A used computer under $100 can replace three paid subscriptions

A used computer that costs under $100 could replace three monthly subscriptions and pay for itself in about two months. That is the claim from Patrick Campanale at How-To Geek, who runs what tech fans call a homelab: a computer at home that runs services you would otherwise rent from big companies.

What you need to start

The gear does not have to be fancy. The writer suggests a used mini PC or desktop, for example from Facebook Marketplace, or an old computer you already own. Most machines made in the past 10 to 15 years are powerful enough, he says. He also recommends free software called Docker, which makes it simple to set up services. It runs on Linux, macOS and Windows.

The three swaps

• Audible: use Audiobookshelf. Some stores sell audiobooks without copy protection, so you can host them yourself.
• Netflix or other streaming: buy DVDs and Blu-rays, then copy them to your computer.
• Google Photos or iCloud Photos: use Immich, which works much like Google Photos and is free apart from storage and power.

On Audible, the writer notes the subscription is mostly good for a free book or two a month. He says its large included library can be matched with free downloads or thrift store CDs you copy to your computer.

The catches

Streaming is the slow one. Movie and TV publishers rarely sell DRM-free copies, which means copy protection is not removed for you. You have to buy discs and copy them yourself. That takes time and plenty of storage space.

Photos need the most care. Immich has apps for Android and iOS. Your phone can back up from away from home through Tailscale or a reverse proxy, which are ways to reach your home computer from outside. Or it can wait until you are back on home Wi-Fi.

Back up your photos

The writer says many people skip backups when they start, himself included. Online services handle failures for you. A home computer does not. Audiobooks and movies can be downloaded or copied again, so they matter less. Photos should be backed up somewhere else. He pays for Google's AI Pro plan, which gives 5TB of storage for $20 per month.

What to do

Add up what you pay for audiobooks, streaming and photo storage. Then weigh that against the time to set things up and the discs to copy. The two-month payback is the writer's estimate, and it depends on what you now pay.