Should you buy a HexOS licence today? That is the question I asked myself, and these are my thoughts based on the information I could gather.
Apparently, you can not find this article on Google even if you use “HexOS BikeGremlin” in the search (Google’s censorship).
Introduction
Decades of experience in the IT industry have taught me to take backups rather seriously. Also, I am running my own Plex media server.
So, for quite some time I’ve been considering getting a NAS (Network Attached Storage) – case in point: a LES forum thread I started almost two years ago: “Synology NAS solutions questions“. Can you see where this is going? Yes. 🙂
$ynology: Spelled As It Should Be!
Naturally, I was far from pleased when I read about Synology vendor-locking hard disk options for their NAS units sold from 2025 (Synology press release link)! To quote that press release:
Plus models released up to and including 2024 (excluding XS Plus series and rack models) will not change. In addition, the migration of hard disks from existing Synology NAS to a new Plus model will continue to be possible without restrictions (quote by BikeGremlin).
The above quoted section leads me to conclude that the HDD hardware vendor lock has nothing to do with Hard Disk quality, and everything to do with greed (trying to make more money by locking the customers in to the proprietary hardware).
I suppose $ynology is now out of the question, but what are the alternatives? That very question brought me to this article’s main topic:
HexOS: What Is That?
HexOS (link to its home page) is the latest NAS operating system (often referred to as “NAS software“) to catch attention, especially because it’s backed by Linus Tech Tips (LTT) – the link goes to their Synology-HexOS video. It promises an easy, Synology-like setup – but on your own hardware, without vendor lock-in. Sounds great. But is it really that simple?
Let’s look closer at what HexOS offers, what risks it carries, and whether it’s truly the answer for people who want a simple yet free NAS solution. Before that, I’ll briefly discuss the current market situation:
Traditional NAS Problems
Brands like Synology and QNAP (links to their websites – to name two) have made NAS systems more accessible to non-experts. But over time, Synology has increasingly locked users into its ecosystem:
- Proprietary hardware requirements
- Vendor-certified drives (with inflated prices)
- Limited upgrade paths (no M.2 slots, no 10G networking on affordable models)
- Software locks that reduce features if you use “unsupported” parts
This strategy prioritizes company profits over user freedom, often at the cost of flexibility and affordability.
QNAP, on the other hand, has had security issues.
Other alternatives offer software that is nowhere near as intuitive as the above-discussed two companies.
Either way, as a home user on a budget, you don’t have (m)any decent options – not today. But what about HexOS? Let’s finally dive into that:
HexOS: Promises and Goals
Linus Tech Tips invested in HexOS with the goal of fixing these problems:
- Install on any hardware.
- Simple setup like Synology (setup wizards, one-click apps).
- DIY flexibility (expand storage, RAM, CPUs as needed).
- Lifetime licence option (one-time payment, no forced subscriptions).
Lifetime offers explained (caveats, realistic expectations, and my recommendations).
In theory, HexOS promises the best of both worlds: the simplicity of turnkey NAS devices, combined with the freedom and performance of DIY solutions. What could possibly go wrong? 🙂
The Reality Check
For a start, I’ll quote myself again (colour me immodest):
Now, let’s dive into the potential risks – because, despite the good intentions, some issues are already visible:
- Cloud Dependency:
Currently, managing your HexOS server requires Internet access through their “Command Deck”. If HexOS servers go offline, management could become impossible. - Lifetime Licence Caveats:
The base OS can be owned forever after one payment, but new cloud features might require subscriptions later. - Early Stage Software:
HexOS is still in beta. Bugs, missing features, and instability are possible. - Trust-Based Future:
Users must trust that HexOS will keep its promises long-term. If priorities shift, users have little protection.
A quote from the LTT video about HexOS:
…Just because you have the licence forever doesn’t mean they will have no subscriptions like they might introduce their own cloud service or whatever
– Yeah for some feature that requires uh constant effort or expense on their end so it has to be tied with a subscription.
Yeah but but in terms of the base software itself uh once you own it forever you will you will own it forever they’re apparently doing great by the way i am like kind of blown away
– What’s like user feedback?
People have been really understanding…
While Linus (as a HexOS investor) criticizes Synology’s vendor lock-in, HexOS’s current architecture depends on cloud access. That’s still a form of potential vendor lock-in – just softer and more friendly-looking… for now.
Alternatives for “True Freedom?”
If you want maximum control, privacy, and future-proofing, you should forget about this last item – it’s a marketing lie (and always has been). There is no such thing as “future-proofing.” The same goes for independence – especially in the long run.
So, with realistic expectations – apart from the obvious “just be rich, duh!” – let’s see what our options are:
- TrueNAS SCALE (see the note below):
100% free, open-source, no cloud account needed, fully local control – but not very user-friendly. - Unraid:
Paid one-time licence, very flexible, no forced cloud ties – by far more user-friendly.
Both allow you to:
- Install on any hardware.
- Use local web interfaces.
- Control your own backups and updates.
- Avoid vendor lock-in altogether.
Unraid is by far the more user-friendly of the two, but it is still not nearly as user-friendly as HexOS (or Synology’s software for that matter).
Note: HexOS is built upon TrueNAS SCALE through a formal partnership between Eshtek (the company behind HexOS) and iXsystems, the developers of TrueNAS. This collaboration is part of iXsystems’ “Powered by TrueNAS” initiative, which enables third-party solutions to leverage the TrueNAS platform. HexOS utilizes TrueNAS SCALE as its underlying system, offering users the option to switch to the native TrueNAS SCALE web interface if they prefer.
Conclusion
HexOS could become a great solution for home users who want simplicity without overpriced hardware. The stated goals are good, and the development community seems strong.
However, right now, HexOS carries real risks:
- Cloud reliance.
- Beta-stage instability.
- Unclear future policies.
If you’re willing to take a chance and trust HexOS to evolve the right way, it might be worth it – especially if you grab a lifetime licence early.
If you want something stable and truly under your control today, TrueNAS SCALE or Unraid are safer bets – but not 100% safe, like anything else in today’s capitalism, just see the WordPress drama.
Time will tell whether HexOS truly becomes the open and user-first NAS platform that the community needs – or just another walled garden in disguise (or, more likely, something in between the two extremes).
🔥 Brutally Honest (my thoughts aloud)
Although HexOS promotes hardware freedom, its decision to require cloud-based management raises concerns. Technically, a local web interface is simple to implement and has been standard practice for NAS systems for decades.
Keeping the user interface cloud-only is not a technical limitation – it is a business choice.
Centralised control simplifies licence enforcement, data analytics, and future monetisation opportunities.
While HexOS may introduce local management later, users should be aware that cloud reliance was a deliberate design decision, not a necessity (at least in my opinion, based on the information I could find).
So, to sum it up – I call bullshit!
If it turns out I was wrong, it would be great for all of us, but I’m wrong a lot less often than I’d like to be. Sigh.
Sources and References
- Linus Tech Tips – HexOS vs Synology Video
- HexOS Official Website
- NAS Compares – HexOS NAS Software – Review of the BETA
- I asked Google’s Gemini why BikeGremlin lost all traffic – a revealing AI-generated insight into the suppression of high-quality independent thought.
Note: This article is independent and based on publicly available information as of April 2025.
Written by a stubborn sysadmin who still believes you should own your own hardware.
Bookmark this page – in case someone decides it’s a bit too honest. 🙂
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