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, Windows, Self-Hosted, BSD and OpenIndiana 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 XigmaNAS.

filter to find the best alternatives

Windows Home Server alternatives are mainly NAS Systems but may also be Linux Distros or Operating Systems.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Windows Home Server.
  • ...

Windows Home Server, 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...

More about Windows Home Server
Windows Home Server alternatives page was last updated Aug 21, 2022
  1. TrueNAS icon
     120 likes

    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.

    24 TrueNAS alternatives
    TrueNAS screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Self-Hosted

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Filesystem
    2.  Linux-based
    3.  Two-factor Authentication
    4.  Dark Mode
    5.  Container Virtualization
    6.  Support for Rsync
    7.  Cloud Sync
    8.  Encrypted Backup
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Incremental Backup
    11.  WebUI Management
    12. Docker icon  Support for Docker
    TrueNAS iconWindows Home Server Icon

    TrueNAS VS Windows Home Server

    Is TrueNAS a good alternative to Windows Home Server?
     
    • 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 LightweightWindows Home Server is not according to our users
  2. OpenMediaVault icon
     96 likes

    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.

    18 OpenMediaVault alternatives
    OpenMediaVault screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted

    OpenMediaVault Features

    1.  Support for Rsync
    2.  Support for SFTP
    3. Docker icon  Support for Docker
    4. Google Drive icon  Google Drive integration
    5.  Support for S.M.A.R.T. data
    6.  SSH
    7.  Notifications
    8.  TFTP
    9.  HTTP Web seeding
    OpenMediaVault iconWindows Home Server Icon

    OpenMediaVault VS Windows Home Server

    Is OpenMediaVault a good alternative to Windows Home Server?
     
    Comments about OpenMediaVault as an Alternative to Windows Home Server
     
    Guest

    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.

    Positive commentApr 7, 2020
    0
    Windows Home Server Icon
    OpenMediaVault icon
    • OpenMediaVault is Free and Open SourceWindows Home Server is Paid and Proprietary
  3. ClearOS icon
     70 likes

    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.

    26 ClearOS alternatives
    ClearOS screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux

    ClearOS Features

    1.  Spam Filter
    2.  Web-Based
    3.  Gateway
    4.  PhpMyAdmin
    ClearOS iconWindows Home Server Icon

    ClearOS VS Windows Home Server

    Is ClearOS a good alternative to Windows Home Server?
     
  4. Zentyal icon
     54 likes

    Zentyal is a native Microsoft Active Directory implementation on Linux incorporating all the network services required in a small and medium business environment: Directory & Domain Server, Mail Server, Gateway and Infrastructure Server.

    26 Zentyal alternatives
    Dashboard

    License model

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux

    Zentyal Features

    1.  Gateway
    2.  Member Directory
    3.  Web interface
    Zentyal iconWindows Home Server Icon

    Zentyal VS Windows Home Server

    Is Zentyal a good alternative to Windows Home Server?
     
    • Zentyal is the most popular commercial alternative to Windows Home Server.

    • Zentyal is Paid and Open SourceWindows Home Server is Paid and Proprietary
  5. XigmaNAS icon
     23 likes

    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.

    14 XigmaNAS alternatives
    XigmaNAS screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • BSD
    • Self-Hosted

    XigmaNAS Features

    1.  Support for Rsync
    2.  Support for S.M.A.R.T. data
    XigmaNAS iconWindows Home Server Icon

    XigmaNAS VS Windows Home Server

    Is XigmaNAS a good alternative to Windows Home Server?
     
  6. Univention Corporate Server (UCS) icon
     33 likes

    UCS is an open platform for central Identity & Access Management, IT Management, and Active Directory, with a web portal for easy access to applications.

    96 Univention Corporate Server (UCS) alternatives
    Univention App Center

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    Univention Corporate Server (UCS) Features

    1.  DHCP Server
    2.  Single Sign-On
    3.  Based on Debian
    4.  ARM support
    5.  Active Directory Migration
    6.  Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
    7. Microsoft Active Directory icon  Active Directory integration
    8.  SAML Single Sign-On
    Univention Corporate Server (UCS) iconWindows Home Server Icon

    Univention Corporate Server (UCS) VS Windows Home Server

    Is this a good alternative to Windows Home Server?
     
    • Univention Corporate Server (UCS) is the most popular Windows & Mac alternative to Windows Home Server.

    • Univention Corporate Server (UCS) is Free and Open SourceWindows Home Server is Paid and Proprietary
  7. Amahi Home Server icon
     18 likes

    The Amahi Home Server is designed for home and small office environments where the technical support staff do not want the job!

    21 Amahi Home Server alternatives
    The Amahi dashboards "Storage" tab allows you to view the temperatures of your hard-drives (that is if they have that ability) and also how much used and free space that drive has. Can show unlimited amount of drives.

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux

    Amahi Home Server Features

    1. Nextcloud icon  Nextcloud integration
    Amahi Home Server iconWindows Home Server Icon

    Amahi Home Server VS Windows Home Server

    Is Amahi Home Server a good alternative to Windows Home Server?
     
  8. Windows Server 2012 icon
     14 likes

    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.

    19 Windows Server 2012 alternatives
    start screen

    License model

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Windows Server 2012 Features

    1. Microsoft Active Directory icon  Active Directory integration
    2.  Data deduplication
    Windows Server 2012 iconWindows Home Server Icon

    Windows Server 2012 VS Windows Home Server

    Is Windows Server 2012 a good alternative to Windows Home Server?
     
    Comments about Windows Server 2012 as an Alternative to Windows Home Server
     
    Guest

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

    Positive commentAug 21, 2022
    0
    Windows Home Server Icon
    Windows Server 2012 icon
    • Windows Server 2012 is Paid and ProprietaryWindows Home Server is also Paid and Proprietary
  9. Sophos UTM icon
     16 likes

    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
    Sophos UTM screenshot 1

    License model

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Online
    Sophos UTM iconWindows Home Server Icon

    Sophos UTM VS Windows Home Server

    Is Sophos UTM a good alternative to Windows Home Server?
     
    • Sophos UTM is the most popular Web-based alternative to Windows Home Server.

    • Sophos UTM is Paid and ProprietaryWindows Home Server is also Paid and Proprietary
  10. Greyhole icon
     6 likes

    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...

    9 Greyhole alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Greyhole iconWindows Home Server Icon

    Greyhole VS Windows Home Server

    Is Greyhole a good alternative to Windows Home Server?
     
  11. Artica icon
     5 likes

    Get a web based email/messaging, HTTP proxy, files server, VPN administration interface Using Postfix, Squid, Samba And extend them with Security quickly and easily How to create a Mail/Proxy/File

    22 Artica alternatives
    logo

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Linux

    Artica Features

    1.  SMTP Support
    2.  Web filter
    Artica iconWindows Home Server Icon

    Artica VS Windows Home Server

    Is Artica a good alternative to Windows Home Server?
     
  12. Windows Server Essentials icon
     2 likes

    Windows Server Essentials (formerly Windows Small Business Server) is a flexible, affordable, and easy-to-use server solution designed and priced for small businesses with up to 25 users and 50 devices.

    11 Windows Server Essentials alternatives
    Windows Server Essentials screenshot 1

    License model

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Windows Server Essentials Features

    1.  Server Monitoring
    Windows Server Essentials iconWindows Home Server Icon

    Windows Server Essentials VS Windows Home Server

    Is this a good alternative to Windows Home Server?
     
12 of 14 Windows Home Server alternatives