See what YunoHost offers in 2026: a free, Debian-based self-hosting operating system with a one-click app catalog, SSO/LDAP, and email and file-sync support.
Category
Hosting
Pricing
free, from Free
Verified
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Last updated
July 19, 2026
Founded
2012
Free PlanOpen SourceSelf-Hosted
What Is YunoHost
YunoHost is a free, open-source operating system built on Debian GNU/Linux that simplifies the administration of a personal or small-organization server, aiming to bring self-hosting to people without deep system administration experience.
The project began in February 2012 when a developer known as Kload started building an admin interface for a friend's server, and it has since grown into a community-maintained distribution used by self-hosters worldwide.
YunoHost is copylefted libre software maintained entirely by volunteers rather than a company, so it has no headquarters, employee count or commercial funding to report.
Key Features
A webadmin interface and command-line tool let users manage the server, and an application catalog offers pre-packaged software, including blogging platforms, cloud file sync tools like Nextcloud, personal websites, RSS readers and collaborative office suites such as OnlyOffice and Collabora, all installable in a few clicks.
Applications that support user registration can integrate with YunoHost's built-in single sign-on and LDAP user directory, so logging into the YunoHost user portal automatically authenticates a user across every connected app.
YunoHost also manages domain, website and email configuration, handling tasks like DNS, TLS certificates and mail delivery that are typically among the most error-prone parts of running a self-hosted server manually.
Pricing
YunoHost itself is completely free and open source, with no license fee, subscription or paid tier of any kind.
The only expense involved is whatever hardware or hosting a user chooses to run it on, ranging from a Raspberry Pi or repurposed old computer to a rented virtual private server.
Because there is no commercial entity behind YunoHost, there is also no paid support plan; help comes from community documentation and the volunteer-run project forum.
Key Features
One-click application catalog — Installs pre-packaged applications like Nextcloud, blogs, RSS readers and websites through the webadmin without manual configuration.
Built-in single sign-on and LDAP — Lets supported apps authenticate automatically against YunoHost's central user directory once a user logs into the user portal.
Webadmin and command-line management — Provides both a graphical web interface and a yunohost command-line tool for server administration.
Automated domain and TLS management — Handles DNS, TLS certificate issuance and website configuration to reduce common self-hosting setup errors.
Email server management — Provides tools to configure and run a personal or small-organization email service on the same server.
Backup and restore support — Applications integrated with YunoHost support standardized backup and restore operations through the platform.
Collaborative office suite integration — Supports OnlyOffice and Collabora integration with Nextcloud for in-browser document editing on a self-hosted stack.
Debian-based, community-maintained core — Built on Debian GNU/Linux and maintained entirely by volunteer contributors as copylefted libre software.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Completely free and open source with no subscription cost beyond the hardware or hosting a user provides
One-click app catalog substantially lowers the barrier to self-hosting common services compared to manual Linux setup
Built-in SSO and LDAP integration means users do not need separate logins for every self-hosted app
Automated domain, TLS and email configuration removes some of the most error-prone parts of running a server
Community-driven and ethically focused, appealing to privacy-conscious users who want to avoid third-party SaaS platforms
Cons
As a volunteer-maintained project, there is no paid support option or guaranteed response time for issues
Still requires basic comfort with server administration concepts even though YunoHost simplifies the process
Application quality and maintenance depend on individual community packagers, so not every app in the catalog is equally polished
Running your own server means taking on responsibility for uptime, security patching and backups yourself
Pricing
Open Source $0 n/a
Frequently Asked Questions
Is YunoHost free?
Yes, YunoHost is completely free and open source with no license fee or subscription.
What operating system is YunoHost based on?
YunoHost is based on Debian GNU/Linux.
Who maintains YunoHost?
YunoHost is maintained entirely by volunteers as a copylefted libre software project; it is not a company or for-profit entity.
Can YunoHost run Nextcloud?
Yes, Nextcloud is one of the applications available in YunoHost's application catalog and can be installed in a few clicks.
Does YunoHost support single sign-on across apps?
Yes, applications that support user registration can integrate with YunoHost's built-in LDAP and single sign-on, so one login works across connected apps.
Can YunoHost handle email hosting?
Yes, YunoHost includes tools to configure and manage a personal or small-organization email service on the same server.
When was YunoHost created?
The project originated in February 2012.
What hardware can I run YunoHost on?
YunoHost can run on a range of hardware, from a Raspberry Pi or repurposed old computer to a rented virtual private server.