Side by side

Hex Citadel vs MeshHold

Both stand on secure cloud storage. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.

Hex Citadel

Free plan APIMacSelf-hosted+1

Citadel offers a self-hosting route with client-side encryption and open-source code. Check the server requirements and lack of current mobile support before adopting it.

Visit Hex Citadel

MeshHold combines private cloud storage, networking, and collaboration in a self-hosted package. Its maker lists meaningful security and support limitations, so those requirements should be weighed before adoption.

Visit MeshHold

The facts

	Hex Citadel	MeshHold
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Open source	Not published	Not published
Runs on	API, Mac, Self-hosted, Web	Android, API, Linux, Self-hosted, Web, Windows
Lowest paid plan	Free or on request	Free or on request
Plans published	2	2
Maker	Not published	Not published
Website	citadel.hex.pro	meshhold.com
On secure cloud storage	#7 of 30	#11 of 30

Hex Citadel: what it does well

Client-side AES-256-GCM encryption before upload.
Encryption can be enabled per file or folder.
Self-hosted plan includes unlimited users and storage on your hardware.
Server and client are MIT licensed.
Supports MinIO and AWS S3 storage.

What to know first

Mobile support is deferred until after version 1.0.
Server requires Node.js 22+ LTS and PostgreSQL 16+.
Self-hosted plan includes community support.

MeshHold: what it does well

Free Community Edition has no stated node or user limits.
Supports distributed storage and S3-compatible access.
OpenDocument collaboration can work without internet access.
Data stays on user-owned hardware, according to the maker.

What to know first

No external security audit or signed releases.
No ISO 27001, SOC 2, or DORA attestation.
Community support has no 24/7 line or rota.
Business tier is still coming soon.

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