Directory database · Self-hosted software
Where to submit self-hosted software: 12 directories
Self-hosted software has its own small but dedicated audience: people who run apps on a home server, a VPS or their company’s infrastructure, often for privacy or cost reasons. They find new software through self-hosting lists, forums and open-source directories. They decide quickly based on the install method (Docker image, Compose file, package), the resources it needs, the licence and how active development is. Put a working docker-compose example in your README and link to it from every listing. Be clear about what is free to self-host and what needs a paid licence, since this audience reads the licence carefully and dislikes surprises. Projects that also offer a hosted version should say so, but lead with the self-hosted option on these lists; that is what readers came for.
9 with a verified dofollow link · 11 free or with a free option · 11 reviewed by a person · last checked Sep 23, 2026
By hand, from $79 one-time.
Self-hosting lists 7
Most popular first.
selfh.st
selfh.st
selfh.st is a self-hosting publication with a weekly newsletter, blog and a large app directory of self-hosted software, companion apps and alternatives. Its directory refreshes every morning and…
FreeDofollowCheckedOpenAlternative
openalternative.co
A curated catalogue of open source projects organised as replacements for well-known proprietary apps. Developers and technical buyers browse it by alternative, category and tech stack, and each…
PaidMixedCheckedawesome-selfhosted
awesome-selfhosted.net
The best-known curated list of free software network services and web apps that can be self-hosted, published as a website and GitHub list. Inclusion puts a project in front of the self-hosting…
FreeDofollowCheckedOpenSourceAlternative.to
opensourcealternative.to
A directory that pairs self-hostable open source projects with the commercial products they can replace. Visitors browse by proprietary tool, category, language and licence; an accepted project gets…
Free + paidDofollowCheckedAwesome Self-Hosted Apps
awesomeselfhosted.app
Awesome Self-Hosted Apps is an editor-reviewed directory of open-source, source-available and freeware apps you can run on your own server, showing license, repository health and install details…
FreeDofollowCheckedSelf-Hosted.Directory
self-hosted.directory
Self-Hosted.Directory is a curated catalog of self-hostable software organized by category, scenario and deployment style, with reviewed project pages. Makers can submit for free with a badge, or…
Free + paidMixedCheckedSelfHostIndex
selfhostindex.com
SelfHostIndex catalogs open-source, self-hostable apps with health scores, setup difficulty and the proprietary tools each one replaces. Its data is open, and each new app automatically gets its own…
FreeDofollowChecked
Open-source directories that also list self-hosted apps 5
Most popular first.
SourceForge
sourceforge.net
A veteran open source hosting and download platform that also runs a business software directory. Projects can be created or imported from GitHub with free mirror-based downloads and stats; each…
FreeNofollowCheckedFOSSHub
fosshub.com
FOSSHub is a download host and catalog for open-source and some freeware desktop software, known for serving installers without bundled adware. Projects that are accepted get a program page with…
FreeDofollowCheckedLinuxLinks
linuxlinks.com
LinuxLinks is an editorial site that reviews and rounds up free and open-source Linux software, with 'best of' lists and individual program write-ups. Suggested programs can end up featured in an…
FreeDofollowCheckedGood First Issue
goodfirstissue.dev
Good First Issue gathers beginner-friendly issues from popular open-source repositories, sorted by language, so newcomers can find a place to start contributing. A listed repo appears with its star…
FreeDofollowCheckedUp For Grabs
up-for-grabs.net
Up For Grabs is a long-running list of open-source projects that keep beginner-friendly tasks labeled for newcomers. It helps maintainers attract first-time contributors, and each listed project…
FreeDofollowChecked
DR is Domain Rating by Ahrefs: a 0–100 score of a site’s backlinks, higher is stronger. It isn’t a Google metric. Tranco rank is a research top-sites ranking: lower means more popular. How we check each directory
How to prioritise
- Self-hosting lists for your category, following their contribution rules.
- Open-source directories that tag self-hosted projects.
- Alternatives sites, listed as a self-hosted alternative to a known cloud product.
Questions about this list
What do self-hosting lists require?
Usually a free or open-source licence (some lists accept source-available software in a separate section), a working install method and active maintenance. Many are on GitHub and take pull requests in a strict format.
What should the README show for self-hosters?
A docker-compose example or install command, minimum resources, how to update and back up, and which features need a paid licence if any. A screenshot of the app running helps more than a logo.
Is it worth listing a project that isn’t fully open source?
Some lists accept source-available or open-core software if it is clearly labelled. Be upfront about the licence; mislabelled entries are usually removed and cost you goodwill with a vocal audience.
Which of these directories give a dofollow link?
9 of the 12 had a followed (dofollow) listing link when we checked: selfh.st, awesome-selfhosted, OpenSourceAlternative.to, Awesome Self-Hosted Apps, SelfHostIndex, FOSSHub and 3 more. Directories change their link policy, so check your own listing once it is live.