A beautiful home server OS for self-hosting with an app store. Buy a pre-built Umbrel Home with umbrelOS, or install on a Raspberry Pi 4, Pi 5, any Ubuntu/Debian system, or a VPS. - getumbrel/umbrel
“I bought an Umbrel.com home server hoping to have a dedicated device to run my favorite software on. I spent $500 and got an Umbrel.
Their “app store” is small, outdated (from an app update perspective), and filled with cryptocurrency junk. I should also mention that its difficult to use non-approved software, requiring your own GitHub repo with config files, docker setup, and a few other things. No one-click button to import software.
The hardware is half as good as a used 1L mini-PC that you can get on Amazon for $170, and itll give you more control.
The Umbrel has an HDMI port hidden inside, so if you want to use it you must cut a hole in the side for it. The only way to accees its interface is with a slow, buggy, and heavy web UI.
Don’t buy an Umbrel, buy a $100 used 1L machine and save yourself a headache and $400.
EDIT: I asked for a refund and was denied since they don’t offer them to anyone. Huge red flag!”
Their “app store” is…filled with cryptocurrency junk
I don’t consider that a negative. If you don’t want it, you don’t have to use it. Although being it is a for-profit company there is always the possibility that they start pushing this kind of software.
requiring your own GitHub repo
This isn’t really unusual. Yunohost does the same thing. Presumably to ensure compatibility and ease of use.
The hardware is half as good as a used 1L mini-PC that you can get on Amazon for $170
This really misses the point of the product entirely. It’s intended to be an “out of the box solution” and the hardware purchase funds development. Same goes for something like HomeAssistant yellow. If you have the capacity to build your own from scratch, this product is not for you. I assume the hardware is also intended to be efficient power consumption like a RPi.
Also the OS is FOSS and can be installed on whatever hardware you want.
The Umbrel has an HDMI port hidden inside, so if you want to use it you must cut a hole in the side for it.
Not ideal but I’ve never seen anyone use a server with anything but a web interface. They’re probably just using off the shelf hardware and putting it in a case.
I asked for a refund and was denied since they don’t offer them to anyone. Huge red flag!”
There is a warning from a user on Reddit. Might be worth considering before buying. https://www.reddit.com/r/selfhosted/comments/16qekm6/dont_buy_an_umbrel/
Reddit is blocking my connection, what does it say?
From Reddit:
“I bought an Umbrel.com home server hoping to have a dedicated device to run my favorite software on. I spent $500 and got an Umbrel.
Their “app store” is small, outdated (from an app update perspective), and filled with cryptocurrency junk. I should also mention that its difficult to use non-approved software, requiring your own GitHub repo with config files, docker setup, and a few other things. No one-click button to import software.
The hardware is half as good as a used 1L mini-PC that you can get on Amazon for $170, and itll give you more control.
The Umbrel has an HDMI port hidden inside, so if you want to use it you must cut a hole in the side for it. The only way to accees its interface is with a slow, buggy, and heavy web UI.
Don’t buy an Umbrel, buy a $100 used 1L machine and save yourself a headache and $400.
EDIT: I asked for a refund and was denied since they don’t offer them to anyone. Huge red flag!”
I don’t consider that a negative. If you don’t want it, you don’t have to use it. Although being it is a for-profit company there is always the possibility that they start pushing this kind of software.
This isn’t really unusual. Yunohost does the same thing. Presumably to ensure compatibility and ease of use.
This really misses the point of the product entirely. It’s intended to be an “out of the box solution” and the hardware purchase funds development. Same goes for something like HomeAssistant yellow. If you have the capacity to build your own from scratch, this product is not for you. I assume the hardware is also intended to be efficient power consumption like a RPi.
Also the OS is FOSS and can be installed on whatever hardware you want.
Not ideal but I’ve never seen anyone use a server with anything but a web interface. They’re probably just using off the shelf hardware and putting it in a case.
Agreed there.