One of the biggest advantages of Proxmox VE is its ability to run multiple operating systems, containers, and self-hosted applications on a single server. Whether you’re using a Mini PC, an old desktop, or a dedicated rack server, Proxmox allows you to consolidate dozens of services into one centralized platform.

But after installing Proxmox, many beginners ask the same question:

“What applications should I install first?”

The answer depends on your goals. Some people want a private cloud, others want a media server, while many build a complete home lab to learn networking, virtualization, and cybersecurity.

This guide introduces 15 of the most popular applications people install on Proxmox, along with their purpose and recommended deployment method.

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Why Run Applications on Proxmox?

Instead of installing every application directly on one operating system, Proxmox lets you isolate services into individual virtual machines (VMs) or Linux containers (LXCs).

Benefits include:

• Better security through isolation
• Easier backups and restores
• Independent updates
• Efficient resource management
• Easy testing and experimentation
• Snapshots before making changes

This modular approach makes managing a home lab much simpler.

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1. Home Assistant

Home Assistant is one of the most popular self-hosted platforms for smart home automation.

Features

• Smart lighting control
• Security cameras
• Motion sensors
• Climate automation
• Voice assistant integration

Recommended Deployment

LXC or VM

Recommended RAM

2–4 GB

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2. Pi-hole

Pi-hole blocks advertisements and trackers for every device connected to your home network.

Benefits

• Faster web browsing
• Improved privacy
• Reduced bandwidth usage
• Cleaner browsing experience

Deployment

LXC Container

RAM

512 MB

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3. Nextcloud

Nextcloud lets you build your own private cloud storage.

Features include:

• File synchronization
• Calendar
• Contacts
• Office document collaboration
• Mobile applications

Deployment

LXC or VM

Recommended RAM

4 GB

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4. Jellyfin

Jellyfin allows you to stream your personal media library to TVs, computers, and mobile devices.

Perfect for:

• Movies
• TV shows
• Music
• Family videos

Unlike many alternatives, Jellyfin is completely free and open source.

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5. Immich

Immich has become one of the fastest-growing self-hosted photo management applications.

It offers:

• Automatic photo backup
• Facial recognition
• Albums
• Search
• Mobile apps

Many users consider it an excellent alternative to cloud-based photo services.

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6. Vaultwarden

Vaultwarden is a lightweight, self-hosted password manager compatible with Bitwarden clients.

Features:

• Password storage
• Secure notes
• Browser extensions
• Mobile synchronization
• Multi-user support

It consumes very little system resources, making it ideal for an LXC container.

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7. Nginx Proxy Manager

As your number of services grows, a reverse proxy becomes essential.

It provides:

• Centralized access
• SSL certificate management
• Easy domain routing
• Simple web interface

Instead of remembering multiple IP addresses and ports, you can use friendly subdomains.

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8. Grafana

Grafana creates attractive dashboards for monitoring your infrastructure.

Track:

• CPU usage
• Memory usage
• Disk performance
• Network traffic
• Application metrics

Pair it with Prometheus for powerful monitoring capabilities.

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9. Docker

Although Proxmox supports LXC containers, many users also run a dedicated Docker host.

This allows easy deployment of hundreds of applications using Docker Compose.

Popular Docker apps include:

• Homepage
• Uptime Kuma
• BookStack
• Mealie
• Paperless-ngx

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10. Uptime Kuma

Uptime Kuma monitors the availability of your services.

It can notify you if:

• A website goes offline
• A server becomes unreachable
• SSL certificates are nearing expiration
• APIs stop responding

A lightweight but valuable addition to any home lab.

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11. BookStack

As your infrastructure grows, documentation becomes increasingly important.

BookStack helps organize:

• Server configurations
• IP addresses
• Network diagrams
• Tutorials
• Troubleshooting notes

Think of it as your personal IT wiki.

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12. Gitea

If you’re learning programming or DevOps, Gitea provides a lightweight Git server.

Use it for:

• Source code repositories
• Version control
• Team collaboration
• CI/CD integration

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13. TrueNAS SCALE

Many Proxmox users dedicate a virtual machine to TrueNAS SCALE.

It provides:

• SMB file sharing
• NFS shares
• Snapshots
• Data redundancy
• Backup storage

This creates centralized storage for your home lab.

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14. pfSense or OPNsense

Running a virtual firewall is an excellent way to learn enterprise networking.

Capabilities include:

• VLAN management
• VPN access
• Firewall rules
• Traffic shaping
• Intrusion detection

Many IT professionals use these platforms for both learning and production environments.

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15. WordPress

If you’re interested in web development or blogging, hosting WordPress on Proxmox is a great learning experience.

You can create:

• Personal blogs
• Business websites
• Portfolio sites
• Development environments

Running WordPress in an isolated VM or container also makes it easy to test plugins, themes, and updates safely.

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Recommended Installation Order

If you’re just starting with Proxmox, here’s a practical sequence:

Priority	Application	Deployment
⭐	Pi-hole	LXC
⭐	Nginx Proxy Manager	LXC
⭐	Home Assistant	LXC
⭐	Docker Host	LXC
⭐	Nextcloud	LXC
⭐	Vaultwarden	Docker
⭐	Uptime Kuma	Docker
⭐	Grafana	LXC
⭐	Jellyfin	LXC
⭐	Immich	Docker
⭐	BookStack	Docker
⭐	Gitea	Docker
⭐	TrueNAS SCALE	VM
⭐	pfSense / OPNsense	VM
⭐	WordPress	LXC

This order starts with networking and core infrastructure before moving on to productivity, monitoring, and media services.

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VM or LXC: Which Should You Choose?

One common question is whether to deploy applications as virtual machines or Linux containers.

Use an LXC Container when:

• The application runs on Linux.
• You want lower resource usage.
• Fast startup times are important.
• You don’t need a separate kernel.

Use a Virtual Machine when:

• You need Windows.
• The application requires direct hardware access (e.g., GPU passthrough).
• You want stronger isolation.
• The software vendor recommends a full operating system.

For most lightweight services, LXC containers are the preferred choice due to their efficiency.

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Final Thoughts

One of the reasons Proxmox has become so popular is its incredible flexibility. A single server can host everything from smart home automation and private cloud storage to monitoring dashboards, media streaming platforms, password managers, firewalls, and development tools.

Whether you’re building a simple home server or an enterprise-style lab, starting with applications like Home Assistant, Pi-hole, Nextcloud, Jellyfin, Vaultwarden, Grafana, and Nginx Proxy Manager will give you a practical, feature-rich environment while helping you develop valuable Linux, networking, and virtualization skills.

As your experience grows, Proxmox makes it easy to expand your infrastructure, experiment with new technologies, and manage everything from one intuitive interface.