01 / 05
Homeio
83 /100Linux dashboard
A personalisable desktop for your server: app store, file manager, terminal, monitor and notifications.
HOME SERVER CHOOSER
Your hardware.
Your priorities.
Your home cloud.
Five platforms. One home server. Compare the practical differences and find the setup that fits you.
01 — Set your priorities / 02 — Explore your shortlist / 03 — CompareREFERENCE SNAPSHOT · 05 OCT 2026
YOUR SHORTLIST
A fit for the way you host.
LEADING FIT
Homeio
Linux dashboard
83
/ 100 FIT
A personalisable desktop for your server: app store, file manager, terminal, monitor and notifications.
Trade-off: Single account. Host integrations in a container need extra setup; maintain Linux separately.
Fit scores are editorial estimates, not benchmarks or a security audit. How scoring works
02 / 05
Cosmos
80 /100Linux gateway
App identity, secure routing and Docker control.
03 / 05
Runtipi
80 /100Linux app manager
Curated apps with clear configuration paths.
04 / 05
UmbrelOS
80 /100Dedicated OS
An appliance experience from apps to OS recovery.
05 / 05
CasaOS
63 /100Linux dashboard
A straightforward start for Docker apps and files.
THE PRACTICAL DIFFERENCES
See them side by side.
Choose columns using the cards above. Ratings are out of 5; higher is a better fit.
| Criteria | Homeio | Cosmos | Runtipi | UmbrelOS | CasaOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Setup ease | 4/5 Install script or Docker Compose on Debian, Ubuntu or Raspberry Pi OS. | 3/5 Docker and setup wizard; plan DNS, HTTPS and ports 80/443. | 4/5 One-command setup on 64-bit Linux; installs Docker if absent. | 4/5 Bootable USB or internal install; plan OS and data drives carefully. | 4/5 One-command installation; the reference README recommends Debian 12. |
| App ecosystem | 4/5 Homeio store plus CasaOS-format catalogs; hardware-specific templates may need changes. | 4/5 Market apps coexist with manually deployed containers. | 5/5 Official and custom stores with Compose metadata and one-click updates. | 4/5 Curated and community stores; custom stacks managed through Portainer. | 4/5 One-click catalog plus custom Docker apps; template quality varies. |
| Security controls | 4/5 TOTP two-factor login, a lock screen and login rate limiting. Tailscale and Cloudflare Tunnel from Settings, so no open ports. Single account, no SSO. | 5/5 HTTPS, MFA, OpenID, SmartShield and VPN. Direct app ports need protection too. | 3/5 Traefik routing and HTTPS; app authentication and host hardening are separate. | 4/5 2FA for gated apps, local HTTPS certificate and Tailscale remote access. | 2/5 Integrated MFA and automatic HTTPS gateway not established in reviewed docs. |
| Update workflow | 4/5 Update now in Settings; the updater rolls back automatically if the new version fails its health check. App updates are checked from the store. | 4/5 Container update tools and documented automatic app updates. | 4/5 One-click app updates and instance CLI; optional cron avoids major upgrades. | 5/5 Approved OS updates restart the device; failed updates automatically roll back. | 2/5 UI or SSH updates; limited stable release evidence in the reference snapshot. |
| Low maintenance | 4/5 Scheduled backups, a 24-hour monitor, SMART and notifications. Linux host updates remain yours. | 3/5 Restic backups; maintain Linux and networking separately. | 4/5 Documented backup paths; cover app data, config and external media. | 5/5 Integrated OS and encrypted hourly backups after configuration. | 3/5 Maintain Linux, container data and backups separately. |
| Docker flexibility | 5/5 Any compose file or docker run command, name and icon for containers deployed elsewhere, and a full root terminal. | 5/5 Import Compose or use Docker directly; integrate existing app URLs. | 4/5 Compose-based custom configuration; app store metadata is part of integration. | 2/5 Custom Docker via Portainer. Official guide recommends named volumes. | 4/5 Custom Docker configuration through the interface. |
| Install footprint | Existing Linux; RAM minimum unverified | Docker on Linux; Docker socket required; RAM minimum unverified | 4 GB RAM · 10 GB free disk · Ubuntu 22.04+ recommended | x86-64 · 4 GB minimum, 8 GB+ advised · 32 GB OS disk | amd64, arm64 and armv7; RAM minimum unverified |
| Backup & restore | Scheduled database, file and stack archives. Test volume coverage and restoration. | Restic integration for incremental encrypted backups. Configure targets and test restores. | Archive and restore guide; back up media excluded by the sample separately. | Encrypted platform backups; external and network-share files are excluded. | Separate app-data and host backup plan required. |
| Main trade-off | Single account. Host integrations in a container need extra setup; maintain Linux separately. | More networking decisions and significant host authority. A general file browser is not established. | App-focused rather than a full desktop. Host updates and external media backups remain your responsibility. | Installing internally erases the target boot drive. Custom containers use a separate workflow. | Check host guidance and recent release activity. Plan your own backups and access controls. |
| License | AGPL-3.0 (since 1.10); MIT through 1.9.5 | Apache-2.0 + Commons Clause | GPL-3.0 | PolyForm Noncommercial | Apache-2.0 |
| Primary sources | Repository & documentation | Official repository & documentation | Quick start & requirementsApps & app storeSecurityBackup & restoreRepository & license | Installation & requirementsOS updatesBackup guideCustom Docker containersSecurity & 2FALicense | Official repositoryReleases |
UNDERSTAND THE SCORE
A starting point. Your decision.
01
Your priorities set the order.
Each rating (1–5) is multiplied by your priority (0–5). The sum is divided by five times the total priority and scaled to 100. Filters remove options before ranking; comparison selections only change the table.
02
A dashboard or an OS?
Homeio, CasaOS, Cosmos and Runtipi run on Linux. UmbrelOS is a dedicated operating system. That changes host maintenance, installation and storage planning.
03
Read the evidence.
Ratings and feature notes follow the supplied Mini-PC chooser snapshot of 5 October 2026; Homeio was re-rated on 13 October 2026 against version 1.10.2. They are editorial assessments, not measured performance or a new independent audit. Verify current requirements in the linked official docs.
Rating assumptions & reference
Security ratings describe documented integration. Direct app ports, custom containers and host hardening still need attention. A file browser or gateway marked as unestablished does not mean it can never be added.
The standard open-source filter includes Homeio (AGPL-3.0 since 1.10), CasaOS and Runtipi. Cosmos has a Commons Clause restriction and UmbrelOS a noncommercial license. Check the license for your exact version and each installed app.
Original Mini-PC chooser