If your main need is mixing old, mismatched hard drives, OpenMediaVault with the SnapRAID + mergerfs plugin is the closest free alternative to Unraid’s core functionality. Use the free trial to test, not to deploy.

If you’ve been researching home server operating systems, you’ve almost certainly heard of Unraid . Famous for its unique ability to mix drives of different sizes, its easy Docker and VM management, and its user-friendly web interface, Unraid is a top contender for your Plex server, home automation hub, or NAS.

The short answer is

But unlike many Linux-based server OS options (TrueNAS Scale, OpenMediaVault, Ubuntu Server), Unraid is not open source. It carries a price tag. So, the question on every budget-conscious builder’s mind is: Is there a free version of Unraid?

Instead, if you genuinely cannot pay for Unraid, consider these truly free alternatives that offer similar features: