Websoft9 — Self-Hosted, Open-Source

Websoft9 - Self-hosted application

License: LGPL-3.0. Website: https://www.websoft9.com. Source: https://github.com/websoft9/websoft9.

Features

  • Applications listing
  • Install 200+ template applications without any configuration
  • Web-based file browser to manage files and folder
  • Docker Compose GUI
  • Manage user accounts
  • Use a terminal on a remote server in your local web browser
  • Nginx gui for proxy and free SSL with Let's Encrypt
  • Deploy, configure, troubleshoot and secure containers in minutes on Kubernetes, Docker, and Swarm in any data center, cloud, network edge or IIOT device.
  • Manage your Linux by GUI: Inspect and change network settings, Configure a firewall, Manage storage, Browse and search system logs, Inspect a system’s hardware, Inspect and interact with systemd-based services,
  • Supported languages: English, Chinese（中文）

How to install Websoft9

Most self-hosted apps including Websoft9 install through Docker or Docker Compose. The typical workflow is: install Docker on your host, pull the official image (or clone the repository), supply a configuration file with database credentials and storage paths, then start the container. Many homelabbers run Websoft9 alongside other self-hosted services behind a reverse proxy like Caddy, Traefik, or nginx-proxy-manager for HTTPS and routing. Check the official repository for the most current instructions.

Why self-host Websoft9

Self-hosting gives you three things SaaS can’t: data ownership (the files live on disks you control), cost predictability (a one-time setup vs. recurring per-seat fees that grow with your household or team), and longevity (open-source means the app keeps working even if the maintainers move on, since you can pin a working version). The trade-off is that you take on the operational work of running a server, applying updates, and handling backups.

What hardware do you need

Most self-hosted apps run comfortably on modest hardware — a Raspberry Pi 4, a mini PC, a NAS with Docker support, or a small VPS is usually enough for personal or family use. CPU and RAM requirements scale with how many simultaneous users or how much data you push through Websoft9. Storage requirements depend on the kind of data you keep; check the README for guidance on data retention.

Where to go from here

  • Browse the full self-hosted app directory
  • Compare self-hosted alternatives side-by-side
  • DevOps roadmap — learn the skills to run your own server

Last verified: 2026-04-28