The best self-hosting platforms, according to hackers
6 self-hosting platforms were recommended on Hacker News between November 2025 and November 2026. We rank them by how many separate people recommend each one, and 2 earn the Hacker Approved badge.
Top picks
The two most recommended self-hosting platforms with the badge. Each figure is one person. RecommendsCriticizes One comment
Delightful product experience and design
Recommended for a personal server with built-in hosting that works out of the box, though critics doubt it can compete with model providers.
Good for personal self-hosting
Free open-source platform for running web apps yourself with proper sandboxing and an easy interface. Critics cite slow cold starts, high memory use, and an app library some find unappealing.
All 6 self-hosting platforms, ranked
Select a column heading to sort. Approval share is recommenders out of everyone who gave an opinion; the tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs. Months counts the months, out of 13, in which someone recommended it.
| Rank | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Umbrel | 20 | 14 | 59% | 6 | — | — |
| 2 | Zo Computer | 15 | 7 | 68% | 6 | — | Approved |
| 3 | Cloud in a Bottle | 14 | 10 | 58% | 1 | — | — |
| 4 | Sandstorm | 10 | 4 | 71% | 5 | — | Approved |
| Tied 5 | Cloudron | 6 | 0 | 100% | 5 | — | — |
| Tied 5 | Umbrel Personal Cloud | 6 | 6 | 50% | 1 | — | — |
How we rank
Rank is the number of separate people who recommend a product in a Hacker News comment over the past year. Someone who praises the same self-hosting platform in five threads counts once.
The badge goes to self-hosting platforms that at least 10 people recommend, with recommenders outnumbering critics at least 2 to 1, recommended in at least 4 of the 13 months.
Rankings are never for sale. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. It never changes the order.