Cloudron

Cloudron is a self-hosted application platform that simplifies running web apps on your own server by providing a curated app catalog, automated operations, and a unified admin interface. It handles the lifecycle of apps (install, update, backup, restore) and centralizes common infrastructure concerns like domains, TLS certificates, and users.

Key Features

• One-click app installs from a curated Cloudron App Store (packaged apps)
• Automatic app and platform updates with rollback-oriented lifecycle management
• Built-in reverse proxy with per-app domain/subdomain routing
• Automatic HTTPS via Let’s Encrypt and certificate renewal
• Centralized user management and access control (teams/users) with SSO options
• Integrated backup/restore to external storage providers (scheduled backups)
• App configuration via environment/manifest packaging and consistent runtime model
• Email capabilities for apps via integrated mail settings (SMTP relay support)

Use Cases

• Host a small-business stack (e.g., chat, wiki, CRM, file sharing) on one server
• Provide a managed “internal PaaS” for a small team without Kubernetes
• Quickly deploy and maintain self-hosted alternatives with minimal ops overhead

Limitations and Considerations

• Not fully open-source: Cloudron is source-available/commercially licensed and requires a subscription for full functionality.
• App availability depends on Cloudron packaging; apps must be Cloudron-compatible.

Cloudron fits users who want an appliance-like experience for self-hosting many apps with consistent security defaults and automated maintenance. It is especially useful when you want predictable upgrades, backups, and domain/TLS management without building your own platform tooling.