Build a home server you actually understand
Learn how to build, secure, optimize, and maintain your own home server. Vendor-neutral guides, honest comparisons, and a searchable knowledge base for self-hosting and homelabs.
- 22
- In-depth guides
- 8
- Hardware Builds
- 17
- Software reviewed
- 80
- Glossary terms
Explore by category
Find everything on a topic in one place.
Popular guides
Where most people start their homelab journey.
Secure Remote Access to Your Home Server
Compare VPN, reverse proxy, and Tailscale patterns without exposing insecure ports.
Home Server Backup Strategy That Actually Works
Plan backups with the 3-2-1 rule, test restores, and pick tools like Restic or Borg for your homelab.
Docker Compose Best Practices for Home Servers
Structure stacks, volumes, networks and updates so your Compose homelab stays maintainable.
Featured tutorials
Step-by-step walkthroughs you can follow tonight.
How to Set Up WireGuard VPN
Self-host WireGuard so you can reach your homelab securely from anywhere.
How to Install Uptime Kuma
Monitor homelab services and get alerts when something goes down.
How to Install Portainer
Get a web UI for managing Docker containers and stacks in minutes.
Latest from the blog
Articles, guides, tutorials and comparisons.
ZFS for Home Servers: A Practical Primer
Understand pools, vdevs, snapshots and when ZFS is worth the RAM overhead.
How to Set Up WireGuard VPN
Self-host WireGuard so you can reach your homelab securely from anywhere.
How to Install Uptime Kuma
Monitor homelab services and get alerts when something goes down.
How to Configure Proxmox Backups
Schedule vzdump backups and store them on NAS or PBS.
How to Install Portainer
Get a web UI for managing Docker containers and stacks in minutes.
How to Install Nginx Proxy Manager
Publish internal services with free TLS certificates and a friendly UI.
Featured self-hosted software
Hand-picked apps worth running on your server.
Home server glossary
Plain-English definitions for the jargon you'll encounter.
Home Server
A computer you run at home to provide services such as file storage, media streaming, backups or self-hosted apps to your devices.
NAS(Network-Attached Storage)
A dedicated storage device connected to your network that lets multiple devices store and access files centrally.
RAID(Redundant Array of Independent Disks)
A method of combining multiple drives so they act as one, improving performance and/or protecting against drive failure.
ZFS
An advanced filesystem and volume manager offering data integrity, snapshots, compression and software RAID.
Docker
A platform for packaging applications and their dependencies into lightweight, portable containers.
Container
An isolated, self-contained package that bundles an application with everything it needs to run.
Docker Compose
A tool that defines and runs multi-container applications from a single declarative YAML file.
Virtual Machine(VM)
A software-based computer that runs its own operating system on top of physical hardware via a hypervisor.
Honest comparisons
Side-by-side picks to help you choose the right tool.
Plex vs Jellyfin
Plex vs Jellyfin compared: features, hardware transcoding, privacy, cost and which media server is right for you.
Docker vs Podman
Docker vs Podman: architecture, security, rootless mode, Compose support and which container engine to use at home.
TrueNAS vs OpenMediaVault
TrueNAS vs OpenMediaVault: ZFS, hardware requirements, ease of use and which NAS OS fits your build.
Proxmox vs VMware
Proxmox VE vs VMware ESXi for the homelab: cost, licensing, features, containers and which hypervisor to choose.
Synology vs DIY NAS
Synology vs building your own NAS: cost, performance, software, flexibility and which route suits you.
Nextcloud vs ownCloud
Compare the two private-cloud forks: features, apps, licensing and which fits your homelab.
Recommended hardware
Curated buying guides for every budget.
Best Mini PCs for a Home Server
The best low-power mini PCs for a home server in 2026 — efficient, quiet and powerful enough for Docker, media and virtualization.
Best Hard Drives for a NAS
The best NAS hard drives for reliability and value — CMR drives rated for 24/7 operation in your home server.
Best SSDs for a Home Server
The best SSDs for a home server boot drive, cache and app storage — reliable NVMe and SATA picks.
Editor's affiliate picks
Gear we'd buy ourselves. Purchases through these links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.
Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Beelink EQ series (Intel N-series)
The default recommendation: cheap, efficient, and more than enough for a first home server running Docker and a media server.
Visit websiteWD Red Plus (CMR)
Reliable, quiet and widely trusted for home NAS builds.
Visit websiteSamsung 990/980 (NVMe)
A dependable boot and app drive for any modern mini PC or server board.
Visit websiteAPC Back-UPS
Well supported by NUT for automatic, clean shutdowns of your NAS.
Visit websitePower consumption calculator
Estimate the yearly energy use and running cost of your home server.
Estimated draw at the wall
12.0W
Yearly cost
$31.54
- Daily energy
- 0.29 kWh
- Daily cost
- $0.09
- Monthly energy
- 8.77 kWh
- Monthly cost
- $2.63
- Yearly energy
- 105.12 kWh
- Yearly cost
- $31.54
Actual figures vary with load, hardware efficiency, and your local energy mix.
Estimates only. Your results will vary.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions we hear most.