Infrastructure · Review
Sandstorm Review 2026: Personal Cloud Server Platform
Sandstorm is an open-source platform for running web apps on a personal server, with each app isolated in its own sandbox. It is self-hosting software rather than a crypto or DeFi project, and its homepage looks dated.
By the DappsAtlas editorial team · Updated
DappsAtlas score
6.5/10
Good
Our verdict on Sandstorm
6.5/10Sandstorm suits technically curious people who want to self-host web apps with strong isolation and without handling configuration files. Its main strength is the sandbox model, where each app is walled off until you grant access, plus one-click installs. The main caveat is that the homepage looks dated, hosting pricing is not published and no audits are cited. Check current project activity before relying on it. It is not a crypto product.
Score breakdown
How Sandstorm scores
- Security
- 6.5/10
- Ease of use
- 7.5/10
- Fees
- n/a
- Features
- 6.5/10
Scores run from 0 to 10 and are based only on facts we could verify. Where information was missing we mark the score n/a rather than guess.
What is Sandstorm?
Sandstorm is an open-source platform for personal servers. Its pitch is that running your own server should be as easy as installing apps on a phone. You pick apps such as EtherCalc, GitLab, Etherpad or LibreBoard from an app market and click install.
This is not a crypto or DeFi project. Its homepage mentions no blockchain, token or wallet. The name is shared with a game, a mining company and an unrelated token, so public reporting can be confusing.
The homepage is built around three ideas: usability, security and freedom. It offers a demo, self-hosting on Linux and a pre-order for a hosting service. It also refers to Google+ and a hosting service that was still planned, so it appears to be dated. Readers should check the project's GitHub and news pages for current activity.
How Sandstorm works
Sandstorm is a platform that sits on a Linux server and runs web apps for you. Each app is packaged for Sandstorm and installed from an app market, or uploaded as a package. You manage everything from a web browser.
Each app runs in its own sandbox. By default it cannot reach the internet, talk to your other apps or send data back to its developer. When you ask an app to do something, such as share a document or connect to another app, Sandstorm grants that access for you.
Because apps live on your server behind one login, your data stays under your control. The homepage says you can move between hosts and take your apps and data with you. Developers do not run servers for users, which separates app makers from hosts.
7 features
Key features
01
One-click app installs
Apps are installed from an app market with one click. No command shell, database setup or reverse proxy configuration is needed.
02
Per-app sandboxing
Every app runs in its own sandbox. It starts isolated and cannot phone home or touch other apps without permission.
03
Intent-based permissions
Sandstorm sees what you asked an app to do and grants matching access, so there are no repeated permission prompts.
04
Built-in sharing
You can share any app or document with people who do not have an account. Real-time editors let collaborators see changes as they type.
05
Custom package uploads
You can upload any Sandstorm package, including your own or indie apps, rather than only those in the market.
06
Single login and integration
All apps sit behind one login system, which helps them integrate. Apps that expose a protocol must let any app speaking it connect.
07
Developer-friendly hosting model
Developers can build on any Linux-compatible stack and skip server upkeep, paging and scaling work.
Pros and cons
What we like
- Open source, with the option to self-host on your own Linux machine
- Each app runs in an isolated sandbox that cannot phone home by default
- Installing apps needs no command line, databases or config files
- Sharing and real-time collaboration are built in, even for people without accounts
- You can upload any package, including your own, and take apps and data to another host
Watch out for
- Its homepage still mentions Google+ and a hosting service that was only available to pre-order, so it reads as dated and current project status is unclear
- Hosting pricing is not stated on its homepage, and the managed service was described as planned
- Security claims such as per-document encryption were described as work in progress, and no audits are cited
- Self-hosting needs your own Linux machine, and you are responsible for uptime, backups and access
- Apps are only useful if packaged for the platform, so the choice is narrower than the open web
Sandstorm fees
Its homepage does not publish prices. The software is described as open source and free to run on your own Linux machine, so the main cost is the server you provide.
A hosting service is described as pre-order, and its pricing is not given in the text. Anyone interested should check the pre-order page or the project's news for current terms.
Is Sandstorm safe?
Sandstorm's security model is sandboxing: each app is isolated, cannot reach the network or other apps without permission, and leaves login and sharing to the platform. The homepage says per-document encryption was still being developed. It cites no third-party audit, so the claims are the project's own.
With self-hosting, custody sits with you. You are responsible for the server, backups and updates, although the homepage says the install keeps itself up to date. Since the homepage looks dated, check the project's repository for recent releases and security fixes before relying on it for sensitive data.
6 steps
How to get started with Sandstorm
- 1
Open the live demo to see how apps are installed and shared before committing.
- 2
Decide between self-hosting on a Linux machine or the hosting option described as pre-order.
- 3
For self-hosting, run the install script from the project site on your Linux machine.
- 4
Open Sandstorm in your browser and pick apps from the app market, then click install.
- 5
Share a document or app by link with collaborators, with or without an account.
- 6
Check the GitHub page and news section for current status and updates.
Who Sandstorm is for
Sandstorm is for individuals who want a personal cloud and are comfortable running a Linux machine, and for developers who want to publish apps without operating servers. It is not for anyone looking for a DeFi, token or crypto trading product.
Sandstorm FAQs
Is Sandstorm a crypto project?
No. Sandstorm is an open-source platform for running web apps on your own server. Its homepage does not mention a blockchain, token or on-chain feature. Pages that sell a token with a similar name are about something different.
What does Sandstorm do?
Sandstorm lets you install server apps such as EtherCalc, GitLab and Etherpad from an app market with a click. It runs each app in an isolated sandbox. You can use it on your own Linux machine or, as described on the homepage, through a planned hosting service.
How do you install Sandstorm?
The homepage says installing on your own Linux machine takes one script and that the server keeps itself up to date. After that, apps are installed through the web browser without command shells or config files. Pricing for the software itself is not listed, and it is described as open source.
Is Sandstorm secure?
The homepage says each app starts out isolated and cannot contact its developer or other apps until you give permission. Login and sharing are handled by the system, not the apps. No third-party audit is cited, so treat these as the project's own claims.
Can I run my own apps on it?
The homepage says you can upload any Sandstorm package to your server, not just apps in the market. Any developer can build a package. Apps can use any tech stack that runs on Linux, such as Node, Rails, PHP, Java or Python.
Does Sandstorm offer hosting?
Its homepage offers a demo, a pre-order for hosting and self-hosting on Linux. The hosting price is not stated there. Check the project's GitHub and news pages for whether hosting is still offered.
Compare
Sandstorm alternatives
Cometh offers businesses one API for DeFi custody, staking, trading and payments; DefiLlama still lists its older Polygon space game.
Triton One provides Solana RPC, gRPC streaming and indexed ledger data for developers, wallets and trading teams, alongside open-source tools.
Chainlink is a decentralized oracle network that supplies real-world data to smart contracts, with the LINK token used to pay for services.
Match-Trader is a B2B trading platform and back-end suite for forex brokers and prop trading firms, with built-in TradingView charts and CRM modules.
Walrus is a decentralized storage network for large files, built by Mysten Labs on Sui, with its own WAL token, aimed at developers and Web3 apps.
Pyth Network is a first-party price oracle and market data provider for blockchain apps, trading venues and institutions, with its own PYTH token.
Same category
More Infrastructure dApps
dRPC is a multichain RPC provider offering managed cloud endpoints, an open-source load balancer and chain infrastructure tools for developers and foundations.
Demeter provides managed Cardano APIs for dApp teams that want hosted chain access without operating their own infrastructure.
Ava Labs builds Avalanche-based infrastructure for businesses, including AvaCloud custom blockchains, the Core wallet and policy resources.
Geodnet is a decentralized network of GNSS base stations selling centimeter-level RTK positioning data to drones, robots, surveyors and farm equipment.
Livepeer is a decentralized network for video streaming and AI video processing where GPU providers earn for jobs and LPT holders can delegate.
Gelato Network is web3 infrastructure for developers, covering smart contract automation, gasless smart wallets and custom rollups, powered by the GEL token.
How we checked
Sources
- 1.ign.com/articles/2018/12/27/insurgency-sandstorm-review
- 2.barchart.com/stocks/quotes/SAND/technical-analysis
Last updated . Spotted an error? Tell us and we will correct it.