Sandstorm review
A self-hosted app platform built around isolated workspaces, shared access controls and app connections.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Sandstorm is an open-source platform for running web apps on servers you control, including Linux machines and chosen cloud infrastructure. It suits individuals, organizations and developers who want to run or distribute open-source apps without depending on a single hosted service. Apps come from the Sandstorm App Market or custom packages, and each runs in an isolated workspace called a grain. That makes Sandstorm a fit for collaborative self-hosting where workspace isolation and shared access matter more than broad deployment flexibility.
The product's defining feature is how it wraps apps: Sandstorm provides single sign-on across installed apps, unified sharing and access control, and Powerbox connections for sharing data between apps. These features make separate apps feel more coordinated within the platform. Sandstorm also supports downloading an individual workspace as a ZIP backup and offers an option to back up data automatically to encrypted cloud storage. Its focus is therefore on managing app workspaces and their collaboration, rather than acting as a general-purpose hosting control plane.
Sandstorm itself can update automatically with cryptographic verification, but app updates are surfaced as notifications for users to install; they are not applied automatically. The former Sandstorm Oasis hosted service shut down at the end of 2019, so current use centers on self-hosting. It is worth considering for teams that value sandboxed workspaces, built-in sharing and data connections, and control of their server environment. Those seeking a hosted Sandstorm service or automatically applied app updates should look elsewhere.
Sandstorm pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Isolates each app workspace in its own sandbox.
- Unifies sign-on, sharing and access control across installed apps.
- Powerbox connects apps and lets them share data.
- Where it doesn't
- App updates require users to install them; they are not automatic.
- The former Sandstorm Oasis hosted service shut down in 2019.
- Its app catalog model is narrower than general-purpose hosting.
Sandstorm fact sheet, pricing and score →
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