12 guides
Self-Hosted Apps
Set up and compare Immich, Jellyfin, Nextcloud, Vaultwarden, the *arr stack and more.
Self-hosting on a NAS usually means running apps in Docker: a media server, a photo library, a password manager, document scanning, home automation and network-wide ad blocking. The guides here cover installing each one with Docker, where to keep its data so backups actually work, and how to reach it from outside your home without exposing it to the internet.
- Where to start: the best self-hosted apps for beginners, ordered by what happens when each one breaks.
- Media: Jellyfin vs Plex, set up Jellyfin with Docker and the *arr stack explained.
- Photos and files: install Immich with Docker, Immich vs Google Photos and self-host Nextcloud.
Index
All self-hosted apps guides
- 01How to Set Up Paperless-ngx on a NAS (Docker Guide)Set up Paperless-ngx on a NAS with Docker Compose: PostgreSQL, Redis, the consume folder, OCR languages, matching rules and backups.Sep 30, 2026 · 5 min
- 02Immich vs Google Photos: What You Gain and What You Give UpImmich vs Google Photos: cost, privacy, ML search, maintenance and Takeout migration — what you gain by self-hosting photos and what you give up.Sep 18, 2026 · 5 min
- 03How to Access Jellyfin Remotely Without Exposing ItAccess Jellyfin remotely without exposing your server: Tailscale, a reverse proxy with HTTPS or Cloudflare Tunnel — and which to avoid for video.Sep 6, 2026 · 5 min
- 04The *arr Stack Explained: Sonarr, Radarr, Prowlarr & MoreThe *arr stack explained: what Sonarr, Radarr, Prowlarr and Bazarr do, how they work together, and how they fit with your media server and NAS.Jul 1, 2026 · 5 min
- 05How to Set Up Home Assistant on a NAS or Home ServerHow to set up Home Assistant on a NAS: container vs HAOS VM install methods compared, what works best, and how to get your smart home started.Jul 1, 2026 · 5 min
- 06How to Set Up Pi-hole for Network-Wide Ad BlockingHow to set up Pi-hole for network-wide ad blocking. Run it in Docker on your NAS, point your router's DNS at it, and block ads on every device.Jul 1, 2026 · 5 min
- 07How to Set Up Vaultwarden with Docker (Self-Hosted Bitwarden)How to set up Vaultwarden with Docker: a lightweight, self-hosted, Bitwarden-compatible password manager on your own NAS. Step-by-step 2026 guide.Jul 1, 2026 · 5 min
- 08Jellyfin vs Plex: Which Media Server Should You Choose in 2026?Jellyfin vs Plex in 2026: cost, hardware transcoding, apps, privacy and ease of use compared. Which self-hosted media server is right for you?Jul 1, 2026 · 4 min
- 09Best Self-Hosted Apps for Beginners in 2026Best self-hosted apps for beginners in 2026: Immich, Jellyfin, Nextcloud, Vaultwarden, Pi-hole and more — what each replaces and how to start.Jul 1, 2026 · 5 min
- 10How to Install Immich with Docker (Self-Hosted Google Photos)How to install Immich with Docker: self-host a Google Photos alternative with automatic phone backup, in about 15 minutes. Step-by-step 2026 guide.Jul 1, 2026 · 5 min
- 11How to Self-Host Nextcloud with Docker (Nextcloud AIO Guide)How to self-host Nextcloud with Docker using Nextcloud AIO. Your own private cloud for file sync, calendar and contacts — step-by-step 2026 guide.Jul 1, 2026 · 4 min
- 12How to Set Up Jellyfin with Docker (Including Hardware Transcoding)How to set up Jellyfin with Docker and enable Intel Quick Sync hardware transcoding for smooth 4K streaming. Step-by-step 2026 guide.Jul 1, 2026 · 4 min