I Cancelled Google Photos and Drive - Here's My Self-Hosted Alternative

Tired of monthly subscriptions and worrying about your privacy with Google Photos and Google Drive? It's time to take back control of your data! In this step-by-step tutorial, I'll show you how to build your very own personal cloud server using TrueNAS SCALE, completely replacing Big Tech's services. We'll set up a powerful, self-hosted ecosystem that gives you unlimited storage (depending on your hardware!), end-to-end encryption, and access from anywhere in the world. No more storage limits, no more algorithms scanning your photos. ✨ What You'll Learn: 🖥️ 00:00 - Introduction & Why Self-Host Your Cloud? ⚙️ 04:15 - How to Install TrueNAS SCALE (Software Guide) 🌐 09:20 - Setting Up TrueNAS ☁️ 17:50 - Installing & Configuring Tailscale (VPN) ☁️ 27:30 - Installing & Configuring Nextcloud (Google Drive Alternative) 📸 39:10 - Installing & Configuring Immich (Google Photos Alternative) 🔗 40:30 - Connecting Everything Together & Final Thoughts 🛠️ Software Used in This Video: TrueNAS SCALE: The operating system for your NAS (Free & Open Source) Tailscale: For a secure, easy-to-use VPN (Zero-Config) Nextcloud: File sync, share, and collaboration platform (Like Dropbox/Drive) Immich: A high-performance self-hosted photo and video backup solution ⚠️ Important Note: This tutorial focuses on the software and setup side of things. You will need your own hardware (a old PC, dedicated NAS, or a home server) with hard drives to follow along. I don't cover specific hardware recommendations in depth here. 📁 Resources & Links: TrueNAS SCALE: https://www.truenas.com/truenas-scale/ Tailscale: https://tailscale.com/ Nextcloud: https://nextcloud.com/ Immich: https://immich.app/ Immich Documentation: https://immich.app/docs/overview/intr... 🔐 Why Go Self-Hosted? Total Privacy: Your data stays in your home, on your drives. One-Time Cost: Pay for hardware once, not every month forever. Unlimited Storage: Expand anytime you want by adding more drives. Complete Control: Customize your cloud to fit your exact needs. Subscribe for more tutorials on self-hosting, home labs, and taking back your digital life! https://www.youtube.com/yourchannel?s... #TrueNAS #SelfHosted #GooglePhotosAlternative #Nextcloud #Immich #HomeServer #NAS #Privacy #DataHoarding #Tailscale #DitchGoogle #SelfHosting Disclaimer: This setup is for personal and educational purposes. Always ensure you have a proper backup strategy (like the 3-2-1 rule) for any important data, as hardware can fail.