Self-Host Everything on One Box
Turn a spare machine, a mini PC, or a Raspberry Pi into a real home server. 160+ one-click Docker apps, automatic HTTPS, and mail and DNS included, all free to start.
A home server is basically free to run
Compared to a $5-50/month VPS, the only ongoing cost of a home server is electricity. A modern mini PC draws roughly 10-15 watts, about $1-2 a month, and an old i3 or i5 laptop is more than enough hardware. Panelica installs the same way there as on any VPS: Ubuntu 22.04 or 24.04 LTS is recommended, and Debian 12 works well too.
160+ apps, one click each
A template is a pre-packaged recipe — the right image, sensible ports, environment variables, and volumes that keep data safe. You pick, configure a couple of fields, and deploy.
Nextcloud
Your own file sync and share, in place of a paid cloud storage subscription.
Immich
Self-hosted photo and video backup for your phone, with machine-learning search.
Gitea
A self-hosted Git server for your own projects, no third-party repo host required.
n8n
Workflow automation to connect your self-hosted services together.
The edge layer, handled
Nginx Proxy Manager and Caddy are available as one-click Docker templates for routing traffic to your self-hosted apps, and Panelica's own domains get free Let's Encrypt certificates with automatic renewal — no manual certbot cron job to maintain.
Go public without opening a single port
Most home internet connections do not come with a static IP, which used to mean dynamic DNS scripts and manual port forwarding. Panelica's home server guide walks through the alternative: setting up Cloudflare Tunnel to reach your machine from a real domain with no static IP, no port forwarding, and no router configuration, then installing Panelica to manage the resulting server day to day.
Mail and DNS, included
A full mail server, Postfix and Dovecot with DKIM, and a full BIND DNS zone editor are included in the base install alongside the Docker Manager — no separate service to install or license.
Frequently asked questions
What can I self-host with Panelica's Docker Manager?
Over 160 curated one-click app templates, including Nextcloud, Immich, Gitea, n8n, and reverse proxy tools such as Nginx Proxy Manager and Caddy, each with sensible default ports, environment variables, and volumes already configured.
Do I need a static IP to self-host at home?
No. Panelica's home server guide walks through using Cloudflare Tunnel to get a public domain without a static IP address, port forwarding, or complex router configuration, then handing the resulting server over to Panelica for day-to-day management.
Does Panelica include mail and DNS, or do I need separate services?
Both are included in the base install: Postfix and Dovecot with DKIM for mail, and a full BIND DNS zone editor, with no separate service to configure.
Is there a free plan for a home server?
Yes. The Starter plan is free forever for three domains, which covers most home server and homelab setups.
Give that spare machine a job
Install Panelica on the box you already have, deploy your first app template, and see how far a free Starter plan goes.