Directory database · Self-hosted software
Where to submit self-hosted software: 14 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.
- Directories
- 14
- 1 categories
- Dofollow (verified)
- 9
- of 14 with a checked link
- Free to submit
- 13
- free, or with a free plan
By hand, from $49 one-time.
Start with these 3
Free to submit, a followed link where we verified one, then the highest Domain Rating.
- FOSSHub
Free · Dofollow · DR 74
- Up For Grabs
Free · Dofollow · DR 65
- selfh.st
Free · Dofollow · DR 63
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 7
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…
FreeDofollowCheckedAndroid FOSS (GitHub list)
offa.github.io
A long-running GitHub list of free and open-source Android apps, grouped by category from ad blockers to VPNs. It is aimed at people who care about privacy and licences, and each entry links to the…
FreeMixedCheckedAwesome macOS Open Source Applications
github.com
A GitHub list of open-source macOS apps, about 710 apps in 49 categories according to its own badges, also published as a small website. Entries are added by editing a JSON file rather than the…
FreeMixedCheckedGood 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 14 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.