Start9
Beginner-friendly personal server OS that turns sovereign Bitcoin nodes and private cloud services into a point-and-click experience
Why We Recommend Start9
StartOS is fully open-source software built on Debian Linux, with all code available on GitHub for public audit. The system is designed around data sovereignty principles where Start9 has no access to user keys, passwords, or data—everything runs locally on hardware the user physically controls. Services communicate through Tor Hidden Services by default, providing encrypted, metadata-resistant connections without exposing home IP addresses.
The company has shipped hardware since 2020 and maintains an active development community with regular updates and a growing service marketplace. Their security approach includes neutralizing Intel Management Engine on supported hardware and running no trackers or telemetry. While at-rest encryption is currently basic with improvements planned, individual services like Vaultwarden add end-to-end encryption for sensitive data. All purchases include lifetime support and a two-year hardware warranty, demonstrating long-term commitment to customers.
Best For
Non-technical users who want the benefits of self-hosting without learning Linux command line. StartOS provides a graphical web dashboard for installing and managing services like Bitcoin and Lightning nodes, password managers, file sync, and encrypted messaging—tasks that traditionally require significant technical knowledge. The point-and-click interface handles service configuration, health monitoring, backups, and updates automatically.
Privacy-focused individuals and families replacing Big Tech services will find a complete ecosystem for sovereign computing. Run Nextcloud instead of Google Drive, Matrix instead of WhatsApp, Bitwarden instead of LastPass, and a Bitcoin node instead of trusting third-party servers. Everything stays on your hardware, accessible securely from anywhere via Tor without exposing your home network.
Small businesses can deploy Bitcoin payment infrastructure, team collaboration tools, and AI models like Stable Diffusion without cloud subscriptions or data exposure. The system supports multiple simultaneous services and integrates with native apps like Sparrow Wallet for Bitcoin operations.
Services & Features
- Server One from $649
- Server Pure from $899
- Free StartOS download
- Service marketplace
- Lifetime support included
- Bitcoin/Lightning payments
- Two-year hardware warranty
- Developer SDK
Considerations
Requires stable power and internet connection; latency over 200ms can impact Tor performance. Full Bitcoin node needs 600GB+ storage. Currently single-user only with multi-tenancy planned for future releases.
