Best Homelab Dashboard: Homarr vs Heimdall and How to Set Up a Self-Hosted Service Dashboard

A homelab dashboard is not just a bookmark page. It is the single pane of glass you check first when something feels off. If you still rely on browser bookmarks or a static HTML page, you are missing integrations, status indicators, and search that save time every day.

This guide focuses on Homarr, a modern self-hosted dashboard designed for homelab users. It compares Homarr to Heimdall, explains integrations, and covers deployment on Docker and Proxmox.

Why a Dedicated Dashboard Matters

Homelab services scatter across ports, subdomains, and IP addresses. A dashboard consolidates access, shows service health, and exposes useful widgets without opening each app individually. The difference between a static bookmark list and a live dashboard is noticeable after the first time a service goes down and the dashboard catches it before you do.

Homarr vs Heimdall

Heimdall is the traditional homelab dashboard. It is simple, lightweight, and works well for basic bookmarking. Homarr is built for deeper integration. It supports service status checks, custom widgets, theming, and a more polished interface.

Homarr also offers built-in search, quick-access app launchers, and responsive layouts that work on mobile and tablets. Heimdall remains a solid choice if you want minimal overhead, but Homarr is the stronger pick if you want a dashboard that feels like a product rather than a project.

Key Features

Homarr includes service status monitoring by default. If a service stops responding, the dashboard shows it down without manual checks. You can pin frequently used apps, organize them into categories, and customize the layout with drag-and-drop.

Homarr supports custom CSS, dark and light themes, and community themes. The search bar indexes all pinned services and can redirect queries to Google, DuckDuckGo, or your own SearXNG instance.

Widgets cover weather, clock, system resource usage, and external RSS feeds. You can embed Grafana panels, Uptime Kuma status, and Proxmox node summaries directly on the dashboard.

Integrations

Homarr integrates with Proxmox, Docker, and common self-hosted services. It can display VM and container status from Proxmox, show Docker container health, and connect to Uptime Kuma for external monitoring data.

Other useful integrations include Transmission, qBittorrent, Sonarr, Radarr, Plex, Jellyfin, Nextcloud, and Home Assistant. If you run these services, Homarr becomes more than a launcher; it becomes a control panel.

Deployment

The easiest deployment is Docker. Pull the ghcr.io/ajnart/homarr image, mount a config directory for persistent settings, and expose port 7575. Use Docker Compose for reproducible setups across hosts.

For Proxmox, deploy Homarr in an LXC container or VM. Use a minimal Debian or Ubuntu container, install Docker, and run the same Compose file. Keep the dashboard on the same LAN segment as your services for fast status checks.

Configuration Tips

Start with a small set of services and add more as you need them. Too many pinned apps make the dashboard noisy. Group related services into tabs: media, infrastructure, downloads, and productivity.

Use meaningful icons and names. Homarr fetches icons automatically, but you can override them with local images or URLs. Consistent naming helps when scanning the dashboard quickly.

Enable service status checks only for services that matter. Checking every local service every thirty seconds adds load and noise. Focus on services that affect daily use: media, backups, VPN, and reverse proxy.

Security Considerations

Do not expose Homarr directly to the internet without authentication. Enable a login method, restrict access to your LAN, and place Homarr behind your reverse proxy. If you use Cloudflare, add Access authentication for remote access.

Treat the dashboard as sensitive. It reveals service names, ports, and status. An attacker who gains access to the dashboard gets a map of your homelab.

Final Thoughts

Homarr is the strongest modern dashboard for homelab users who want more than bookmarks. It combines service launching, status monitoring, and widgets in one interface. If you already use Heimdall and want more integration, Homarr is a natural upgrade.

If you want to pair the dashboard with better monitoring, read our guides on homelab monitoring stacks and self-hosted alternatives to cloud services.