Brain Dump #3: Is SaaS Becoming Irrelevant?

Note: Brain Dumps aren’t articles—they’re just thoughts I find worth sharing. Some will be short, others long or convoluted. Take what resonates.

I was browsing the list of one-click install services on Coolify (a self-hosted PaaS) and couldn’t help but notice how many high-quality open-source tools are emerging—tools that are making traditional SaaS models feel increasingly obsolete.

With AI agents improving, self-hosted services offering enterprise-grade alternatives, and a rise in one-off software purchases (like David Heinemeier Hansson’s ONCE product line), it’s hard not to wonder:

Is the ‘Everything-as-a-Subscription’ model really built to last?

I don’t know the answer—but I do know one thing: I don’t want my cash flow to be so easily accessible. Seeing all these high-quality self-hosted alternatives made me realize just how much control we’ve slowly given up to subscriptions—and I don’t like it. Over the past two years, I’ve been actively canceling as many subscriptions as possible. It’s harder than it seems.

Some Open-Source GEMS I Found:

• Plane.so – Project Management software.
• Penpot.app – Open-source UI design tool (like Figma).
• Glitchtip.com – Open-source Sentry (really love this one).
• Chaskiq – Messaging platform for marketing, support, and sales.
• Docuseal.com – Open-source DocuSign (Curious: Would self-hosted signatures hold legal value?).
• Fider.io – Elegant, open-source feature voting tool.
• Mixpost.app – Self-hosted social media management software (Buffer alternative, I plan to adopt this soon).
• Getoutline.com – Open-source collaboration tool for creating and sharing documents (think Notion).

I’m planning to have fun installing a few of these in my homelab over the next couple weekends. Let’s see how many actually make the cut. I’ll share what I learn—if I remember. 😅

I’m planning to have fun installing a few of these in my homelab. Let’s see how many actually make the cut. I’ll share what I learn—if I remember. 😅