If you’ve ever wished you could stop paying monthly fees for the apps you rely on, or stop handing over your data to third-party services you don’t fully trust, you’re not alone.
More users than ever before are turning to self-hosted apps to replace traditional SaaS tools like Google Workspace, Dropbox, Slack, and others. Whether it’s for better privacy, cost savings, or simply the joy of owning your infrastructure, self-hosting is on the rise.
In this guide, you’ll discover the best self-hosted alternatives to popular SaaS apps with each one being
- Actively maintained
- Self-hostable
- Open source
- Powerful enough to replace the commercial tools you’re using today
📁 1. File Storage & Sync
SaaS App: Dropbox / Google Drive
Self-Hosted Alternative: Nextcloud
Nextcloud is a private cloud platform that lets you store, sync, and share files securely from your own server.
Key Features:
- File syncing across devices
- Share links with expiration dates
- Versioning and recycle bin
- Built-in calendar, contacts, and office apps
💬 2. Team Chat
SaaS App: Slack
Self-Hosted Alternative: Mattermost
Mattermost delivers real-time team messaging, channels, threads, and integrations, all on your own infrastructure.
Key Features:
- Slack-like interface
- Mobile and desktop apps
- Role-based permissions
- Webhooks, bot support, and plugins
📷 3. Video Conferencing
SaaS App: Zoom / Google Meet
Self-Hosted Alternative: Jitsi Meet
Jitsi Meet is a secure, open-source video conferencing platform that runs in your browser.
Key Features:
- One-click video meetings
- Screen sharing and chat
- No account required for guests
- End-to-end encryption options
✅ 4. Project Management
SaaS App: Trello / Asana
Self-Hosted Alternative: Planka or Wekan
Planka offers a beautiful Kanban board experience modeled after Trello, but without the vendor lock-in.
Key Features:
- Trello-like interface with boards, cards, and checklists
- Labels, due dates, and user assignments
- Easy Docker deployment
📒 5. Notes & Wiki
SaaS App: Notion / Confluence
Self-Hosted Alternative: Outline
Key Features:
- Nested pages and collections
- Easy search and tagging
- Access controls and Slack integration
📤 6. Email & Collaboration
SaaS App: Gmail / Google Workspace
Self-Hosted Alternative: Mailcow
Key Features:
- Email, contacts, calendars
- Anti-spam and anti-virus
- Modern admin UI
- Docker-based install
💻 7. Git Hosting
SaaS App: GitHub / GitLab
Self-Hosted Alternative: Gitea
Key Features
- Git repository hosting
- Issue tracking and pull requests
- Webhooks and CI/CD integrations
- LDAP and OAuth login options
💰 8. Personal Finance
SaaS App: Mint / YNAB
Self-Hosted Alternative: Firefly III
Key Features:
- Budgeting and forecasting
- Bank imports and recurring transactions
- Multiple currencies and accounts
- Charts, reports, and tagging
📞 9. CRM & Contact Management
SaaS App: HubSpot / Zoho CRM
Self-Hosted Alternative: EspoCRM
Key Features:
- Leads, accounts, and contacts
- Sales pipeline and calendar
- REST API and integrations
- Role-based access and dashboards
🛡️ 10. Password Managers
SaaS App: LastPass / Dashlane
Self-Hosted Alternative: Vaultwarden
Key Features:
- Complete password management with secure storage, generation, and auto-fill
- Team collaboration using organizations, collections, and role-based access control
- Two-factor authentication
🚀 Final Thoughts: Reclaim Your Stack
Whether you’re a privacy advocate, an IT pro, or just tired of monthly bills, self-hosting gives you back control, flexibility, and freedom. You don’t need to rely on mega corporations to manage your data. You can do it yourself, and do it better.
The best part? You don’t have to go it alone.
👉 Learn how to self-host these tools with ease – Take the Course Now »