Best Home Server OS in 2026
Quick Recommendation
Proxmox VE for most self-hosters. It’s free, runs VMs and containers, has a web UI, and handles everything from a single mini PC to a multi-node cluster. Install it on bare metal, spin up an Ubuntu LXC container for Docker, and you’re running.
If storage is your primary concern, TrueNAS SCALE gives you ZFS with Docker support built in. If you want the easiest experience and don’t mind paying $59/year, Unraid is the most beginner-friendly option.
The Contenders
| OS | Type | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proxmox VE | Hypervisor | Free (paid support optional) | VMs + containers on one box |
| TrueNAS SCALE | NAS/server | Free | ZFS storage + Docker |
| Unraid | NAS/server | $59-129 (one-time) | Easy mixed-drive storage |
| Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS | General Linux | Free | Docker-only setups |
| Debian 12 | General Linux | Free | Minimal, stable Docker host |
| Fedora Server | General Linux | Free | Bleeding-edge packages |
| OpenMediaVault | NAS | Free | Debian-based NAS OS |
| CasaOS | Overlay | Free | Absolute beginners |
Detailed Breakdown
1. Proxmox VE 8 — Best Overall
Proxmox Virtual Environment is a Debian-based hypervisor that runs both KVM virtual machines and LXC containers. It ships with a web UI for managing everything — no command line required for daily operations.
Why it wins: Flexibility. Run a TrueNAS VM for storage, an Ubuntu LXC for Docker containers, a Home Assistant VM, and a Windows VM for testing — all on one box. Snapshots, backups, live migration (with a cluster), and ZFS support are built in.
Setup complexity: Install from USB, configure networking in the web UI, create your first VM or LXC container. About 30 minutes from bare metal to running containers.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Base | Debian 12 (Bookworm) |
| Virtualization | KVM (VMs) + LXC (containers) |
| Storage | ZFS, LVM, Ceph, local, NFS, iSCSI |
| Web UI | Yes, port 8006 |
| Clustering | Yes (3+ nodes) |
| GPU passthrough | Yes |
| License | AGPL v3 (free), paid subscription optional |
Minimum hardware: 4 GB RAM (8 GB+ recommended), 64-bit CPU with VT-x/VT-d, 32 GB boot drive.
Recommended hardware: Intel N100/N305 mini PC with 16-32 GB RAM for a starter setup. DIY build with 32-64 GB ECC RAM for serious virtualization.
Pros: Free, mature (15+ years), excellent ZFS integration, web UI, huge community, enterprise-grade features.
Cons: No built-in Docker management (use an LXC or VM), subscription nag on the web UI (cosmetic, doesn’t affect function), learning curve for networking (bridges, VLANs).
2. TrueNAS SCALE — Best for Storage
TrueNAS SCALE is a Linux-based NAS OS built around ZFS and OpenZFS. It includes Docker/Kubernetes support (via TrueNAS Apps) for running containers alongside storage.
Why it’s great: If your primary use case is storing files (media library, backups, photo archive) with Docker containers as a secondary function, TrueNAS SCALE gives you best-in-class ZFS management with a web UI.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Base | Debian 12 |
| Storage | ZFS (primary), SMB, NFS, iSCSI |
| Container runtime | Docker (via Apps), optional Kubernetes |
| Web UI | Yes, port 80/443 |
| Replication | Built-in ZFS send/receive |
| License | BSD (free), TrueNAS Enterprise for paid support |
Minimum hardware: 8 GB RAM (16 GB+ recommended for ZFS), ECC RAM recommended but not required, 2+ drives for redundancy. See our TrueNAS hardware guide.
Pros: Best ZFS management UI, built-in replication, SMB/NFS shares, Docker Apps catalog, active development by iXsystems.
Cons: ZFS wants lots of RAM (1 GB per TB of storage as a rough rule), Docker Apps can be finicky compared to raw Docker Compose, updates sometimes break app configs.
3. Unraid — Best for Beginners
Unraid is a proprietary Linux-based server OS focused on ease of use. Its killer feature is mixed-drive storage — combine different-size drives into one pool without traditional RAID.
Why beginners love it: The web UI manages everything. Docker containers install from a community app store. VMs work via KVM with GPU passthrough. Mixed drives mean you can start with one 4 TB and one 8 TB drive without wasting the extra 4 TB.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Base | Slackware Linux |
| Storage | Custom parity system (not RAID, not ZFS) |
| Container runtime | Docker (built-in) |
| VM support | KVM with GPU passthrough |
| Web UI | Yes |
| License | $59 (Basic), $89 (Plus), $129 (Pro) |
Minimum hardware: 2 GB RAM, 64-bit CPU, USB flash drive for boot. See our Unraid hardware guide.
Pros: Easiest setup, mixed drive sizes, community apps ecosystem, excellent Docker integration, active forums.
Cons: Not free ($59+), parity rebuild is slow (single parity disk bottleneck), not suitable for high-IOPS workloads, boots from USB (wear concern — mitigated by running from RAM).
4. Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS — Best for Docker-Only
If you just want to run Docker containers and don’t need a hypervisor or NAS features, Ubuntu Server is the most straightforward choice. Install, add Docker, done.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Base | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (supported until 2029) |
| Container runtime | Docker, Podman |
| Package manager | apt |
| Updates | Automatic security updates via unattended-upgrades |
When to use this: You have a mini PC dedicated to Docker containers. You don’t need VMs. You manage storage separately (external NAS, cloud backup). You want the largest ecosystem of tutorials and Stack Overflow answers.
Pros: Most popular server Linux (largest community), 5-year LTS support, works on everything, vast package ecosystem.
Cons: No web UI by default (install Portainer or Cockpit), no built-in NAS features, Snap packages can be annoying (remove them).
5. Debian 12 — Best Minimal
Same as Ubuntu Server but without Canonical’s additions (Snaps, Ubuntu Pro nags, cloud-init). Debian is the base that Proxmox, TrueNAS SCALE, and many Docker images run on.
When to use this: You want a clean, minimal server OS with nothing extra. You’re comfortable with the command line. You prefer stability over bleeding-edge packages.
Pros: Minimal footprint, rock-solid stability, no corporate additions, Proxmox/TrueNAS are built on it.
Cons: Older packages than Ubuntu (by design), smaller community for server-specific questions.
6. OpenMediaVault — Best Free NAS OS
OMV is a Debian-based NAS OS with a web UI. Think of it as a free alternative to Synology DSM — web-based file sharing, user management, and plugin support.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Base | Debian 12 |
| Storage | ext4, XFS, Btrfs, ZFS (via plugin), RAID (mdadm) |
| Shares | SMB, NFS, FTP |
| Docker | Via OMV-Extras plugin |
When to use this: You want a NAS OS that’s free and easier than TrueNAS. Good for repurposed hardware — old PCs, Dell Optiplex machines, Raspberry Pi.
Pros: Free, low resource requirements, runs on Raspberry Pi, Debian base means Docker works.
Cons: Smaller community than TrueNAS, web UI is functional but dated, no native ZFS (plugin required).
7. CasaOS — Easiest for Absolute Beginners
CasaOS is a lightweight overlay that installs on top of Debian or Ubuntu. It adds a web dashboard for managing Docker containers with a point-and-click app store.
When to use this: You’ve never used Linux, you just bought a mini PC, and you want to install Nextcloud with zero command-line knowledge. CasaOS is the gateway. You’ll probably outgrow it and switch to Proxmox or raw Docker within a few months.
Pros: Beautiful UI, dead-simple app installation, low overhead (it’s just a dashboard, not an OS).
Cons: Limited configuration options, not suitable for complex setups, small community.
Full Comparison Table
| Feature | Proxmox | TrueNAS SCALE | Unraid | Ubuntu Server | Debian | OMV | CasaOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free | $59+ | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Web UI | Yes | Yes | Yes | No (add Portainer) | No | Yes | Yes |
| VM support | Yes (KVM) | Yes (limited) | Yes (KVM) | No (add QEMU) | No | No | No |
| Docker | Via LXC/VM | Built-in | Built-in | Built-in | Built-in | Plugin | Built-in |
| ZFS | Built-in | Built-in | No | Manual setup | Manual setup | Plugin | No |
| GPU passthrough | Yes | Limited | Yes | Manual | Manual | No | No |
| Min RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB | 2 GB | 1 GB | 512 MB | 1 GB | 1 GB |
| Learning curve | Medium | Medium | Low | Medium-high | High | Low | Very low |
| Community size | Large | Large | Medium | Very large | Very large | Medium | Small |
| Best for | Virtualization | Storage + Docker | Easy NAS | Docker-only | Minimal | Free NAS | Beginners |
Decision Tree
“I want to run VMs and containers on one machine” → Proxmox VE
“Storage is my #1 priority, containers are secondary” → TrueNAS SCALE
“I want the easiest possible setup with mixed drives” → Unraid
“I just need Docker containers, nothing else” → Ubuntu Server or Debian
“I want a free NAS OS for old hardware” → OpenMediaVault
“I’ve never used Linux and want to click buttons” → CasaOS (then graduate to Proxmox)
Hardware Recommendations by OS
| OS | Ideal Hardware | Budget |
|---|---|---|
| Proxmox VE | Intel N305 mini PC 32 GB RAM, or DIY build | $200-600 |
| TrueNAS SCALE | DIY NAS with 16-32 GB RAM, 4+ drive bays | $400-800 |
| Unraid | Any x86 hardware with 2+ drives, USB boot drive | $200-500 + license |
| Ubuntu/Debian | Intel N100 mini PC, 16 GB RAM | $150-250 |
| OMV | Used Dell Optiplex or Raspberry Pi 5 | $50-200 |
| CasaOS | Intel N100 mini PC | $150-200 |
FAQ
Can I dual-boot server OSes?
Don’t. Pick one and commit. If you want to try multiple OSes, use Proxmox and run them as VMs. Dual-booting a server creates unnecessary complexity and downtime.
Should I use ECC RAM?
For TrueNAS with ZFS, ECC is recommended (but not required). ZFS checksums data regardless — ECC protects against bit flips in RAM before data reaches ZFS. For Proxmox, Unraid, or Docker on Ubuntu, ECC is nice to have but not necessary. See our ECC vs non-ECC guide.
What about Fedora Server or Arch Linux?
Fedora Server is solid but has a 13-month support cycle — too short for a server you want to set and forget. Arch Linux is a rolling release that can break on updates. For servers, stability beats bleeding edge. Stick with Debian, Ubuntu LTS, or a purpose-built server OS.
Can I switch OS later without losing data?
If your data is on separate drives from the OS (which it should be), you can reinstall the OS on the boot drive without touching data drives. ext4 and XFS drives are readable from any Linux OS. ZFS pools can be imported into any OS with ZFS support. Unraid arrays require Unraid to read them.
Related
Get self-hosting tips in your inbox
New guides, comparisons, and setup tutorials — delivered weekly. No spam.