Megan Ellis from Android Authority shares her journey into the world of self-hosting, a realm that offers both cost savings and enhanced control over personal data. This year, she has delved deeper into self-hosting, discovering a plethora of services that seamlessly integrate with Android applications. The ability to manage these services remotely, coupled with features like push notifications and regular backups, has significantly enhanced her user experience.
Immich
Immich emerged as one of the first self-hosted solutions that Ellis explored. This platform serves as a compelling alternative to Google Photos, enabling users to back up images directly to their own servers. The Android app has proven indispensable for backing up photos from her smartphone.
Immich lets me back up photos from my smartphone straight to my NAS.
With a sleek interface and features that rival those of its commercial counterparts, Immich allows users to choose specific folders for backup and enables background syncing. Although it can be slower than desired at times, the empowerment of controlling personal data is a significant advantage.
Paperless-ngx
As tax season approaches, the need for organized document management becomes paramount. Ellis found herself sifting through piles of paperwork, leading her to explore various self-hosted solutions. Paperless-ngx, an open-source document management platform, emerged as a solution.
Using Paperless Mobile with Paperless-ngx has given me more control over my document storage.
The mobile app simplifies the process of uploading documents, whether through its built-in scanning function or direct uploads from her phone, making document management less tedious and more efficient.
Vikunja
In her quest for effective task management, Ellis turned to Vikunja, an open-source to-do list app. While she primarily uses TickTick, Vikunja offers an appealing alternative with its clean interface and essential task management features.
Vikunja allows you to receive push notifications, but you will need to sideload it onto your phone.
Although currently in early beta and unavailable on the Google Play Store, Vikunja’s push notifications have proven invaluable for Ellis, who often forgets tasks.
Home Assistant
Ellis’s interest in smart home automation led her to Home Assistant, a self-hosted platform that promises extensive functionality across devices. Deployed in a container on her NAS, Home Assistant has impressed her with its capabilities, despite some integration challenges with her smart devices.
There have been some hiccups when using Home Assistant, but the app has so much functionality to explore.
With the integration of APIs, such as AccuWeather for weather alerts, Ellis is excited about customizing her automations to suit her needs.
Karakeep
For those who enjoy bookmarking, Karakeep offers a self-hosted solution that syncs across devices. Ellis utilizes the Karakeep extension on her desktop and the Android app for effortless bookmarking.
Using the Karakeep app and browser extension lets me easily sync bookmarks and links to my server.
The user-friendly interface and link-sharing capabilities enhance her ability to save important content efficiently.
Donetick
Lastly, Ellis discovered Donetick, a niche app designed for managing chores and personal tasks. This self-hosted service allows her to automate task scheduling based on completion dates, alleviating the burden of remembering routine chores.
I use Donetick through a shortcut saved on my phone and it has helped me get a handle on my chores.
Although it requires sideloading and lacks HTTP support, the ability to manage tasks through a mobile-responsive site has proven beneficial.
Ellis continues to explore a variety of self-hosted services, including Jellyfin and Nextcloud, appreciating the cross-platform access they provide. While the setup may require effort and troubleshooting, the rewards of self-hosting often outweigh the challenges.
