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selfh.st Review

Worth it

Should I use selfh.st?

Self-hosted news, content, updates, launches, events, and more - selfh.st

· 1 month ago

A free, community-trusted directory and weekly newsletter — ideal if you self-host or want to replace SaaS with self-hosted apps. Skip it if you want software to deploy or vendor-backed tooling; this is editorial content, not a product.

Confidence

Medium. Based on 20+ public sources including Reddit, Ars Technica, Hacker News, and selfh.st itself

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Feature depth
  • Support qualitySolo content site; no support model
  • Security posture

Pricing

$0

Free

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed
Free tierYes
Supporter / InsiderDonation-based

Best for

  • Homelab hobbyists
  • Developers replacing SaaS with self-hosted apps
  • Dashboard builders needing app icons
  • Anyone tracking self-hosted releases

Not for

  • Buyers wanting supported, SLA-backed software
  • Non-technical users who won't run their own servers
  • Enterprises needing vetted, audited tool directories
  • Anyone expecting an actual app to deploy

Gotchas - check before you buy

medium

Verify directory apps before installing; users have reported scam listings

low

Homepage carries sponsor ads; coverage is partly ad-supported

low

Membership perks are donation-tier; no published prices or guaranteed benefits

low

Security news lives in weekly posts, not a dedicated security page

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Free directory of self-hosted software plus alternatives guides
  • Weekly newsletter curating self-hosted news since 2023
  • 1,600+ icon collection widely used by dashboard projects
  • RSS release feeds track updates across self-hosted apps
  • Well-regarded: readers call the newsletter a great subreddit alternative

Cons

  • Not software — a news site and directory; nothing to deploy
  • Solo, donation-funded operation with recurring donation appeals
  • Listings are community-submitted; a Reddit user reported a scam/virus listing
  • No dedicated security page found on the site

Sources & method

- 10 sources - No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed; the site itself has no dedicated security page, and users have flagged listing curation.

official x6review x3news x1
  • Scam/virus listing allegation, A Reddit thread alleges an active scam/virus app listed on the site; the operator says it responds to listing complaints.
  • No dedicated security page, returned no security page; security coverage lives in the weekly newsletter.

Key stats

  • Value for money: 5/5

    Rating

  • $0

    Starting price

  • 10

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 5/5. Free; donation-supported
  • Ease of use: 4/5. Read-only site; simple browsing
  • Feature depth: 4/5. Directory, guides, releases RSS, icons, companions
  • Support quality. Solo content site; no support model
  • Security posture: 2/5. No security page; listing curation flagged
  • Free Price Donation-funded (Supporters/Insiders)
  • 1,600+ Icon library Service icons with dark mode
  • 2023 Publishing since Weekly newsletter + app directory
  • 18% Survey: avoid sensitive data 2025 self-host user survey

Pricing

Free

$0

  • Newsletter and weekly posts
  • Apps directory and alternatives guides
  • Icons and RSS release feeds

Supporter / Insider

Donation-based

  • Member perks
  • Supports the site's operation

Security

No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed; the site itself has no dedicated security page, and users have flagged listing curation.

  • Scam/virus listing allegationA Reddit thread alleges an active scam/virus app listed on the site; the operator says it responds to listing complaints.⁶
  • No dedicated security pagereturned no security page; security coverage lives in the weekly newsletter.

What users say

The r/selfhosted community broadly recommends selfh.st as a discovery resource, with occasional complaints about listings quality.

“The selfh.st newsletter is a great alternative to this sub”
Reddit, r/selfhosted
“selfh.st/icons Update: 1600+ individual service icons, dark”
Reddit, r/selfhosted
Full analysis

Based on 20+ public sources including Reddit, Ars Technica, Hacker News, and selfh.st itself

Free, trusted directory + weekly news for self-hosters. Nothing to install; verify listings before trusting apps.

Methodology

Based on 20+ public sources including Reddit, Ars Technica, Hacker News, and selfh.st itself

Read how a report is made.

Sources

  1. selfh.st — Self-hosted content and softwareselfh.st
    official
  2. About selfh.st/appsselfh.st
    official
  3. Membership — selfh.stselfh.st
    official
  4. This Week in Self-Hosted (19 May 2023)selfh.st
    official
  5. The selfh.st newsletter is a great alternative to this subreddit.com
    review
  6. Selfh.st has an active scam/virus listed on their websitereddit.com
    review
  7. selfhst/icons — GitHubgithub.com
    official
  8. Introducing selfh.st/releasesreddit.com
    review
  9. Self-hosting is having a moment — Ars Technicaarstechnica.com
    news
  10. 2025 Self-Host User Survey Resultsselfh.st
    official

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