The problem is simple: We don’t own or control the apps we use. But you can change that, to an extent. There’s a growing list of “self-hosted” alternatives to commonly used apps. A self-hosted app is just what it sounds like: Instead of relying on a third party’s servers for an app’s functionality, you host your own server. That means you control all your data, and your privacy score shoots up exponentially. It’s understandable that “running your own server” might sound intimidating, but it’s often a lot easier than it sounds. Here’s how self-hosted apps work, and which ones you can start using today to give your online privacy a boost.
The benefits are obvious. Control over your data and privacy is number one. There’s also potentially lower cost (since you’re not paying a subscription), and you won’t be subject to the whims of a corporation that might decide to discontinue an app you love or force you to upgrade. Plus, you can decide the features and add-ons you want to use instead of having unwanted features forced on you.
Downsides of self-hosting
And going self-hosted can sometimes be a bit of a lift; some self-hosted apps require containerization environments like Docker or Homebrew, which makes it easy for software to run on any computer without having to worry about software dependencies or conflicting libraries (if that sentence meant nothing to you, keep reading, it’s not that bad).
Apps you might want to self-host
But we can keep it simple: Many self-hosted apps also offer pre-packaged applications that can be easily installed on your computer like any other piece of software. And you can self-host on your everyday desktop computer, or turn an old desktop or laptop into your personal server. If you want to see if self-hosting apps works for you, you can start by just installing one of the following self-hosted alternatives to popular apps on your current computer.
Kodi. Similar to Plex, Kodi turns your PC’s hard drive into a media server. Unlike Plex, Kodi is open source software and not controlled by a single company, which makes a better choice for privacy. After installing it, you point it to the folders where you store videos and audio, and then Kodi streams those files over your wifi network to other devices. For example, I use Kodi at home to stream all my music files to devices using VLC. It’s a lightweight and simple way to self-host your media. If you want to just stream for yourself, Kodi is a lot simpler than Plex to set up and run.
Grocy. If you’re using apps like Plan to Eat to organize your pantry and meal plan, Grocy offers the same functionality without the subscription fee or the third-party data vacuum. A full Grocy installation involves setting up your own server using Docker, but Grocy Desktop is an easier solution that installs like any other piece of software on your PC. Grocy lets you track purchases, track supplies in the house, automate shopping lists, track expiration dates, and incorporate recipes so you can see at a glance what you need to make dinner.
Setting up a Mastodon server can get a little complicated—you’ll need your own domain, a VPS, and an email provider specific to the server. But if you want true social media privacy, this is the way.
Owncast can be installed easily on cloud hosts like DigitalOcean if you’re willing to pay for that service, but you can run it locally as well (keeping in mind that video streaming requires a lot of storage and bandwidth). It can be installed locally pretty easily on Linux systems, but requires Docker for Windows or Homebrew for macOS.
Home Assistant. If you’ve got smart devices in your home, Home Assistant offers a centralized control hub that avoids the poor security and privacy nightmares of third-party Internet of Things (IoT) platforms. It works with most open-source and proprietary smart home devices, and offers a level of customization that rivals any paid offering.
Ollama. Do you use AI large language models (LLMs) like the ones powering ChatGPT, but you don’t like the fact that your chats are exposed? Ollama let’s you install lightweight versions of LLMs like gpt-oss locally on your computer and run them. The experience is very similar to using the web-based LLM tools, though they can be slower and less powerful than the full versions depending on your hardware. But if privacy is your goal, it’s an option, and Ollama offers easy installation of several different AI models to play around with.
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