FreedomBox icon

FreedomBox

FreedomBox is a free and open source software project that aims to make it easy for non-technical users to run servers that enable privacy, security, and communication tools. It provides plug and play functionality for services like file storage, chat, email, and more.

What is FreedomBox?

FreedomBox is a Debian-based Linux distribution and collection of software designed to create private servers for non-technical users to run at home. The goal of the FreedomBox project is to make it simple to self-host various online services and communication tools with a focus on privacy, security, and decentralized networks.

Some of the main features and services provided by FreedomBox include:

  • Secure file storage and sharing
  • Private chat and audio/video conferencing
  • Encrypted email
  • VPN capabilities
  • Federated identity management
  • Ethereum blockchain node
  • Tor onion service capabilities

By running a FreedomBox, users can have more control over their data and online activities rather than relying on third-party web services. It aims to give average households the ability to host their own cloud services, communication tools, and more without needing technical expertise.

FreedomBox strives to use only free and open source software in its stack. It runs on Debian Linux and is configured mainly through a web-based admin interface. It is designed to run on inexpensive Raspberry Pi single-board computers making it accessible for personal, home use.

The project was launched in 2011 and is managed by the FreedomBox Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting privacy and decentralized networks by making self-hosting accessible to everyone.

The Best FreedomBox Alternatives

Top Apps like FreedomBox

YunoHost, Umbrel, Cloudron, CapRover, LibraryBox, Sandstorm, SlapOS, PirateBox, BibleBox, HomelabOS, Cosmos Server, DockSTARTer, CageOS, Libre.sh, StartOS are some alternatives to FreedomBox.

YunoHost

YunoHost is an open source project and software that allows users to self-host apps and services on their own server or virtual private server (VPS). It provides a simple administrative web interface and aims to make self-hosting accessible for everyone, including people without advanced technical knowledge.Some of the key...

Umbrel

Umbrel is an open-source personal server built on top of Bitcoin and Lightning technology. It allows anyone to easily run their own private, secure, and autonomous blockchain node at home using simple plug-and-play hardware.The Umbrel operating system offers a friendly web interface to manage apps and funds. It takes...

Cloudron

Cloudron is an open-source platform designed to make self-hosting web apps and services easy. It provides a cloud-like management interface to handle many of the complexities of running web apps on your own infrastructure.Some key features of Cloudron include:One-click installers for apps like WordPress, Nextcloud, Mattermost, and more...

CapRover

CapRover is an open-source Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) solution that makes deploying web applications easy and efficient for developers. It handles all the infrastructure and configuration needed to run containerized apps, allowing developers to focus on writing code rather than managing servers.Some key features of CapRover include:One-click deployments of Node...

LibraryBox

LibraryBox is an open source DIY hardware and software project intended for providing offline digital distribution in remote places without access to the internet or places with censorship. It allows for sharing of educational materials, health information, books, disaster preparedness manuals, cultural documents and more in locations where internet access...

Sandstorm

Sandstorm is an open source platform that makes it easy to self-host web apps on your own server. It provides a sandboxed hosting environment where each app runs isolated from the rest of the system and other apps. Some key features of Sandstorm include:Security - Each app runs inside...

SlapOS

SlapOS is an open source cloud computing platform designed to deploy and manage applications across multiple cloud providers. It provides a unified interface to help abstract away the differences in cloud providers and make application deployment and management easier.Some key features of SlapOS include:Ability to deploy applications across...

PirateBox

PirateBox is a DIY anonymous offline file sharing and communications system built using free software and inexpensive off-the-shelf hardware like mobile phones or wireless routers. It allows people to anonymously share files, chat, message, and browse an anonymous bulletin board web app with others nearby without requiring Internet access.A...

BibleBox

BibleBox is an open-source software project that transforms low-cost hardware devices into digital libraries filled with Christian resources. The purpose of BibleBox is to make Bibles, Christian books, films, audio files, and other faith-based media freely available to those with limited internet access.A BibleBox creator loads educational and inspirational...

HomelabOS

HomelabOS is an open-source virtualization and infrastructure management platform designed specifically for homelab environments. It provides a simplified alternative to enterprise solutions like VMware vSphere and Microsoft Hyper-V, packing many of the same core features into an easy-to-use web-based interface.Some key capabilities and benefits of HomelabOS include:VM Management...

Cosmos Server

Cosmos Server is an open-source distributed computing platform optimized for big data analytics and machine learning workloads. It enables running massively parallel applications on clusters of commodity hardware including on-premises data centers or the cloud.Key capabilities and benefits of Cosmos Server include:Parallel processing engine for running data-intensive distributed...

DockSTARTer

DockSTARTer is an open source application designed to simplify the process of setting up Docker containers for common home server applications. It provides a CLI (command line interface) and scripts to quickly install, configure, and manage services like media servers, download managers, web applications, home automation software, and more in...

CageOS

CageOS is a Debian-based Linux distribution focused on user privacy and anonymity. Some key features include:All internet traffic is routed through the Tor network by default to hide the user's IP address and location.Connectivity checking is disabled so the OS does not reveal information to the outside world...

Libre.sh

Libre.sh is an open source platform that provides free cloud hosting for open source web applications. It was created with the goal of making it easy for anyone to deploy open source software without needing to manage their own servers.Some key features of Libre.sh include:Free hosting...

StartOS

StartOS is a lightweight and fast operating system launched in 2019. It is designed specifically for efficiency and high performance on low-powered devices.Some key features of StartOS include:Minimalist interface - Uses very little system resources for a clean, distraction-free experience.Enhanced multi-tasking - Optimized CPU and RAM usage allows...