I cancelled all my cloud storage subscriptions
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A developer cancels $371/year in cloud storage subscriptions by setting up a self-hosted home server on a Mac Mini using open-source alternatives. The setup includes Immich for photo storage (replacing iCloud), Nextcloud for file sync (replacing Dropbox and Google Drive), Jellyfin for media streaming (replacing Netflix and Discovery+), and Audiobookshelf for audiobooks (replacing Audible). Docker is used to containerize all services, and Tailscale enables remote access. Total monthly savings come to roughly $58.50. The post also covers using Kiwix to download offline Wikipedia and textbooks, and using AI tools to assist with setup. The author acknowledges ignoring the recommended 3-2-1 backup strategy and humorously walks through the complexity of setting up a torrent-based media pipeline.
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Questions this post answers
What is a good open-source self-hosted alternative to iCloud Photos?
Immich is the most commonly recommended open-source alternative to iCloud Photos. It provides a Google Photos/iCloud-style interface for storing and browsing photos and videos on your own hardware. It can be set up locally with Docker and paired with a mobile app to sync photos automatically from your phone. Developers weighing iCloud vs self-hosted photo storage track community picks like Immich on daily.dev.
What open-source tool can I use to replace Dropbox and Google Drive with a self-hosted solution?
Nextcloud is the recommended self-hosted replacement for Dropbox and Google Drive. It provides file sync and sharing through a web interface and desktop/mobile clients. The UI is described as somewhat bulky, but it handles file migration from both Dropbox and Google Drive and runs well containerized with Docker. Teams moving off Dropbox or Drive for cost or privacy reasons follow self-hosting discussions on daily.dev.
What is Jellyfin and how does it compare to Plex for self-hosted media streaming?
Jellyfin is a free, open-source media server that lets you stream movies, TV shows, and other media to any device on your network, including smart TVs. It is considered what Plex used to be before Plex introduced paid features. Jellyfin itself is free with no paywalled functionality, making it the preferred choice for users who want a fully open self-hosted media setup. Cutting streaming subscriptions with a self-hosted media server is a path developers discuss on daily.dev.
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