running