Windows Home Server Alternatives

Windows Home Server is described as 'Code-named Quattro, is a home server operating system from Microsoft. Announced on 7 January 2007, at the Consumer Electronics Show by Bill Gates, Windows Home Server is intended to be a solution for homes with multiple connected PCs to offer file sharing' and is a operating system in the os & utilities category. There are more than 10 alternatives to Windows Home Server for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Self-Hosted, Web-based, BSD and Windows apps. The best Windows Home Server alternative is TrueNAS, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Windows Home Server are openmediavault, ClearOS, Zentyal and Univention Corporate Server (UCS).

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Windows Home Server alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. TrueNAS icon

    TrueNAS

     132 likes
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    TrueNAS (formerly FreeNAS) is an operating system that can be installed on virtually any hardware platform to share data over a network. TrueNAS is the simplest way to create a centralized and easily accessible place for your data.

    23 TrueNAS alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Self-Hosted
    TrueNAS screenshot 1
     
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    • Some users think TrueNAS is a great Windows Home Server alternative, some don't.

    • TrueNAS is the most popular Linux & Self-Hosted alternative to Windows Home Server.

    • TrueNAS is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Windows Home Server.

    • TrueNAS is Free and Open SourceWindows Home Server is Paid and Proprietary
    • TrueNAS is Security-focused and LightweightWindows Home Server is not according to our users
  2. openmediavault icon

    openmediavault

     105 likes
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    openmediavault is the next generation network attached storage (NAS) solution based on Debian Linux. It contains services like SSH, (S)FTP, SMB/CIFS, DAAP media server, RSync, BitTorrent client and many more. It can be enhanced via plugins.

    17 openmediavault alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted
    openmediavault screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Comments about openmediavault as an Alternative to Windows Home Server
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Reliable and easy to use. Scope to expand the functionality easily. Well supported and with an active online community that is both friendly and helpful.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Windows Home Server Icon
    openmediavault icon
    • openmediavault is Free and Open SourceWindows Home Server is Paid and Proprietary
  4. ClearOS icon

    ClearOS

     71 likes
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    ClearOS is a family of operating systems for the enterprise, small business, and home. There are three editions to choose from depending on your needs and suitable to your abilities. They are: ClearOS Enterprise, ClearOS Home, and ClearOS Core.

    27 ClearOS alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    ClearOS screenshot 1
     
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    Zentyal icon
    Zentyal

    Integrates native Active Directory and all essential network services, including domain, mail, gateway, infrastructure, and security roles, for SMBs, offering web-based management, centralized authentication, file server, VPN, an...

    https://zentyal.com
    Learn More
  6. Zentyal icon

    Zentyal

     55 likes
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    Integrates native Active Directory and all essential network services, including domain, mail, gateway, infrastructure, and security roles, for SMBs, offering web-based management, centralized authentication, file server, VPN, and firewall in a single Linux platform.

    26 Zentyal alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Dashboard
     

    • Zentyal is the most popular commercial alternative to Windows Home Server.

    • Zentyal is Paid and Open SourceWindows Home Server is Paid and Proprietary
  7. Univention Corporate Server (UCS) icon

    Univention Corporate Server (UCS)

     34 likes
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    UCS is an open platform for central identity & access management, IT management, and active directory, with a web portal for easy access to applications.

    94 Univention Corporate Server (UCS) alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Self-Hosted
    • Kubernetes
    Univention App Center
     

    • Univention Corporate Server (UCS) is the most popular Web-based & SaaS alternative to Windows Home Server.

    • Univention Corporate Server (UCS) is Freemium and Open SourceWindows Home Server is Paid and Proprietary
  8. XigmaNAS icon

    XigmaNAS

     25 likes
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    XigmaNAS (formerly NAS4Free) is an embedded Open Source Storage NAS (Network-Attached Storage) distribution based on FreeBSD. This project is a continuation of TrueNAS 7 series project.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • BSD
    • Self-Hosted
    XigmaNAS screenshot 1
     
  11. Windows Server 2012 icon

    Windows Server 2012

     15 likes
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    Windows Server 2012, codenamed "Windows Server 8", is the sixth release of Windows Server. It is the server version of Windows 8 and succeeds Windows Server 2008 R2. Two pre-release versions, a developer preview and a beta version, were released during development.

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
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    1
    Comments about Windows Server 2012 as an Alternative to Windows Home Server
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    It works like windows home server, however it 2 is a eol.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Windows Home Server Icon
    Windows Server 2012 icon

    • Windows Server 2012 is the most popular Windows alternative to Windows Home Server.

    • Windows Server 2012 is Paid and ProprietaryWindows Home Server is also Paid and Proprietary
  12. Sophos UTM icon

    Sophos UTM

     16 likes
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    Sophos UTM integrates complete security software within a single appliance. Choose only the protection you need when you need it. And deploy it on the platform that best fits your business: software, hardware or virtual appliance.

    10 Sophos UTM alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Online
    Sophos UTM screenshot 1
     
  13. napp-it icon

    napp-it

     1 like
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    A napp-it is a high-quality block- and filestorage on common and favourable server hardware from ex. DataOn, Dell, HP or SuperMicro paired with a solid server OS (preferable Omnios/ OI/ Solaris but now with ZFS and job/ snap management on Linux) with an easy online installer...

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • OpenIndiana
     
  14. EON ZFS Storage icon

    EON ZFS Storage

     1 like
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    What is EON? Embedded Operating system/Networking is a small operating system, built on Solaris, designed to store any amount of digital data on Intel/AMD (x86) hardware, using the amazing, enterprise class Zettabyte File System.

    Why use EON? Because it offers rock solid, reliab.

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  15. Greyhole icon

    Greyhole

     6 likes
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    Greyhole is an application that uses Samba to create a storage pool of all your available hard drives (whatever their size, however they're connected), and allows you to create redundant copies of the files you store, in order to prevent data loss when part of your hardware...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
12 of 14 Windows Home Server alternatives