Over the past year I replaced 4 SaaS tools with self-hosted ones. Total annual savings: ~$900. Here's the rundown.
The 4 swaps
1. Google Drive → Nextcloud
Was paying: $100/year for 2TB
Now: $0 (runs on my NAS)
Setup: ~2 hours including SSL via Caddy. Mobile apps sync automatically. Sharing works via secure links with passwords.
What I lost: real-time collaborative editing (Google Docs). Workaround: OnlyOffice or Collabora. I personally use OnlyOffice for the rare times I need collab.
What I gained: 2TB local storage with no monthly fee, plus my data lives on my NAS.
2. Dropbox → Nextcloud (same machine)
Was paying: $120/year for 2TB (kept separate from Google Drive for work/personal split)
Now: $0
Same Nextcloud instance. Different user accounts.
3. 1Password → Vaultwarden
Was paying: $60/year for family plan
Now: $0 (Vaultwarden container)
Setup: ~30 minutes. Import from 1Password CSV. Mobile apps connect to my Vaultwarden instance.
Caveat: NO 2FA recovery codes. If I lose my 2FA, I'm locked out. I keep a printed copy of the master password in a fireproof safe.
4. Trello → Focalboard
Was paying: $60/year for 3 users
Now: $0
Setup: ~20 minutes. SQLite-backed, very lightweight.
Caveat: Limited integrations vs Trello. For me this was fine — I just needed kanban.
Total savings
- Before: $340/year for 4 SaaS tools
- After: $0/year (plus electricity ~$50/year for the NAS)
- Net savings: ~$290/year, breaks even in 18 months vs the NAS hardware cost ($1500)
What I wouldn't self-host
- Email: still use Fastmail. Running your own email is a nightmare (deliverability, spam filters, DKIM/SPF/DMARC).
- Banking apps: not happening.
- Streaming: I do use Plex but keep Netflix for the back catalog.
- Photo printing: Shutterfly etc.
Rule of thumb: self-host if you need the data locally anyway OR the SaaS is overpriced for what you use.
The real cost of self-hosting
It's not just hardware. It's:
- 2-4 hours/month maintenance (updates, backups, monitoring)
- Occasional breakages (Docker update breaks Nextcloud, etc.)
- Electricity (~$50/year)
- Time to learn Docker basics
For me it's worth it. For my non-technical friends, it isn't. I tell them to keep paying for SaaS.
What I'd do differently
- Start with Vaultwarden — it's the easiest win. Most people can replace 1Password in 30 minutes.
- Skip Focalboard if you're solo — Trello free tier is enough.
- Use a reverse proxy (Caddy or Nginx Proxy Manager) — SSL termination in one place.
- Document your setup — when something breaks at 2am, you want to read your own notes, not debug from scratch.
A word on WebDAV
All of the above tools support WebDAV. If you only need file access (not the full Nextcloud app), a WebDAV client works great for syncing files. It's lighter than Nextcloud desktop client and works with any cloud storage that exposes WebDAV.
When SaaS wins
Honestly: most of the time. SaaS is convenient, reliable, and you don't have to think about it. Self-hosting only wins when:
- You care about data ownership
- You have technical skills
- The SaaS is overpriced for your usage
- You enjoy tinkering
Otherwise, just pay the SaaS and use the time for something else.
TL;DR
Replaced 4 SaaS tools with self-hosted alternatives. Saved $290/year. Spent $1500 on a NAS that pays for itself in ~5 years. If you enjoy tinkering and value data ownership, do it. Otherwise, pay for SaaS and don't look back.
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