Puter
Puter is a cloud-based desktop OS you run in the browser, with built-in apps, file storage, and support for hosting web apps and sites.
Technical Profile & Specs
verified 2026-11-07
- Cost
- $0 / forever (Open Source)
- License
- Open Source
- Hosting Model
- Self-host (your server)
- Platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- Installation
- Clone https://github.com/heyputer/puter/ or deploy with Docker Compose
- Operational Setup
- Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- Where Your Data Lives
- All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
- The Catch / Trade-off
- Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Dropbox.
Replaces 3 paid apps
up to $75/mo ($900/yr) in subscriptions
Puter FAQ
Common questions
Is Puter free and open source?+
Puter is an open-source tool licensed under Open Source that runs on self-host. Puter is a cloud-based desktop OS you run in the browser, with built-in apps, file storage, and support for hosting web apps and sites.
What paid software does Puter replace?+
Puter serves as a free replacement for 3 paid SaaS applications: Dropbox, Mega, Microsoft OneDrive, saving up to $75/month ($900/year) in subscription bills.
How do you install and set up Puter?+
Installation: Clone https://github.com/heyputer/puter/ or deploy with Docker Compose. Setup notes: Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
What is the catch or trade-off with Puter?+
Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Dropbox.