Self-host
Run Host-Caster yourself, free
The whole app is open source under the MIT license. Run it on your own computer or server, bring your own AI and voices, and keep everything at home.
Every feature
Hosts, stations, call in, every music source, the phone apps, and sync across all your devices. Nothing is held back.
Your server, your rules
Sign in with Google, X or an email and password. Keys are encrypted on your server, and your music folder streams to every device.
Free, for good
No plan and no limits from us. You pay only for the AI and voices you pick, or nothing at all with local models.
Quick start
You need Docker with the Compose plugin. Then, in a terminal:
git clone https://github.com/example/hostcaster.git hostcaster
cd hostcaster
cp .env.example .env # optional settings
docker compose up -d --buildOpen http://localhost:8660. That is all you need to try it. The server serves the web app, sign-in and the API on that one port, and keeps its data in one SQLite file.
Without Docker
With Node.js 24 or newer:
cd app && npm ci && npm run build && cd ..
cd server && npm ci --omit=dev
npm start # http://localhost:8660What you need
- Any computer that stays on: a mini PC, a NAS, a spare laptop or a small cloud server.
- For your phone away from home: HTTPS and a domain name. The setup guide walks you through it.
- An AI and a voice. Free options run on your own computer: brains, voices and music sources lists them all.
Free and private with local AI
Pair Host-Caster with Ollama or LM Studio for the brain and a local voice such as Kokoro, and nothing leaves your home. Until an AI is connected, a scripted fallback reads short lines between songs with your device's voice, so the music never goes quiet.
Compare
Self-hosted or hosted?
Same app, same features. The difference is who runs the server and what is included.
| Topic | Self-hosted | Hosted by us |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free, or from $7.99 a month |
| Setup | You run a server | Nothing to install |
| AI and voices | Bring your own, or run them locally | Bring your own, or included with a plan |
| Updates | You pull new versions | Automatic |
| Your account and settings | On your server | On our server, encrypted keys |
| Your songs | On your devices, or your server's music folder | On your devices only |
| Local AI on your network | Through the server or the device | From your device |
Docs
Everything is written down
Self-hosting guide
HTTPS, Google and X sign-in, phone apps, your music library, AI apps and backups.
Open the guideBrains, voices and music
Every AI, voice engine and music source, with step-by-step setup, including free local ones.
See the options