Between cloud storage, VPNs, and ad-free browsing, I was spending a few hundred dollars yearly. With paid subscription services, the recurring charges add up. This was the first realization that sparked the need for a shift from paid subscriptions to self-hosted services.
So it was time to repurpose one of my old computers and convert it into a server that replaces several of my paid subscription services. These six services I started with not only saved me money but also gave me a level of data control I hadn’t thought possible.
Nextcloud
Your personal cloud storage and file hub—without paying Google or Dropbox
I replaced my Google One subscription with a self-hosted Nextcloud service. This is an ideal replacement for a range of cloud storage options, including Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive. Depending on the particular service it replaces and the plan you use, you could save between $20 and $120 per year.
Beyond the cost benefits, Nextcloud gives you full control of your files. It also includes features such as version history, sharing permissions, and calendar/contacts integration.
I installed Nextcloud in Docker on my old computer, and the initial document sync of about 80 GB completed overnight. After the initial setup, I enjoyed seamless daily use. I integrated ONLYOFFICE Docs (Community Edition), which replaces Google Docs.
I have the Nextcloud app installed on my phone, and with its robust Auto Upload feature, I can send photos straight to my Nextcloud server for backup. But where this free, self-hosted tool sets itself apart is with time-limited and password-protected shares. Only Google Workspace or a Google One (2TB+) paid subscription offers this feature. Also, for group calls, Nextcloud Talk replaces Zoom.
Vaultwarden
The password manager that costs nothing and trusts no one
Yadullah Abidi / MakeUseOfCredit: Yadullah Abidi / MakeUseOf
In the past, I used 1Password, but self-hosting Vaultwarden replaces it. If you use any premium password manager, like LastPass, Dashlane, or Bitwarden Premium, this self-hosted option will save you between $10 and $60 per year. Aside from being compatible with Bitwarden apps, Vaultwarden also gives me premium Bitwarden features and lets me run it on a Raspberry Pi Zero or other minimal hardware.
The entire Vaultwarden setup is simple, and it took me less than five minutes to completely migrate from 1Password. I’ve had one of the smoothest real-world experiences using it. The extensions are great, and biometric unlock, shared family passwords, and emergency access work flawlessly.
I had one major hiccup when Docker crashed for several hours after an auto-update, but the lesson was to always maintain an offline backup.
Vaultwarden has great security, and you’ll enjoy safe remote access using Cloudflare Tunnel or WireGuard VPN. You get Fail2Ban for blocking brute-force attempts and added authentication using two-factor authentication (2FA).
Developer
Daniel García
Price model
Free, Open-source
Vaultwarden is a lightweight, self-hosted password manager compatible with Bitwarden clients, designed to run efficiently on low-resource servers.
Immich
Local photo backup that respects your memories
Afam Onyimadu / MUO
If you use Google Photos, iCloud, and Amazon Photos, self-hosting an Immich server is your best option to do away with the monthly subscription. This server saves me $35.88 per year on cloud subscriptions.
The biggest advantage of Immich is that, unlike the cloud options I used to use, all my photos, especially their metadata, stay private. It allows face recognition and object detection, but this happens locally, and AI I don’t control is not trained on my data.
I found migrating my data easy, especially from Google Photos, where Google Takeout exported my 120GB library, and I used Immich-Go to import all images and albums intact. Daily sync is automatic, and because it runs on my local network, search is noticeably faster.
OS
Linux, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
Price model
Free
Immich is a self-hosted solution that allows you back up, organize, and manage your photos on your own server. It allows you to browse your photos and videos with ease and does not sacrifice privacy.
WireGuard
The VPN that’s faster and more private because it’s yours
Afam Onyimadu / MUO
Over the years, I have used Avast SecureLine, NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN, to name a few. I have found many of them to be great options. However, setting up my own self-hosted WireGuard VPN beats them all. It eliminates my $27.48-per-year Surfshark One subscription while giving me similar benefits.
I get a dedicated IP, encrypted traffic, and can manage which apps route through the tunnel. But where it shines the most is in performance. My Hetzner VPS setup reaches a 950Mbps download speed, beating the 400–600Mbps I was getting with commercial VPNs.
I was able to set it up very easily in under five minutes using the PiVPN script. I can connect my mobile devices using a QR code, and I configure selective app routing using split tunneling. One of the biggest benefits I got was accessing my home files remotely. Aside from this, it bypasses geo-restrictions, and without the need for third parties, I can secure public Wi-Fi.
Pi-hole
Network-wide ad-blocking that commercial services can’t touch
Self-hosting Pi-hole replaced YouTube Premium, browser ad blockers, and DNS filtering services like NextDNS, instantly saving me anywhere between $30 to $100 per year.
It works better than extensions because it blocks ads at the DNS level. This means every device on my network is protected automatically. By eliminating the need for per-device setup, it becomes an easy, self-hosted family option.
The minor limitation is that on my mobile devices, I still get the occasional ad that sneaks through, but this is eliminated as I now combine it with uBlock Origin.
Paperless-NGX
The document scanner that replaced my filing cabinet
Afam Onyimadu / MUO
Self-hosting Paperless-NGX saves me about $100 to $130 per year by replacing services like Evernote Premium, Notion Plus, OneNote, and physical filing systems. It automatically OCRs documents, tags them, and creates searchable PDFs. I set up custom rules so I can automatically classify documents. For instance, I may split them into utility bills or tax documents.
Here again, setting up the server took me under 15 minutes using Docker Compose, PostgreSQL, and Redis. Using third-party Paperless-NGX mobile apps, I scan directly to my server. Incoming PDFs are processed by watched folders, and I have several automation rules that save me several hours every month.
Some of the subtle but important benefits are sharing via secure time-limited links, integration with Nextcloud and Immich for redundancy, and unlimited long-term archiving.
The cost benefits of self-hosting
The table below summarizes what self-hosting saved me:
Category
Paid service(s) I was using
Yearly cost I removed
Self-hosted replacement
Ongoing subscription cost
Cloud storage & file sync
Google One / Google Drive / Dropbox / OneDrive
$20–$120/year (depending on plan)
Nextcloud (+ ONLYOFFICE)
$0
Password management
1Password (and comparable tools like LastPass, Dashlane)
$10–$60/year
Vaultwarden
$0
Photo backup & organization
Google Photos / iCloud / Amazon Photos
$35.88/year
Immich
$0
VPN / remote access
Surfshark One
$27.48/year
WireGuard
$0
Network-wide ad blocking
YouTube Premium, browser blockers, NextDNS
$30–$100/year
Pi-hole
$0
Document scanning & archiving
Evernote Premium, Notion Plus, OneNote, filing systems
$100–$130/year
Paperless-NGX
$0
Several services are bundled under one umbrella. Google One, for example, comprises Drive, Gmail, and Photos storage. This bundle strategy gives the feeling that money is well spent.
I realized that replacing the entire suite of a service was very difficult. For instance, I couldn’t find a self-hosted service that did everything Google One did, but as soon as I started viewing services as categories, it was easy to self-host replacements and make significant subscription savings. In the end, by self-hosting services, I eliminated between $223 and $473 per year.
