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/
this post was submitted on 25 Mar 2024
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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Their "app store" is small, outdated (from an app update perspective), and filled with cryptocurrency junk.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!”
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!”
Agreed there.
The fact that its so heavily geared toward crypto makes me uneasy. Otherwise it seems like an awesome idea.
umbrelOS is licensed under the PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 license.
I've never heard of this one.
Source-avaliable, but not FOSS. You can’t take anything with the PolyForm license and use it for commercial purposes. Seems like using umbrelOS to set up companies with self-hosted applications might technically be against the terms of the license. Or even using the self-hosted applications for your own personal use and making money from any of them in some way may also be against the terms.
A custom "source available" license that may not be as clear-cut as intended and depends on "we know it when we see it" by the authors of the license? You don't say!
Had the same thought..
Seems like the consensus on this one is it isn’t worth it and until they fix their licensing it’s more risky to use as anything other than a day project. In fact, the licensing is kind of dubious for project work because of its weird stipulations.
I tried Umbrel and i hated it. I switched to Cosmos and its great
Looked into Cosmos but they don't provide any support outside of exploitative corporate platforms like Reddit, GitHub and Discord... 🤢
Looks like yunohost with a nicer interface but less apps and less config options.
How good it run?
Didn't tried yet. Waiting for Debian version but look very promising and begginer friendly.
I know this is a month old, but this was randomly recommended to me in YouTube and I watched their "ad", even though it's free to install on a Pi or any other device that can run Debian or Ubuntu.
It works well in a Pi, but their documentation is out of date, and accessing the web GUI isn't as easy as it should be, especially for new users of Linux. There's no way to (officially) set a static IP in the OS. I searched their forums, and followed their guide, which didn't apply anymore since they're using NetworkManager now. I applied a static IP via that...and FUBAR'd the webUI. A simple reflash of the uSD card doesn't work either since there are hidden partitions or something because the settings still persisted after two DDs. I had to zero out the first few megs and reflash it in order to get it to work again.
That being said. I'm going to give it to a friend as a no hassle/small footprint/low power piracy box and Plex server.
Glad it's beautiful, it should be good then.