Plesk

Best Self Hosted Alternatives to Plesk

A curated collection of the 2 best self hosted alternatives to Plesk.

Plesk is a commercial web hosting control panel SaaS that enables hosting providers and web professionals to manage servers, websites, domains, email, applications, security and automation via a unified interface.

Alternatives List

#1
YunoHost

YunoHost

Debian-based server distribution with a web admin, app catalog, SSO and automated TLS/DNS/email setup for easy, maintainable self-hosting.

YunoHost screenshot

YunoHost is a Debian-based server distribution designed to make self-hosting accessible by providing a web administration interface and an integrated app catalog. It focuses on simplifying common sysadmin tasks (users, domains, certificates, email) while offering reproducible app installation and upgrades.

Key Features

  • Web admin panel for managing domains, users, services, firewall, updates, and logs
  • App catalog with one-click install/upgrade and standardized packaging via the YunoHost app framework
  • Integrated user management and SSO portal for installed apps
  • Automated TLS certificate issuance/renewal (Let’s Encrypt/ACME) and certificate management
  • Built-in email stack support (e.g., SMTP/IMAP) with tooling for deliverability checks and DNS guidance
  • Backup and restore tools for system and apps (including app-specific backup hooks)
  • Command-line tools (yunohost CLI) mirroring most admin functions for automation

Use Cases

  • Personal “home server” to run common apps (cloud, notes, media, password manager) under one domain
  • Small organizations hosting collaboration tools with centralized user accounts and access control
  • Quickly deploying and maintaining a curated set of web apps on a VPS with predictable upgrades

Limitations and Considerations

  • App availability and update cadence depend on the community-maintained catalog; some apps may lag upstream or have packaging constraints
  • Primarily targets single-server deployments; it is not a Kubernetes-style multi-node orchestrator

YunoHost is well-suited for people who want a managed, cohesive self-hosting experience without assembling every component manually. Its value comes from the combination of Debian stability, integrated identity and domain tooling, and a consistent app packaging/maintenance model.

2.8kstars
329forks
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#2
DockSTARTer

DockSTARTer

DockSTARTer is a CLI tool that helps you install and maintain Docker, Docker Compose, and a curated set of Docker Compose app stacks using a guided, menu-based workflow.

DockSTARTer screenshot

DockSTARTer is a command-line tool that streamlines setting up and maintaining a Docker + Docker Compose environment for running common self-hosted applications. It provides a guided, menu-driven experience to install prerequisites, generate configuration, and deploy/update curated Compose “app stacks” consistently.

Key Features

  • Menu-based CLI to select, configure, and manage supported Docker Compose application stacks
  • Installs and updates core prerequisites (Docker Engine, Docker Compose, and related dependencies) on supported Linux hosts
  • Generates and manages a structured configuration (e.g., environment variables and Compose files) for repeatable deployments
  • Built-in workflows for pulling updated images and recreating containers (update/upgrade routines)
  • Curated library of commonly used services with standardized defaults to reduce manual Compose authoring

Use Cases

  • Quickly bootstrap a homelab server with Docker Compose apps (media, monitoring, utilities)
  • Standardize deployments across multiple machines with consistent configuration patterns
  • Simplify ongoing maintenance by re-running update routines to refresh images and containers

Limitations and Considerations

  • Primarily targets Linux hosts and users comfortable operating from a shell
  • Focuses on Docker Compose stacks (not a Kubernetes/orchestrator-first workflow)

DockSTARTer is best suited for users who want a repeatable, guided approach to deploying and maintaining a set of popular Docker Compose services without building every stack from scratch. It acts as an opinionated “starter kit” for homelab-style Docker environments and ongoing updates.

2.5kstars
293forks
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Why choose an open source alternative?

  • •Data ownership: Keep your data on your own servers
  • •No vendor lock-in: Freedom to switch or modify at any time
  • •Cost savings: Reduce or eliminate subscription fees
  • •Transparency: Audit the code and know exactly what's running