How I Monetize My Self-Hosted unRAID Server for Passive Income
Self-hosting has become an increasingly popular hobby and practical solution for tech enthusiasts. While most people start self-hosting to save costs on cloud services or maintain more control over their data, it is possible to go further and monetize your setup. That's precisely what I did with my unRAID server, turning it into a source of passive income while running services I use daily. Here’s a breakdown of how I make money from my home server, including my experiences and tips for anyone curious about doing the same.
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Initial Setup and Costs
To get started, I invested about €1,500 in additional hardware to turn my Windows 11 machine with 32GB of RAM, one SSD, and one 18TB Toshiba HDD into my current unRAID server with 96GB DDR5 RAM, 4x 18TB Toshiba HDDs, and 2x 1TB Samsung 990 PRO NVMe SSDs.
That setup costs around €300 per year in electricity. It hosts essential services like Nextcloud, Paperless NGX, multiple RedBot instances, this Ghost.org blog, and our media library in Plex.
While all those services already save us money compared to similar services in the cloud, I also use my unRAID to generate passive income.
Warning: Do Your Research First!
Before using any of the services I mention, fully understand the risks and requirements. These apps involve turning your home network into a resource for others, so always weigh the pros and cons before committing.
1. Mysterium Network
Mysterium Network allows others to use my server as a proxy/VPN, mainly for B2B data scraping and as a B2B VPN. In return, I earn MYST tokens. While the earnings are modest (less than $1 per week), every little bit adds up, especially when combined with other services. You can see my earnings snapshot below.
2. Pawns.app
Pawns.app was one of the first services I set up on my unRAID server, and it has also been one of the first topics I covered in this blog in my post about "How to Set Up Pawns.app in Docker on unRAID for Passive Income".
Like Mysterium Network, Pawns.app lets others use my machine as a proxy. I make some money running my own node, but referrals have significantly boosted my income. As you can see in the screenshots below, I’ve made around $120 this year from referrals alone, but the earnings for operating my own node also aren't that bad.
3. HoneyGain
HoneyGain has been my most profitable service. Like the previous two, it shares my internet connection. Over the last 30 days, I earned $162—most of it coming from referrals. Over the years, my total earnings amount to $5,296, which I’ve documented on Reddit:
I also covered HoneyGain in a few videos on my YouTube channel.
4. STORJ
Before upgrading to unRAID, I ran a STORJ node on a Windows machine with 16TB of an unused 18TB drive. Over time, I earned 920 STORJ, worth about €312 today. I plan to set up a STORJ node again on my current unRAID server once I know how much space I have available.
Your earnings with STORJ depend a lot on the space you have available and dedicated to that node and how much of that space is actively used by STORJ.
Below is a list of payouts I received before shutting down my STORJ node to turn my Windows 11 machine into this unRAID server.
For more information, check out STORJ.io.
5. Ghost.org Blog
I decided to document my unRAID journey on this self-hosted blog using Ghost.org. While the blog doesn’t generate any income yet, I’m hopeful it will eventually also bring in some affiliate commissions or the occasional donation from readers who want to show their gratitude whenever one of my guides helps them solve a problem.
Final Thoughts: Is It Worth It?
For me, the combination of these services more than covers the cost of running my unRAID server. While apps like these do come with risks—especially those that turn your machine into a proxy—I’ve been running them for a long time without any real issues. The passive income may not make you rich overnight, but it can offset the costs of your self-hosting adventures and, in my case, generate a solid profit.
That said, always do your research and evaluate whether these services are right for you before jumping in.
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