HexOS
TrueNAS made simple, for a fee
HexOS is a paid, beginner-focused layer on top of TrueNAS, made by Eshtek, a company founded by two former Lime Technology (Unraid) staff, in partnership with TrueNAS. A setup wizard checks your hardware and you manage the server from deck.hexos.com. Version 1.0 (April 2026) added local management, but sign-in still goes through HexOS’s cloud and setup needs internet for licence checks.
HexOS specs and requirements
What HexOS can do
Strengths
- TrueNAS’s ZFS safety with a much simpler interface
- Guided setup that checks your hardware
- You can still open the TrueNAS interface underneath
Trade-offs
- Paid ($199–$299) for a layer on free software
- Sign-in passes through HexOS’s cloud
- Fewer apps than TrueNAS’s own catalog
Local AI on HexOS
No AI features listed by the maker. How far you get depends on your memory: see what each kind of hardware can run.
HexOS vs other NAS systems
Beginners who want ZFS safety and will pay for a simpler experience.
| Feature | HexOS | TrueNAS | Unraid | openmediavault | ZimaOS | umbrelOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free to useUsable with no licence fee for a normal home setup. | No | Yes | No | Yes | YesUp to 4 drives | Yes |
| One-click app storeInstall apps such as Plex, Jellyfin or Nextcloud from a catalog in the web interface. | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in photo libraryA photo app made by the NAS maker, not just a third-party app you install. | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Local AI apps in the storeOllama or another local AI runtime can be installed from the official catalog or a built-in feature. | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Mix drive sizes freelyAdd drives of different sizes over time and use their full capacity. | No | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| ZFS file systemZFS checks data for silent corruption and supports snapshots. It works best with matching drives and more RAM. | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Runs on a Raspberry PiAn official or documented way to run it on a Raspberry Pi. | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| PriceOne-time prices in US dollars. | From $199 | Free | From $49 | Free | Free · Plus $29 | Free |
| Minimum RAMAs stated by the maker. | — | 8 GB | — | 1 GB | — | 4 GB |
Compare HexOS with
HexOS: common questions
Is HexOS free?
No. $199 per server during Early Access ($299 regular), one-time.
What hardware does HexOS need?
Processor: 64-bit Intel or AMD (checked by the setup wizard). RAM: Checked by the setup wizard. System drive: Not specified. Supported architectures: x86-64.
Can HexOS run AI locally?
No AI features listed by the maker.
What is HexOS based on?
HexOS is based on TrueNAS Community Edition. Storage: TrueNAS ZFS pools, set up by a guided wizard.
Who is HexOS best for?
Beginners who want ZFS safety and will pay for a simpler experience.
Other NAS systems
Sources, checked October 19, 2026: HexOS home page · XDA: HexOS local management (June 2026) · NAS Compares: HexOS Q&A. The level is our judgment of how much a first-time NAS builder has to learn.